Humanitarianism - Launching a PJ guide in Afghanistan - Park University
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IN THIS ISSUE
• Project connects Indians and Pakistanis
• Dispatches from Uganda, Yemen, Nigeria,
Turkey, Ethiopia
• A unique feminist perspective on PJ
Launching a PJ guide in Afghanistan
Probing the link between Peace Journalism and
Humanitarianism
A publication of the Center for Global Peace Journalism at Park University Vol 10 No. 1 - April 2021
April 2021 April 2021
Contents
4 Cover Story 16 Turkey
The first time I put out a call for submissions
to this magazine, almost 10 years ago, I half
expected to get one or two articles, leaving
Editor’s held in person. A number of other Zoom
peace journalism workshops and seminars
are underway , including a fascinating one
Cover photo--
Linking PJ, humanitarian journalism Spotlighting reporting on refugees
me to figure out how to fill an entire maga-
zine by myself. Notebook involving Indian and Pakistani journalists.
Al Yasmine camp, Bekaa Valley,
Lebanon, 2019; by Cilene Victor.
6 Uganda 18 Nigeria Instead, I continue to be amazed and thrilled not only
Peace journalism researchers and thinkers
are also busy considering a feminist approach to PJ,
Violence vs. reporters; workshops The cycle of social media negativity by the quality and volume of submissions about peace social media negativity and PJ, and how PJ can benefit
The Peace Journalist is a semi- journalism, but also with the contributors’ willingness from the techniques of slow journalism.
annual publication of the Center to share their stories for nothing but my thanks.
I hope in reading this edition of The Peace Journalist
for Global Peace Journalism at Park
This is all doubly true during the Covid 19 pandemic. that you, like me, will be inspired and energized by the
University in Parkville, Missouri. The
I had expected peace journalism research and project drive and commitment of peace journalism’s advo-
Peace Journalist is dedicated to dis- work to ground to a halt after last March. I was, once cates and practitioners around the world.
seminating news and information again, mistaken.
for teachers, students, and If our colleagues can continue carrying PJ’s torch in
practitioners of PJ. A quick glance at the table of contents reveals a war-torn Afghanistan and Yemen during a pandemic,
wealth of stories about ongoing PJ project work in the rest of us don’t have much excuse for not redou-
Submissions are welcome from all.
We are seeking shorter submissions 8 Feminism places as diverse as Uganda and Afghanistan, where
peace journalism events and trainings have even been
bling our own efforts.
--Steven Youngblood
(300-500 words) detailing peace
Contributors
Feminist perspective on PJ
journalism projects, classes, propos-
als, etc. We also welcome longer
submissions (800-1200 words)
10 US, Yemen 20 Covid-19 & Media Cilene Victor (Humanitar- Kirthi Jayakumar (Feminist Laney Lenox (Slow journal- Innocent Iroaganachi (Ni-
Media literacy projects launch Dehumanizing Covid victims ian, page 4) is a full profes- PJ, page 8) ism, page 14) is a PhD can- geria, page 18) is a member
about peace or conflict sensitive
journalism projects or programs, as
well as academic works from the
12 Pakistan-India 22 Afghanistan sor in the
Social Com-
is a Feminist didate at Ulster University’s
Researcher, School of Ap-
and media
correspon-
Project connects journalists munication Lawyer, and plied Policy dent with
field. We do NOT seek general sub- New guidebook published
GBV Con- and Social SIGNIS
14 Slow Journalism
Program at
missions about peace projects, but
are instead focused only on articles
24 Ethiopia Metodista
University
sultant. She
founded and
Sciences
research-
(World Cath-
olic Asso-
with a strong media angle. Slow journalism complements PJ Analyzing coverage of crisis
of São Paulo runs The ing the role ciation of Communication),
Deadlines: March 3 (April edition); What is Peace Journalism? (UMESP),
Brazil, where
Gender Security Project.
Steven Youngblood (Media
of archives
documenting incarceration
where he has participated in
various media related work-
September 3 (October edition). Peace Journalism is when editors and reporters make choices that improve she is one of the leaders in societies affected by con- shops and trainings.
