Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0
Handle: RePEc:ebj:ijpssr:2026v5iIa5
Title: The Sound of Conflict: A Quantitative Analysis of Editorial Tone in Liberal, State-Aligned and Conservative Media Framing of the Iran-Israel Conflict (2023-2025)
Author-Name: Mashhood Ur Rehman
Author-Name: Dr. Abida Noureen
Author-Email: mashhood9966@gmail.com
Author-Email: dr.abida@iub.edu.pk
Abstract: This research consists of a quantitative content analysis of the editorial tone employed by three ideologically opposing newspapers, namely, Haaretz, a liberal Israeli newspaper; Kayhan, an International state-aligned Iranian newspaper; and The Wall Street Journal, a conservative American newspaper, on the Iran-Israel conflict between October 2023 and March 2025. Analyzing 677 editorials, the research is a systematic measurement of the sentiment positive, negative, and neutral across the countries of Iran, Israel, and the United States. Findings that proved statistically (using chi-square) that there is a profound and predictable ideological polarization in sentiment. Haaretz is overwhelmingly negative to Israel, 97.6% Kayhan is universally negative to Israel, 100% and the US, 94.7% while being positive to Iran, 72.4%. WSJ is strongly positive to Israel, 84.8% and is negative to Iran, 68.5%. The results demonstrate the importance and quantifiability of editorial tone as a critical instrument of the use of media as ideological expression that each media outlet uses to fulfil different geopolitical mandates of internal critique, resistance mobilization or strategic alliance reinforcement.
Journal: International Journal of Politics & Social Sciences Review
Year: 2026
Volume: 5
Issue: I
Pages: 36-43
File-URL: https://ojs.ijpssr.org.pk/index.php/ijpssr/article/download/222/159/1779
File-Format: Application/pdf