Visual Content Analysis of Victimhood in Conflicts in Kashmir and Yemen

Abstract

This study investigates the portrayal of victims in Indian held Kashmir and Yemen conflict in Pakistani Press. For this purpose, content analysis of 141 photographs was conducted. These photographs were selected from two Pakistani English Newspapers, daily Dawn and daily The Express Tribune from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019. The study found that Kashmiri victims are predominantly humanized as compared to Yemeni victims in the Pakistani newspapers. While in terms of camera angles, the Kashmiri victims received more close-up and medium shots, which implies humanization, the Yemeni victims on the other hand, received more dehumanizing frames. In terms of gender, male victims received more coverage in the Yemen conflict than in Kashmir conflicts. Pictures of males symbolize active war between groups whereas females symbolize grief and gain audience’s sympathies. One common feature of the coverage in both newspapers was the focus on violent events compared to other happenings in the region.