Never before has it been more urgent for media researchers and journalists to engage in explorations and reflections on the conditions for improved war journalism. News reports cross national borders and continents in no time; live images of war scenes constitute a competitive advantage in the struggle for television audience; war propaganda and concept management saturate the professional fields where war correspondents try to make a living under death threats; and blatant lies are promoted by democratic leaders in order to win the public opinion for military adventures. The recent wars, in particular the 2003 Iraq War, are remarkable because of the number of ‘big lies’ that have accompanied them and because these lies have been well exposed and criticised in public.

For media research it is urgent to analyse some crucial aspects of media reflexivity based on the cumulative experiences from the recent conflicts. This book contributes to increased reflexivity by rich insights into how the Iraq War was related to national policies and local conditions. The authors have also studied whether or not the media elaborate on their own role. Self-criticism on the part of the media and journalists is a virtue of utmost importance in war reporting, not least from a democratic and professional point of view.