Visual Evidence in Conflict Reporting

This research article addresses the growing challenges of authenticity, context, and ethical responsibility in contemporary conflict photojournalism. Focusing on the role of photographs as forms of visual evidence rather than illustrative material, the study examines how images shape public understanding, political responses, and historical records in conflict environments characterized by accelerated digital circulation and heightened risks of manipulation. The article proposes an original interdisciplinary verification framework designed specifically for photojournalists working in conflict and crisis settings. Integrating insights from journalism studies, visual communication, digital forensics, and media ethics, the framework systematizes verification practices into four analytical layers: source validation, content integrity, contextual verification, and ethical compliance. This model bridges professional field practice with academic research and offers a transferable methodological tool for strengthening credibility, transparency, and accountability in visual conflict reporting. The version deposited in Zenodo is provided as a scholarly research article intended to support open academic access, citation, and further methodological development. The content and analytical structure correspond to the author’s original research contribution and are presented for use in both professional and academic contexts.