Abstract:
The present research investigates children's representation in the Gaza Strip in selected Arab and Western media through the lens of multimodal critical discourse analysis. This study addresses the lack of critical research concerning how children are symbolically portrayed in conflict coverage and represented through linguistic and visual elements. Six media sources are examined for this study: three from Arab outlets (Al Jazeera, Al Arabiya, Arab News) and three from Western outlets (BBC News, The Guardian, The New Yorker), based on the theoretical framework established by Machin and Mayr (2012). The study highlights important linguistic components such as word connotation, overlexicalization, suppression/lexical absence, and structural opposition, followed by visual components like iconography, attributes, settings, and salience. The findings indicate that both types of media portray children as victims of war; however, there are differences in their framing styles and ideological implications. Arab media depict children in narratives that emphasize their survival, resilience, education, and the intervention of humanitarian aid, accompanied by appropriate images. In contrast, Western media often emphasizes immediate urgency and distressing trauma, as well as emotional hardship, frequently employing sensational and dramatic language along with impactful visuals. These differences illustrate ideological positions and audience expectations, underscoring the influence of cultural and political contexts on media discourse. This research contributes to the fields of media and discourse analysis through a comprehensive comparison of child representation in conflict reporting. The study concludes by suggesting that the media should adopt more ethical practices and calls for further research to be conducted on the portrayal of vulnerable groups in global journalism.
