A invisibilidade midiática dos conflitos humanitários: como a cobertura seletiva molda a percepção pública, valoração das vidas afetadas e a resposta internacional na era digital

Abstract

This study investigates the selectivity of media coverage of humanitarian conflicts and its impact on public perception and international response. The research assumes that the visibility granted to certain crises, to the detriment of others, is not random but shaped by geopolitical, economic, cultural, and, above all, discursive factors. From a constructivist perspective within International Relations, it is argued that the media plays a central role in the social construction of international reality, influencing not only what is known but also what is considered relevant or worthy of attention and intervention. Prominent recent wars are analyzed, comparing the extent and framing of the media coverage received by each. The study also evaluates the role of new media, such as independent journalism platforms and social networks, in amplifying neglected conflicts, questioning whether these tools genuinely challenge the dominant narratives of traditional media or merely reproduce its asymmetries of visibility. Methodologically, this research adopts a qualitative approach, based on content analysis of news reports and academic studies, as well as a bibliographic review of foundational authors. This work contributes to the debate on media responsibility in the construction of global narratives and proposes a critical reflection on how exposure (or its absence) influences the formulation of international policies, the mobilization of civil society, the allocation of humanitarian resources and the valuation of lives.