ABSTRACT
It would seem almost impossible to overstate the importance of the media to today’s armed forces. This applies especially but not uniquely to Western-style democracies. For example, the media representations of the Vietnam War at the breakfast tables of the American public led to their disenchantment with the conflict and a steady erosion of their support. This was a major factor, although not the only one, in the eventual US withdrawal from Southeast Asia (Huebner, 2008). Hence the relationship between media and the military receives continuing interest from academics (Caruthers, 2011; Maltby, 2012). Research has sought to unpack the significance that various news media play in legitimising and framing the military and their activities to civilian populations (Thussu and Freeman, 2003). This relationship is constantly changing due to technological transformations, shifting media-military relations and evolving media production and distribution practices, all of which have significant effects on our understanding of and relationship with the military. Television, and the arrival of 24/7 news, has implications on the way conflict is presented (Hoskins, 2004). Also the expanding use of social media has begun to blur the line between producers and audiences of news. Outlets, such as blogs, discussion forums, video hosting websites and other social media platforms, have provided alternative channels for disseminating news and discussions about the military.
