Media in Wartime : Between Truth and Propaganda

By,-Pallavi Mishra, Bhubaneswar,

India and Pakistan, media has turned into hubof misinformation. Whilst soldiersare fighting for the country fight on ground by arms and ammunition andthe media is raging battles through waged words, images, and headlines.

Media has always played a pivotal role in shaping the way wars are perceived, interpreted, and remembered during the times of crisis. But frequently theline between delivering facts of the situation and disseminating propaganda is blurred during the conflict. Hence it is essential to critically examine how war is represented in the media and for what purposes.

Media as the First Draft of History

Media has been the fourth pillar of democracy whose duty is to inform the public, hold power accountable, and create a space for public debate. During wartime, this responsibility becomes even more crucialand complicated. What images are shown, what stories are told, and whose voices are amplifiedthese decisions shape public perception.

War journalism has exposed atrocities and held governments accountable. For example,the Vietnam War is one of the earliest examples where graphic media coverage turned public opinion against the war effort. Unforgettable images and honest reporting from the frontlines disrupted the official narratives and showed the horrors of war in a way the US government never intended. This transparency of media played a role not just to end the “first television war” but also started conversation around anti-war activism.

However, not all wars have been covered with such independence or accuracy.

From Embedded Journalism to Controlled Narratives

As time and technology evolved the idea of “embedded journalism” has emergedwhere reporters travel with military units but with restriction. The journalist’s proximity and accesscome with restrictions of what to inform the public. They often become dependent on the military for protection and information, making objective and critical reporting difficult.

It was during the Iraq War; the U.S. and allied governments carefully curated the flow of information. It was the time of words like “collateral damage,” “surgical strikes,” and “precision bombing” were used to sanitize violence and frame military actions as justified and restrainederasing the moral lens. Meanwhile, dissenting voices or critical coverage of the war were often labelled “unpatriotic,” creating an atmosphere of fear and silence in mainstream media spaces.This blurring of lines between journalism and state messaging is a classic tactic of propaganda.

Understanding Propaganda

Propaganda is not just about “false information” but is the strategic use of messagescontaining elements of truth which further influences public opinion, manipulate emotions, and suppress opposition. In times of war, propaganda becomes a tool to manufacture consent for violence, demonize the enemy, and justify state actions.

Media outlets have become conduits for such propaganda where informing have more or less become cheerleading.

The cheerleaders go from broadcasting military briefings without critical analysis to repeating unverified claims. Governments understand this power well and in authoritarian states, media is often state-controlled.  War coverage is shaped by national interests, corporate pressures, and political ideologies of the government of any regime.

The Digital Age: A New Frontline

And in this century where was is not just televised but goes beyond to livestreams, tweets, and memes. Social media has revolutionized how war is reported and consumed. Platforms like Twitter, Youtube and Instagram allow real-time updates from both state and non-state actors, creating a chaotic and often contradictory flow of information.

This democratization of media has benefits of marginalized voices and civilian perspectives of being heard more easily. However, it also opens the floodgates to misinformation, doctored videos, deepfakes, and fake news.

The ongoing Russia-Ukraine waris not only being fought on the ground but also in cyberspace. Both countries, and their allies, are using digital platforms to shape global opinion. Propaganda videos, emotional appeals, viral tweets, and strategic disinformation are part of a sophisticated media war being fought in parallel to military action.

The current crisis of India

The current media standoff between India and Pakistan has shot the “truth” right on the forehead. Both countries’ mainstream and social media are flooded with acrap load of unverified claims, doctored videos, and emotionally charged narratives. What is being consumed daily is not journalism, but performance. This media-driven war, far from being about information, thrives on misinformation, manipulating public sentiment and reinforcing dangerous binaries. Television debates morph into battlefields, social media algorithms reward outrage, and any call for de-escalation is often branded as betrayal. The glorification of military might and demonization of the ‘enemy’ serve a broader agenda: to distract citizens from domestic challenges and foster a collective identity built on fear and hostility.

Media Literacy as Resistance

In the face of such overwhelming manipulation, media literacy becomes a form of resistance. Citizens must learn to question sources, identify bias, and recognize the tactics of propaganda.  And at the same time, journalists themselves must advocate for independence, safety, and ethical reporting.

War is always a human tragedy, and treating it as a spectacle, game, or PR campaign undermines the dignity of those affected. Media must strive to tell the truth, not serve the state.

Between Truth and Power Information is powerand in war, it is used as a deadly. Navigating the space between information and propaganda is not just a journalistic challenge but a civic responsibility. In the fog of war, clarity is revolutionary.