Framing Peace in Media Narratives and the Potential of Journalism in the Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Hasan Azizur Rahman; Ebrahim Aoni

doi:10.53808/KUS.2025.22.02.1317-ss

Authors

Hasan Azizur Rahman Department of Mass Communication & Journalism, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi Sadar, Rajshahi, Bangladesh.
Ebrahim Aoni Department of Media & Communications, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales, Australia.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53808/KUS.2025.22.02.1317-ss

Keywords:

Peace journalism, Russia-Ukraine conflict, Media framing, Western media, Non-Western media, Content analysis

Abstract

The Russia-Ukraine conflict, intensified since 2022, has sparked polarized media coverage worldwide. This study investigates the role of peace journalism, a reporting style focused on nonviolent solutions and empathy, in the coverage of this ongoing crisis. Employing a content analysis of 100 news articles from four major international outlets (CNN, BBC, Russia Today, and Al Jazeera), the study assesses the prevalence and variations of peace journalism elements in Western and non-Western media. Results show that peace journalism features prominently in non-Western outlets, such as Al Jazeera and Russia Today, which often emphasize conflict resolution, people-oriented framing, and empathetic narratives. By contrast, Western outlets lean toward adversarial and binary frames, portraying Russia as an aggressor and omitting nuanced perspectives. Logistic regression analysis reveals that non-Western outlets and opinion articles are significantly more likely to incorporate peace journalism principles, suggesting structural and ideological influences on coverage styles. This study highlights how peace journalism may enhance public understanding of conflicts by fostering balanced narratives and promoting diplomatic solutions, especially in complex international crises like the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

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