IDEOLOGICAL AMPLIFICATION IN CONFLICT JOURNALISM: HOW MEDIA FRAME IRAN'S NUCLEAR DIMENSION IN THE 2023–2025 IRAN-ISRAEL CONFLICT

Abstract

In this study, the purpose of research lies in the examination of how nuclear elements in the Iran-Israel conflict are covered by various media outlets with different ideologies. In order to fulfill this research goal, the analysis is conducted through a set of 412 editorials from Kayhan International (pro-government Iranian media outlet), The Wall Street Journal (conservative American media), and Haaretz (liberal Israeli media). As far as methodology goes, the approach suggested by Semetko & Valkenburg (2000) concerning five frames theory is used in the current paper. The analysis is focused on the coverage of nuclear threats as a part of the media's frame strategy. According to the results provided by the research, the problem of nuclear weapons does not arise as an independent issue since its presence works as an ideological amplifier for each source. Most of the frames used for the description of nuclear threats in the editorials of Kayhan International relate to the category of morality, highlighting the struggle between Iran and the US government. When it comes to the media coverage in The Wall Street Journal, it is clear that weapons are used within responsibility frames as a trigger of the region's instability. Haaretz uses responsibility and cause/effect frames to provide multiple factors contributing to the region's instability including nuclear capability.