A four-country comparison of the 2022 Russia–Ukraine war news coverage

What is it about?

We examined news framing of the 2022 Russia–Ukraine war among four countries. Employing quantitative content analysis of (n = 230) news stories, we find complex framing dynamics based on political allyship.

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Why is it important?

NATO ally news outlets, The New York Times and Guardian exhibited strong pro-Ukrainian stance in their framing. China Daily, a communist-affiliated outlet, leaned more toward a pro-Russian perspective, with the Times of India mixed in its frames. US and UK news predominantly attributed responsibility for the war to Russia, casting Ukraine as the victim of Russian aggression. In contrast, while China Daily and The Times of India sympathized with Ukraine as the victim, they were less likely to blame Russia for the war. Overall, provocative narratives were occasionally found, with NYT, Guardian, and Times of India targeting Russia, while China Daily targeted NATO with provocative narratives, demonstrating divergent approaches in the framing of the war based on their political alliance.