Several scholars, most famously Johan Galtung, have argued that the standards of journalism in Western society favor a biased "war journalism." In war journalism, the media portrays conflicts as battles between two sides, good and evil, and fails to portray the nuances of any given situation. The history of conflicts is often ignored, and instead, often, war comes to seem the natural result of recent tensions. Blame and triumph - the notion that there will be only one winner per battle - are highlighted, as are the acts of battle themselves, as opposed to post-conflict reconciliation processes.

Analysts that view traditional reporting as such are concerned that the emphasis on black-and-white war stories actually promotes war and stymies, or at the very least does not help, burgeoning movements for peace.