Lit/PJ, page 10) is direc-
of workgroup Humanitar- flict. Her work falls broadly
Editor: Steven Youngblood, Director, the prospects for peace. These choices, including how to frame stories and tor of the Lewis W. Diuguid (Media
ian Journalism and Media into critical theory with an and Covid,
Center for Global Peace Journalism, carefully choosing which words are used, create an atmosphere conducive to Center for
Interventions, and professor anthropological approach page 20) is
Park University peace and supportive of peace initiatives and peacemakers, without compro- Global Peace
at FAPCOM. to fieldwork and focuses an author,
mising the basic principles of good journalism. (Adapted from Lynch/McGold- Journalism at
Proofreading: Carol Getty, Ann on viewing linear time as a freelance-
rick, Peace Journalism). Peace Journalism gives peacemakers a voice while Park Univer-
Schultis, Park U. emeritae faculty Gloria Laker (Uganda, page social construct. writer and
making peace initiatives and non-violent solutions more visible and viable. sity, and edi-
6) is a Ugandan award win- tor of The Peace Journalist. Rukmini Banerjee (Turkey/ lecturer.
Contact/Social Media: ning journalist and a peace Refugee reporting, page
steve.youngblood@park.edu A number of valuable peace journalism resources, including curriculum Pratyush Ranjan (Pakistan-
journalism trainer. Gloria 16) is the Masoud Momin (Afghani-
Twitter-@Peace Journ packets, online links, as well as back issues of The Peace Journalist can be found India, page 12) is Senior
runs the Uganda Refugees President stan, page 22) is a freelance
Facebook-Peace Journalism group at www.park.edu/peacecenter. and Migration Media Net- Editor, currently with Jagran
of HasNa, a media trainer. He worked
Center for Global Peace
Journalism, Park University Center for Global Peace Journalism work.
Sabir Musa is young and
New Media, India.
Lubna Jerar Naqvi is current-
Washington,
DC-based
with Me-
diothek
passionate peace journalist ly freelancing and has been Afghanistan
The Center for Global Peace Journalism works with journalists, academics, and nonprofit
based in Arua City. affiliated with the media for and Nai
students worldwide to improve reporting about conflicts, societal unrest, rec- organization with a mission
more than 20 years, based in Supporting
onciliation, solutions, and peace. Through its courses, workshops, lectures, this to facilitate cross-cultural
Karachi, Pakistan. Open Media
magazine, blog, and other resources, the Center encourages media to reject understanding and recon-
ciliation between divided in Afghani-
sensational and inflammatory reporting, and produce counter-narratives that stan. He has
offer a more nuanced view of those who are marginalized—ethnic/racial/ communities and to reduce
barriers to positive peace. conducted many trainings
A Park University Publication religious minorities, women, youth, and migrants. for Afghan journalists.
Vol 10, No. 1
pg 2 www.park.edu/peacecenter pg 3
Is human suffering
Imagine a world where di- newspapers. In most cases, April 2021
sasters, climate change, civil
wars, and armed conflicts
it amplified their power of
omnipresence. According Humanitarian from Pg 4
happened simultaneously,
impacting dozens of coun-
tries, and making the first
Invisible? to the report “Measuring
digital development: Facts
and figures 2019,” it is
These root causes have been underreported. Journal-
ism students in different parts of the world continue
to share their dream, asking their professors how they
work “Peace Journalism” is that “peace journalism is
when editors and reporters make choices – of what
stories to report and how to report them – which cre-
three decades of the 21st How media under-report estimated that 53.6% of the can prepare to become international correspondents ate opportunities for society to consider and to value
century a portrait of the
worst humanitarian crisis
humanitarian crises global population, or 4.1 bil-
lion people, were using the
to cover wars, believing they will promote peace. Is
there something wrong with
non-violent responses to conflict.”
since the end of the Second internet in 2019, including these students’ dream? Given that, we can identify a
World War. 86.6% from developed countries. considerable connection be-
The problem is their under- tween peace journalism and
That was our world before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Considering this high level of access to information, standing of peace, which they humanitarian journalism. This
which, for over a year now, has increased the suffering these questions must be explored: Why hasn’t human see as a total absence of con- is represented by the research
of millions of people and exacerbated the weaknesses suffering been made more visible? How should atten- flicts. It is like, “After the war of Martin Scott, Mel Bunce,
of political and social institutions in facing the problem. tion be given that might prevent the perpetuation of ends, there will be peace.” and Kate Wright, who have
In 2021, the first World Humanitarian Summit, held in human rights violations? Is it enough to set a humani- examined media coverage of
Istanbul, in 2016, celebrates its fifth anniversary, al- tarian agenda on migration and starvation caused by From the perspective of Dr. crises. In the most complete
though it seems that its alerts and appeals, in essence, conflicts, wars, and disasters, for example? Johan Galtung, our main refer- study on the theme, “The state
materialized in the Agenda for Humanity, have not ence in peace studies, here we of humanitarian journalism,”
been heard. According to the United Nations Office for As journalists, we must improve our coverage to help have an example of “negative the authors offer possible ways
the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), it society achieve peace and justice, and especially to re- peace” – when peace means to guide a humanitarian media
is estimated that in 2021 there will be around 239 mil- duce people’s suffering across the world. This includes an absence of visible violence. Photo left-Author Cilene Victor and her former agenda.
