Knowing is Half the Battle

Grounded in the exploration of the conflict between the United States and Iraq which led to war in 2003, this dissertation considers the role that television journalism plays in international conflicts in which the United States is involved. Using quantitative and qualitative research methods, this analysis critically engages with CNNs coverage of the conflict, seeking to combine the insights of conflict studies and mass communication research, towards an understanding of television news as both constrained by and influencing international conflicts. Focusing on the processes through which news about the conflict was created and presented as well on the news content itself, the data demonstrates that CNN endorsed war through its presentations of the issues, strategies and parties involved in the conflict. Finding no deliberate plot on the part of CNN to bias its coverage, the research suggests that CNNs adherence to standard journalistic practices undermined the neutrality of its coverage. Instead, powerful sources were afforded considerable influence to direct the coverage in particular directions, and ultimately toward war.