Jolaina Mohd Nasseri, Edina Mohd Nasseri
Published : 29-12-2025
DOI : https://doi.org/10.62312/asw.ijach.14.2.2025
Abstract :
This article examines the transformation of wartime journalism in the digital era, with a focus on the role of social media in mediating conflict narratives, amplifying disinformation, and reshaping the ethics of reportage. Drawing on contemporary scholarship in media studies and political communication, the study analyses how armed conflicts, particularly the current Gaza-Israel war, generate parallel battles over information, visibility and public opinion. It traces the historical evolution of propaganda and disinformation from state-controlled media institutions to decentralized, algorithm-driven platforms, showing how traditional editorial gatekeeping has been replaced by audience-driven visibility logics. Central to the analysis is a case study of Palestinian citizen journalist Bisan Owda, whose firsthand reporting from within the Gaza Strip exemplifies the rise of independent, affective witnessing through social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok. The article contrasts Owda’s narrative framing with that of mainstream institutional media, highlighting divergent ethical orientations, audience engagements and epistemic challenges. It also addresses critiques of citizen journalism, including concerns about verification, emotional amplification and platform moderation. Finally, the study shows that citizen reporting, such as Bisan Owda’s, brings immediacy and emotional depth but is often undermined by platform restrictions, verification difficulties, and political pressures. Mainstream outlets, meanwhile, continue to shape the conflict through official sources and geopolitical frames, which frequently sideline civilian voices. The article argues that future war reporting will need to draw on both approaches—combining grassroots authenticity with professional standards of accountability. By placing digital reporting within wider systems of surveillance, platform governance, and public trust, the study highlights how journalism is being reshaped in ways that both enable and constrain democratic responsibility during war.
Keywords: War reporting, disinformation, propaganda, social media, citizen journalism
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