lion people in need in 57 countries. victims of civil wars, armed conflicts, climate change, Many people understand peace master’s student Lilian Sanches in Karbala,
natural disasters, economic and political instabilities, only in this sense, a reduction- Iraq in 2019. Photo above-Victor and Sanches More than removing people’s
Before moving on to the discussion, I would like to go and the pandemic. This coverage must include minori- ist comprehension of the sub- during a lecture in Qom, Iran in 2019. suffering of invisibility and
back in time a little. Even though the Rwandan geno- ties’ struggle for dignity, justice, and peace, made even ject which hides the intercon- opacity, the main role of hu-
cide was one of the most brutal conflicts of the 20th more difficult by these challenges. nection between justice and conflict. Conflict does not manitarian journalism is to provide coverage guided
century’s last decade, it was also one of the most invis- always necessarily mean violence, and peace is more by humanitarian ethics--coverage that respects the
ible events in the Western mainstream media. This lack It is crucial to discuss how the media has reported than the absence of wars. dignity of minority groups.
of coverage in turn was used as an excuse internation- humanitarian crises and avoided hate speech. For that,
ally for not knowing what was happening in the African it is necessary to understand the dynamics of the in- Galtung’s concept of positive peace is more complex As journalists we have to observe and cover the root
country. formation production process, which I have called the and involves a social system in which people are able causes of injustice, thus helping society avoid new
lifespan of journalistic information. This process starts to manage conflicts positively, it is “the integration of social tragedies while laying a foundation for positive
Considering that in 1991, tech- in our hands. human society.” Under positive peace, there is a lack peace.
nological advances innovated of systemic structural and cultural violence (condi-
international news coverage, It means that, as journalists, tions that fuel conflict). Positively peaceful societies The research conducted in the workgroup Humanitar-
making possible the live trans- we must be aware of how allow all individuals to self-actualize. ian Journalism and Media Intervention of the Com-
mission of Gulf War images, the narratives, perspectives, munication Program at Metodista University of São
what would explain the invis- and approaches can impact In contexts of generalized injustice, as we can see in Paulo, Brazil examines the connection between peace
ibility of the Rwandan genocide the perception of the audi- displacement by disasters, climate change and wars, journalism and humanitarian journalism, and the need
three years later? ences on national and inter- positive peace is a to avoid the invisibil-
national realities. Our role is crucial condition to ity of human suffer-
This is not a ‘last century’ prob- to eliminate the invisibility follow the lifespan ing. The researchers
lem. The five editions of Care of the people in need and at of the struggle for want to contribute
International’s annual report the same time to rescue our justice which starts to highlight the
“Suffering in Silence - The 10 moral and ethical commit- when we publish the root causes of wars,
most under-reported humani- ment to humanity. For that, it first news about the disasters, climate
tarian crises” have tried to is necessary to set a humani- issue. change and con-
sensitize journalists and public tarian agenda in the public flicts, putting jour-
opinion about the suffering of spheres as a crucial condition These concepts un- nalism at the center
millions of people. That sensiti- to discuss, face, reduce, and derlie peace journal- of the worldwide
zation has often failed. eliminate the root causes of ism. The first lesson struggle for human
wars, conflicts, disasters, and we have learned dignity.
