The Battle of the Narratives: Australian media agendas and the Iraq war

Abstract

The post-invasion collapse of the reasons for the US, UK and Australia going to war in Iraq in 2003, and the failure of this issue to develop into a crisis for the Australian Government (as it had for the US and UK governments), raise questions about democracy in Australia: about the adequacy of Australia’s institutions and processes, including its press. Media agenda formation was at the centre of this research. Using the Iraq war as a case study, it looked at the varied influences on journalists, including the power and influence of political elites; journalistic practices and journalists’ commitment to news values; the impact of media ownership; and ultimately the impact of public opinion. Specifically, the project examined coverage by two quality Australian newspapers - the Australian and the Sydney Morning Herald (SMH) - to explore differences that emerged in their reporting and analysis, and why. The study sought to identify and explain differences in coverage; who was most influential in shaping media coverage, when and why; and what might have influenced the media’s understanding of the issue. The research included a quantitative content analysis and qualitative in-depth interviews with journalists, editors, former politicians, public servants and intelligence experts.