TikToking the Israel-Gaza War: A Content Analysis of Peace and War Narratives in Audiovisual News

Author's Department

Journalism & Mass Communication Department

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https://doi.org/10.1080/21670811.2025.2574931

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Shahira S. Fahmy Laila Abbas Aliaa K. ElShabassy

Document Type

Research Article

Publication Title

Digital Journalism

Publication Date

1-1-2025

doi

10.1080/21670811.2025.2574931

Abstract

This study extends peace journalism (PJ) to audiovisual reporting by analyzing 405 TikTok videos from six news outlets during the Israel-Gaza War that began on October 7, 2023. A content analysis revealed a strong emphasis on elite-captured perspectives that often eclipsed narratives of peace. TikTok users engaged more with war narratives due to their emotionally charged and visually resonant nature. Our findings highlight the need for news organizations to leverage TikTok’s visual storytelling potential to make complex geopolitical content more engaging, fostering empathetic and inclusive dialogue regarding conflicts. Overall, this work offers significant theoretical and practical contributions to peace journalism, platform affordances, and user engagement.

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