About this Research Topic

Background

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 fundamentally changed the European post-Cold War order. From a communication perspective, the invasion differs from other European conflicts, as the development and diffusion of digital communication technologies have altered the nature of modern war. Today, digital media is not only the major venue for conflict information, it is also an integral part of modern warfare, e.g., through the spread of disinformation. Conflict parties make use of digital communication for means of strategic communication, while citizens both actively use the web to seek information and are incidentally exposed to conflict communication by browsing social media platforms or using messaging apps. Activists use social media platforms to organize conflict aid and mobilize for protests. Finally, stakeholders and the public increase pressure on corporations to move their business out of Russia and take a stance on the conflict in their corporate communication.

The Research Topic seeks to analyze the role of digital media technologies during the Russian invasion. It aims at unraveling how the digital information environment shapes conflict communication, citizens’ information usage behavior, and conflict perceptions.

The Research Topic has three major themes. First, it examines the content of digital conflict communication. Conflict communication is understood broadly to include communication efforts by the conflict parties, online news coverage, citizens’ discussions on social media, or corporate communication relating to the conflict. Second, it aims to unravel which content citizens are exposed to and consume on various platforms, how they perceive this content, and which intentions guide their information use. Third, the Research Topic seeks to analyze various effects of conflict communication on different publics, for example, on emotions, perceptions, and behaviors.

We welcome conceptual and empirical, quantitative and qualitative submissions, and single country studies as well as cross-national comparisons. Empirical studies may employ different methods, such as content analyses that examine digital trace data, online news coverage, or other forms of digital conflict communication. Moreover, scholars might survey citizens to analyze their information usage behavior or apply experimental designs to investigate the effects of different types of conflict communication.

The call is directed towards original submissions. Relevant research topics include, but are not restricted to:

· Content of digital conflict communication: How do ‘ordinary’ citizens discuss the conflict in digital media environments? How do online (news) platforms cover the conflict? How do the conflict parties use strategic communication to frame the conflict? How do corporations use the conflict in their advertisement and PR activities?
· Consumers of digital conflict communication: What kind of information are citizens exposed to and engaging with in digital media environments? What is the motivation for exposure or avoidance of conflict communication? How do different communicators (e.g., one’s social contacts, influencers, corporations) shape the engagement with conflict communication?
· Consequences of digital conflict communication: How does digital conflict communication affect the public’s opinions or behaviors? How do consumers evaluate corporate communication that refers to the conflict or that takes a stance for specific conflict positions?

Topic Editor Tim Wulf is employed by RTL Deutschland GmbH. All other Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regards to the Research Topic subject.

Keywords: Ukraine war, political communication, social media, strategic communication, digital communication, media effects, corporate communication.

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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