War and mass mediated evidence

Abstract

The Iraq War was presented to the audiences through an exhaustive propaganda campaign. Analysis of news coverage suggests that this war was presented as a feature of war programming, or the selective use of claims makers/news sources within a normative pattern, which includes occasional detractors to give the appearance of debate. It is suggested that social scientists help discredit propaganda efforts in the future by articulating this narrative with journalists and audiences. © 2009 Sage Publications.