Framing Reality and Information Control in Authoritarian Regimes: A Comparative Analysis of Myanmar’s Military-Sponsored Media and International Reporting on the 2021 Massacre

After a brief experiment with democratic governance, Myanmar experienced a sharp return to authoritarian rule when the military staged a coup in February 2021. Since then, the country has descended into widespread unrest and systemic human rights abuses. One particularly violent episode occurred in December 2021, when thirty civilians were killed by military forces. Official military accounts claimed the victims were terrorists, justifying the killings as part of counterterrorism efforts. However, investigative reporting by international media revealed that the massacre was politically motivated, targeting individuals associated with opposition movements. This research paper critically examines how media is used as a tool of power and narrative control by comparing coverage of the incident in two contrasting publications: The Global New Light of Myanmar, a military-controlled newspaper, and Al Jazeera, an independent international news outlet. Using methods from media studies and critical discourse analysis, the study explores how the military uses state media to frame dissent as terrorism, reshape public perception, and justify human rights violations. At the same time, it highlights the role of international journalism in challenging authoritarian narratives and amplifying marginalized voices. The findings reveal how propaganda and censorship serve as mechanisms for legitimizing state violence, while independent reporting plays a vital role in documenting abuses and defending democratic values.