THE MEDIA’S ROLE IN GENOCIDE IN THE CONTEXT OF MYANMAR, DARFUR AND RWANDA

Abstract

How does media national and international coverage play a significant role in how events unfold throughout the duration of these mass killings as well as the overall outcomes of genocides? This thesis analyzes the genocides in Myanmar, Darfur, and Rwanda by examining the history of each genocide, the local and international media coverage, as well as the specific variables that can be seen throughout all three conflicts.The conflicts in Myanmar, Darfur, and Rwanda have found that the media’s involvement creates conflicts that involve the following variables: the CNN effect, different agenda setting theories, historical baggage, the Coups and Quakes syndrome, and psychological numbing. After examining each genocide from the most recent events to the older mass killings throughout history, we can conclude that there is a cycle of how media outlets frame genocidal events that has not changed. The lack of coverage when these genocides first take place and the time to intervene before it worsens passes before the media covers the conflict with full accuracy. Once the genocide does finally achieve media coverage, the topic of the genocide loses relevance competing with western media that captivates the attention of the public. Major changes need to be made when it comes to the coverage of these genocides and policy implementation because history keeps repeating itself with these genocides. While it is hard to tell what steps exactly need to be taken to make this happen, we do know that the change is very much needed.