Episodic versus thematic media framing of violence against social leaders and human rights defenders in Colombia.

Social leaders and human rights defenders (SLHRD) in Colombia have been under increasing attack for defending the rights of communities affected by violence. From 2016 to 2022, over 600 SLHRD were assassinated, resulting in a serious violation of both individual and community human rights. The media's portrayal of these attacks can shape public perceptions and influence efforts towards peacebuilding and promoting human rights. This study examines the media's framing of violence against SLHRD in Colombia between 2016 and 2020, a period marked by an escalation of violence after the signing of the 2016 peace accord between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). We analysed 1506 textual publications from seven media outlets using a lexicometric approach and identified two frames of news articles: episodic and thematic. Our findings suggest that the episodic media framing may present a simplistic and non-political perspective of the issue, which can impede peacebuilding efforts, while the thematic frame can raise awareness of violence against SLHRD and promote human rights defence. Our study highlights the media's significant role in shaping public opinion on violence against SLHRD, offering practical implications for advocacy and activism.

Encuadres Mediáticos del Perdón y la Reconciliación en el Contexto del Conflicto Armado Colombiano / Media Framings of Forgiveness and Reconciliation in the Context of the Colombian Armed Conflict / Enquadramentos Midiáticos do Perdão e da Reconciliação no Contexto do Conflito Armado Colombiano

Resumen Debido a su duración e intensidad, el conflicto armado colombiano puede ser analizado como un conflicto intratable. La intratabilidad involucra el desarrollo del ethos del conflicto (EDC), un conjunto de creencias sociales compartidas por la mayoría de los miembros de la sociedad, de manera que es usualmente exhibido en el discurso mediático. Este estudio describe, a través de la lexicometría unidimensional y multidimensional, cómo el EDC permeó el discurso de cuatro de los principales medios de comunicación en Colombia (El Tiempo, El Espectador, Noticias Caracol, Noticias RCN); específicamente, cómo el EDC caracterizó el encuadre del perdón y la reconciliación durante el proceso de paz entre el Gobierno colombiano y las FARC-EP (2012-2017). Los resultados sugieren que el EDC en Colombia se transformó con los diálogos de paz, probablemente promoviendo una orientación hacia la paz. Sin embargo, simultáneamente, algunas de las creencias del EDC que contribuyen a la intratabilidad también fueron presentadas en el discurso mediático.

Abstract Given its duration and intensity, the Colombian armed conflict can be analyzed as an intractable conflict. Intractability involves the development of an ethos of conflict (EOC), a set of social beliefs shared by most members of society, which is usually exhibited in media discourse. Using unidimensional and multidimensional lexicometry, this study describes how the EOC permeated the discourse of four of Colombia's main means of communication (El Tiempo, El Espectador, Noticias Caracol, Noticias RON), and, specifically, how the EOC characterized the framing of forgiveness and reconciliation during the peace process between the Colombian Government and the FARC-EP (2012-2017). The results suggest that the EOC in Colombia was transformed with the peace dialogues, probably fostering an orientation toward peace. Nevertheless, some of the beliefs of the EOC that contribute to intractability were also simultaneously present in media discourse.

Resumo Devido à sua duração e intensidade, o conflito armado colombiano pode ser analisado como um conflito intratável. A intratabilidade envolve o desenvolvimento do ethos do conflito (EDC), um conjunto de crenças sociais partilhado pela maioria dos membros da sociedade, de maneira que é usualmente exibido no discurso midiático. Este estudo descreve, por meio da lexicometria uni e multidimensional, como o EDC permeou o discurso de quatro dos principais meios de comunicação na Colômbia (El Tiempo, El Espectador, Noticias Caracol, Noticias RON); especificamente, como o EDC caracterizou o enquadramento do perdão e da reconciliação durante o processo de paz entre o governo colombiano e as Forças Armadas Revolucionárias da Colômbia (FARC-EP - 2012-2017). Os resultados indicam que o EDC na Colômbia se transformou com os diálogos de paz, provavelmente promovendo uma orientação para a paz. Contudo, de forma simultânea, algumas das crenças do ED C que contribuem para a intratabilidade também foram apresentadas no discurso midiático.