Digital Battlefields: Transforming Media Narratives in Contemporary War and Conflict

“Digital Battlefields is a timely and thought-provoking collection that demonstrates how contemporary conflicts are increasingly fought not only through military force, but also through narratives, platforms, images, and publics. Particularly impressive is the breadth of the collection and its ability to connect questions of digital mediation and technological change to the lived realities of conflict. This is a critical contribution to media, communication, and conflict studies.”
— Erin E. Cory, Senior Lecturer in Media & Communication Studies at Malmö University.
This book explores how and why particular media narratives prevail during war and conflict. Recent conflicts - from Ukraine and Israel to Sudan and Libya - have led to the rise of citizen and counter-media digital narratives that challenge established media narratives, often favouring specific actors in the conflict. This divergence from official narratives raises critical questions about which war narratives are adopted by media and audiences, how these narratives shape public support, and whether their influence stems from media manipulation, power dynamics, or perceived justice. The book prompts inquiry into the ethical standards of digital versus traditional media during wartime.