Peace Journalism Model in Conflict: Analysis of the Myanmar Civil War in State-Owned and International Newspapers
Ilma Waseea Adrita, Zarin Tasnim Nahin, Labiba Morshed, MD. Shahzada Sabbir, Shahriyar Emon Joy, Zarif Mahmud Hasan, and Tanvir Ahmed Siddike
Department of Mass Communication and Journalism, Bangladesh University of Professionals, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Abstract
Myanmar’s civil war, intensified by the 2021 military coup, has deepened humanitarian crises and polarized political narratives. In this fragmented information environment, media coverage plays a crucial role in shaping public understanding of the conflict. This study aims to examine the portrayal of conflict in two ideologically contrasting newspapers, the state-owned Global New Light of Myanmar (GNLM) and the international New York Times (NYT), utilizing Johan Galtung’s Peace Journalism Model as a framework. The research employs a mixed-method approach to analyze 117 news pieces published from June to December 2024, contrasting war-oriented and peace-oriented reportage between the two newspapers. Articles were systematically coded using Galtung’s peace and war journalism indicators, and both quantitative and qualitative analyses were conducted. The findings indicate that GNLM predominantly adheres to the war journalism principles (93%), characterized by military vocabulary, elite-centered narratives, vilification of opposing forces, and minimal attention to contextual or humanitarian dimensions. In contrast, 97% of the New York Times’ coverage reflects characteristics of peace journalism, including emphasis on structural causes of the conflict, human suffering, various forms of agency, and the potential for a nonviolent resolution. Qualitative findings further show that GNLM legitimizes state brutality and suppresses dissent, whereas the NYT highlights historical context, human consequences, and grassroots peace efforts. The study demonstrates how national and international media produce sharply divergent narratives of the same conflict, illustrating the powerful role of journalism in either perpetuating violence or fostering peace.
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