Media Manipulation and Narratives of War
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: This study examines the role of yellow journalism and media disinformation in 1898, demonstrating how media narratives were constructed through emotionally charged headlines, visual exaggerations, and editorial framing during the escalation of the Spanish-American War. Drawing on archival material and applying framing and agenda-setting theories, selected for their explanatory value in illustrating how the press shaped and prioritized public issues, the study analyzes how yellow journalism contributed to the intensification of popular and political support for military intervention. The analysis shows that these historical strategies—emotional rhetoric, selective framing, and visual dramatization—were effective in mobilizing fear, moral outrage, and nationalist sentiment to legitimize war. Importantly, these mechanisms remain influential in today’s digital media environment, where algorithmic visibility and sensational narratives can marginalize evidentiary complexity and reshape contested realities. The study underscores the enduring power of emotional narratives in reinforcing political perceptions and highlights the importance of strengthening media literacy, fostering critical engagement with journalistic and digital content, and raising public awareness to mitigate manipulative practices.
Author: Wael Nel
Institution: Universidad Carlos III de Madrid
Language: English
Subfield: Communication
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W7154692392
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