Framing the news: from political conflict to peace. How the ‘framing theory’ and the ‘political context model’ can enhance the peace journalism model.

Resumen

The aim of the peace journalism model is to offer a “peace oriented” way to cover conflicts. A research of the subject indicates that the focus of peace journalism has been about the benefits and details of how the model can be implemented, but without serious academic or theoretical background. This paper deals with this problem. After a brief analysis of current peace journalism theory and its limits, the article uses two theories to provide solid theoretical grounding for the peace journalism model. In first place, the ‘framing theory’ of Robert Entman demonstrates that this model could be considered a frame and also an exercise of framing. However, once the Entman theory provides light on framing, what kind of frame and how it is constructed, it is necessary to review the model peace journalism and analyze it with a focus on conflict coverage. So, in second place it will be studied the ‘politic context model’ of Gadi Wolfsfeld to include some interesting aspects of the political conflict environment.

Key words: Peace journalism, Conflict, Framing theory, Political Context.

Submission date: 2011-03-27

Acceptance date: 2011-11-24