At the beginning of the era of other social tragedies. from Jake Lynch and
the connected society, it was Annabel McGoldrick --Cilene Victor
feared that the internet would Continued on next page in their foundational
eliminate the radio, TV and
pg 4 www.park.edu/peacecenter Vol 10, No. 1 pg 5
April 2021 April 2021
Election violence menaces Ugandan journalists Uganda from Pg 6
Internet shutdown
PJ, safety trainings provide some assistance journalists covering opposition politi- Away from violence against journal-
cian Robert Kyagulanyi, known popu- ists, the media also face numerous
Before Uganda’s recent election, These trainings resulted in an im- larly as Bobi Wine, while he delivered challenges submitting their stories
several media development organiza- proved media approach in these a petition to a United Nations office in following a decision by the Ugandan
tions played a leading role in training selected radio stations, according to Kololo, a neighborhood of the capital communication authorities ((https://
local journalists to prepare them for a the trainees. Kampala, according to nine of those acme-ug.org ) to shut down internet
a balanced, professional, and peaceful journalists, who spoke to CPJ, media
“We have been running a peace and social media.
coverage of the January, 2021 general reports, and statements by local press
election. journalism radio program call ‘let’s
rights groups.” Despite these challenges, there were
talk peace’ here at Radio Pacis (Arua,
no reports of media induced violence
One such media developer is DW Uganda), but we were not sure of how Journalists became targets of secu- during and after the election for
Akademie, Germany’s leading media to do it right. But now after training, rity personnel. Many reporters faced Uganda’s president and members of
development organization. They tailo- my manager, who is also the producer arrests and were beaten by security parliament. Before polling day, differ-
erd their election project by training of this show, is incorporating some forces. A month before the presi- ent stakeholders called for peaceful,
journalists in five of its partner radio of the peace journalism strategies dential election, the Uganda Media free, fair and credible elections. To en-
stations across the country in key and styles we learnt from the training Council (UMI) issued statement to reg- Irene Abolo Atto is among the eight journalists recently beaten by security sure that this was achieved, members
areas including democracy, peace, into our peace program during and ulate journalists by requiring them to forces after the January presidential election. of the media play a vital role through
and electoral reporting and media law after the election,” said Sabir Musa, a register. According to the statement, election reporting and informing the
in Uganda. trained journalist. “The Media Council has been register- was released days later and started trained police constables who were to public.
As a local peace journalism trainer on Violence against the media ing reporters…to ensure the industry treatment for the injuries inflicted on provide security during the election.
is well-monitored and sanitized from him while he was detained. According to the Oguzu, he was ac- Journalist Alex Pithua of Choice FM
this project, the trainings were timely, Safety training was part of the peace
quacks.” cused of accessing the venue without radio in Gulu said when the Ugandan
as many of the radio journalists were and electoral journalism workshops.
In another incident, NTV journalist seeking permission. government shut down internet, their
not aware of how to cover the elec- Alex Pithua of Choice FM radio in Gulu The decision to register journalists Iceta Scovin says he was forced to de- radio station did not broadcast news
tion in a more professional way. was careful and applied the safety tips was protested by media practitioners lete photos captured and recordings Obongi Resident District Commission- for three days. “Usually we submit our
given ahead of the election. who challenged the legality of regis-
PJ/Election Trainings during Presidential and Parliamentary er Gorre Gofin called for teamwork stories via email to the editor and this
During the trainings, it became clearer “I encountered violence on two occa- tration. Following the outcry, the regu- election in Obongi District. and peace in the post elections. How- became hard for us as reporters and
that peace journalism and electoral sions in Gulu and I kept close on the lation was later withdrawn. However, ever, the West Nile Press Association, even for our editor who could not ac-
reporting was much needed given the side of police and luckily I was wear- in the weeks leading up to the elec- Oguzu Alua Ronald, a seasoned news which brings together different media cess international news or search. So
tense political atmosphere which be- ing a press reflector jacket which also tion cycle and on voting day, jour- reporter with Arua One FM, was also houses in the region, has spoken out everything was a mess for journalists
gan in October with election violence saved me,” he said. nalists in the West Nile region were briefly detained by police in Vurra against the escalating numbers of because of the shutdown,” he said.
witnessed during the elections of the targets of intimidation and arrest. Sub County. Oguzu was arrested at violations and condemned acts of
ruling National Resistance Movement Unfortunately, despite several safety a graduation ceremony for newly security officers against journalists. --Gloria Laker and Sabir Musa
training tips different media develop- In central Uganda, news of the shoot-
party. These elections were associat-
ed with violence in many parts of the
country, and this laid a foundation for
ers gave journalists, more and more
journalists were this time detained
ing of journalist Moses Bwayo on 5th
November sent rays of fear to many
In a time of journalistic
disruption, an over- Reporting Beyond the Problem be accountable and
transparent—while
and beaten up and their gadgets journalists Another reporter, Ashraf abundance of negative From Civic Journalism to Solutions Journalism implementing produc-
the need for safety and PJ training. Kasirye, was reportedly injured while
(recorders, cameras, etc.) destroyed news (heightened by the tive, socially-responsible
while at work. Journalists said this covering election compaigns in Ma- COVID-19 pandemic), extreme political partisanship, and reporting approaches that inform the public with the un-
problem was worse than during previ- saka district. low levels of public trust in the news media, we believe derstanding that our democracy cannot prosper without
ous elections. productive, socially responsible forms of reporting that an informed populace.
