COM3705 Assignment
1 Semester 2 2025
(Answer Guide) -
Media coverage of
war
QUESTIONS WITH 100%
VERIFIED AND
CERTIFIED ANSWERS.
,1|Page
COM3705 Assignment 1 Semester 2 2025 (Answer Guide) - Media coverage of war
VERIFIED AND CERTIFIED ANSWERS. WRITTEN IN REQUIRED FORMAT AND WITHIN
GIVEN GUIDELINES. IT IS GOOD TO USE AS A GUIDE AND FOR REFERENCE, NEVER
PLAGARIZE. Thank you and success in your academics.
UNISA, 2025
Contents
Part 1: Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 2
Part 2: Theories Describing the International Flow of News ........................................................ 2
Part 3: Inequalities of International Information (News) Flow Patterns ................................. 4
Part 4: The Role of International Communication in War and Armed Conflicts .................. 6
Part 5: The CNN Effect – Is It Still Relevant Today? ................................................................... 8
Part 6: Disinformation, Misinformation, and Social Media in the Context of the Media
Coverage of the Tigray Conflict ..................................................................................................... 10
1. The Role of Disinformation and Misinformation in the Tigray Conflict .......................... 10
2. The Impact of Social Media in the Tigray Conflict ................................................................ 11
3. Examples of Media Coverage: Social Media’s Role in Shaping the Narrative .............. 13
Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................... 13
References ............................................................................................................................................... 15
, 2|Page
Part 1: Introduction
The relationship between the media and war coverage has evolved dramatically,
especially with technological advancements and changes in media consumption
patterns. This assignment explores the media coverage of the Tigray conflict in Ethiopia
(2020-2022), a critical issue in the contemporary geopolitical landscape. The conflict,
which involved the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) and the Ethiopian federal
government, resulted in widespread humanitarian crises, displacement, and significant
media attention. The Tigray conflict serves as a powerful case study to investigate the
role of media in shaping public perceptions of war and conflict.
The role of journalists and media has expanded from simple reporting to influencing
public opinion, framing narratives, and sometimes even shaping the international
response to conflicts. The rise of social media platforms, citizen journalism, and user-
generated content has further blurred the boundaries between traditional and non-
traditional media. This assignment will critically analyze how international news flows,
media framing, and the role of international communication have influenced the
coverage of the Tigray conflict. These themes will be examined through the lens of
framing theory, which is increasingly applied to understanding media content,
particularly in the context of war and propaganda.
This discussion will also provide insight into the inequalities in international news flows
and the implications of these disparities on global understanding of conflicts.
Understanding the media's role in conflict situations is essential for fostering an
informed global community and ensuring that media coverage reflects the complexities
of the situation. By delving into these issues, this paper will address how the
international community perceives the Tigray conflict, and how the media's coverage
influences that perception.
Part 2: Theories Describing the International Flow of News
The international flow of news refers to the way in which news travels across national
borders and is disseminated to global audiences. Two key theories that explain this
1 Semester 2 2025
(Answer Guide) -
Media coverage of
war
QUESTIONS WITH 100%
VERIFIED AND
CERTIFIED ANSWERS.
,1|Page
COM3705 Assignment 1 Semester 2 2025 (Answer Guide) - Media coverage of war
VERIFIED AND CERTIFIED ANSWERS. WRITTEN IN REQUIRED FORMAT AND WITHIN
GIVEN GUIDELINES. IT IS GOOD TO USE AS A GUIDE AND FOR REFERENCE, NEVER
PLAGARIZE. Thank you and success in your academics.
UNISA, 2025
Contents
Part 1: Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 2
Part 2: Theories Describing the International Flow of News ........................................................ 2
Part 3: Inequalities of International Information (News) Flow Patterns ................................. 4
Part 4: The Role of International Communication in War and Armed Conflicts .................. 6
Part 5: The CNN Effect – Is It Still Relevant Today? ................................................................... 8
Part 6: Disinformation, Misinformation, and Social Media in the Context of the Media
Coverage of the Tigray Conflict ..................................................................................................... 10
1. The Role of Disinformation and Misinformation in the Tigray Conflict .......................... 10
2. The Impact of Social Media in the Tigray Conflict ................................................................ 11
3. Examples of Media Coverage: Social Media’s Role in Shaping the Narrative .............. 13
Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................... 13
References ............................................................................................................................................... 15
, 2|Page
Part 1: Introduction
The relationship between the media and war coverage has evolved dramatically,
especially with technological advancements and changes in media consumption
patterns. This assignment explores the media coverage of the Tigray conflict in Ethiopia
(2020-2022), a critical issue in the contemporary geopolitical landscape. The conflict,
which involved the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) and the Ethiopian federal
government, resulted in widespread humanitarian crises, displacement, and significant
media attention. The Tigray conflict serves as a powerful case study to investigate the
role of media in shaping public perceptions of war and conflict.
The role of journalists and media has expanded from simple reporting to influencing
public opinion, framing narratives, and sometimes even shaping the international
response to conflicts. The rise of social media platforms, citizen journalism, and user-
generated content has further blurred the boundaries between traditional and non-
traditional media. This assignment will critically analyze how international news flows,
media framing, and the role of international communication have influenced the
coverage of the Tigray conflict. These themes will be examined through the lens of
framing theory, which is increasingly applied to understanding media content,
particularly in the context of war and propaganda.
This discussion will also provide insight into the inequalities in international news flows
and the implications of these disparities on global understanding of conflicts.
Understanding the media's role in conflict situations is essential for fostering an
informed global community and ensuring that media coverage reflects the complexities
of the situation. By delving into these issues, this paper will address how the
international community perceives the Tigray conflict, and how the media's coverage
influences that perception.
Part 2: Theories Describing the International Flow of News
The international flow of news refers to the way in which news travels across national
borders and is disseminated to global audiences. Two key theories that explain this
