Thesis, Undergraduate (BA Communication Arts) -- U. P. in Mindanao

This research was conducted to examine and provide a description of a mediated reality of the GRP-MILF conflict depicted in war photographed published in the front pages of the Philippine Daily Inquirer from September until October of 2008. This interpretative study aimed to identify the signs used in the portrayal in the war photographed to create a ?realistic? view of the conflict. Moreover, it realized how these signs were generated and how they constructed a mediated reality. The subjects of this research focused on war photographs that contained directly recognizable representations of the MILF, Ilaga group, the Philippine Government, aid agencies casualties, displaced civilians, and the peace process. These photographs were screened through their cutlines, which established their connection with the said conflict. Moreover, the cutlines were reinforced by the immediate surrounding texts that also pertain to the GRP-MILF conflict. After purposive sampling, the gathered data, comprised of 19 issues and 22 photographs on their front pages qualified for study, were analyzed and discussed individually. Results of this research showed that the Philippine Daily Inquirer shifted attention from violent images of war in the battlefield into the images of deteriorating condition of displaced civilians especially, children. The recurrent images of children were highly attached to the concept of ?innocence? and portrayed as passive actors in the conflict but are the most affected in the war. However, PDI failed to cover images of the peace panel. Generally, this research concluded that the treatment of the overall coverage in the whole duration revealed an agenda-driven media due to the skewed coverage on the displacements, and failure to deliver holistic coverage on the GRP-MILF conflict through photographs.