Multimodal representation of violent death in mass media: a case study of Izium mass burial reporting in the news

Introduction This study investigates how the discovery of mass graves in Izium, Ukraine, after the liberation of the town from the Russian occupation in 2022, is multimodally framed in geographically diverse, but mainly ideologically homogeneous, international media, highlighting the use of visual and verbal (im)personalization and visual euphemization practices in reporting violent death. Methods Combining Multimodal Critical Discourse Analysis (MCDA) and Social Semiotics approaches, the analysis reveals how news narratives construct symbolic proximity and regimes of pity while adhering to genre conventions and cultural knowledge around death. Results The aforementioned practices help the mass media navigate the ethical tension between informing and protecting audiences. The deceased in the news reporting acquire symbolic agency but also reflect broader ideological mechanisms, including the mobilization of public support through media framing. Discussion The findings contribute to the understanding of how the mass media shapes the discourse of and about violent death, illustrating the role of media in managing affect in wartime reporting.