Political economy of media discourse: A comparative corpus-driven analysis of the Israel-Hamas war coverage
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Abstract
Amid a fast-changing media environment, the Israel-Hamas war underscores the intricate connection between language, discourse, and ideological stance. Through political economy of communication, this study interrogates the mediated architecture of geopolitical storytelling by conducting a comparative corpus-driven analysis of Israel-Hamas war coverage in Al Jazeera and CNN between October 7, 2023 and January 19, 2025. The findings reveal that Al Jazeera has approximately equal focus on Gaza and Israel, placing the war in a longer historical and geopolitical context. The outlet’s reporting focuses on civilian casualties, identity politics, and territorial dispute, emphasizing casualty counts. In addition, the occurrence of commercially oriented content indicates responsiveness to commercial pressures influencing journalistic priorities. CNN, however, places Hamas’ actions at the forefront of its narrative, aligning with a security and terrorism-oriented framework prevalent in Western media. By adopting military rhetoric and the spotlight on U.S. diplomatic reactions, CNN contextualizes the conflict within international political discourse. Hence, fostering media literacy remains essential in navigating the complexities of war reporting in an era of information saturation.
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