Moving to West Nile, Vision Group’s go beyond problem-based narratives offer a way forward.
According to the Human Right Watch, journalist in Nebbi, Emmanuel Ojok, We believe that caring about the world does not make
Uganda’s recent elections were as- was arrested by the army and later de- The new book, “Reporting Beyond the Problem: From journalists activists. Embracing our shared goal of mak-
sociated with violence and human tained at Nebbi Central Police station Civic Journalism to Solutions Journalism” provides an ing the world a better place through reporting that seeks
rights abuses. Security restrictions on prior to the election. At the time of his in-depth examination of socially-responsible news report- meaningful impact—with an appropriate level of context,
journalists resulted to beating of many arrest, Ojok was covering a raid car- ing practices, such as constructive journalism, solutions complexity and journalistic rigor—may just be an effec-
reporters covering the election. ried out by army forces at the home journalism, and peace journalism. Each chapter focuses tive way to reach people.
of an opposition candidate, Robert on one reporting form, defining it and detailing its evolu-
The Committee to Protest Journal- Onega, who was standing for a munic- tion and status among scholars and practitioners, as well This edited volume is the first academic book published
ists has published similar reports. For ipality as a member of the Forum for as discussing its known effects and future direction. on these forms of reporting in the United States and is
In Arua, trainer Gloria Laker discusses Democratic Change (FDC) party. Ojok scheduled to become available later this Spring.
example, “On February 17, a group of
peace journalism and responsible These approaches hold true to journalism’s professional
Ugandan military police officers used
electoral reporting. Continued on next page values—seek truth, minimize harm, act independently, --Karen McIntyre & Nichole Dahmen, book editors
sticks and batons to beat at least 10
pg 6 www.park.edu/peacecenter Vol 10, No. 1 pg 7
April 2021 April 2021
Feminist PJ seeks to empower authentic voices Feminist PJ
tion on post-war developments. Peace Journalism is about
from Pg 8
truth behind them, and put them out before the masses in
“Passing the mic” to women different narratives, conflicting ones no less.
Each passes off a version as the truth, some transparent journalism that relies on facts and explores black and white. It is not for the media to insinuate, to de-
During the Rwandan Genocide, radio was one of building on propaganda and a political agenda the reality of the situation. cide, or to pass value judgment on any subject it explores:
the key enablers in orchestrating the genocide – that they are either paid for, or were founded but to deliver the truth as it is, by centering those whose
pointing out localities where the Tutsis were so Calling for a Feminist Peace Journalism truth it is only if they exercise their agency freely and fully
for, in the first place. This makes getting an ac-
Hutu militia could find and kill them. In doing so, Even as peace journalism centers on the root cause and in deciding whether to tell their story or not, and accord-
curate idea of the events around the country or
asks for attention to be drawn to solutions, the truth, and
“
the media exacerbated tensions and channeling the issue virtually impossible. ingly, if they decide to tell their story, then how.
hatred, contributing to genocide. the realities surrounding a conflict, feminist peace jour-
Assessing the role of the media globally, it is no nalism draws upon the principles of intersectionality and The role of the media
In Serbia, television was deployed to convey Feminist PJ... guess that reporting on most conflict zones pres- standpoint feminism [3]. It seeks to center those whose The duty of the media begins and ends with the sole duty
propaganda that would stir ethnic tensions in seeks to center ents a torrid dilemma. With the many actors in- lived experiences shape the narrative, presents their truth of dispensing impartial information for public awareness.
the run up to the civil war. In the former Soviet volved in any conflict, there are scores of outlets only with the exercise of their agency - and in their origi- In the course of doing so, it has a duty to be blind to preju-
those whose nal, authentic voice rather than have another occupy or dice, and to expose facts that are grounded in committed
Republic of Georgia, nationalist mythology was that offer partisan accounts of the news. Ethics
propagated by the media, and deployed to lived experi- continue to be flouted with tampered videos appropriate that space. verification. The role of the media in containing tension by
exacerbate the already simmering tensions over ences shape the being passed off as news, media houses impos- reporting pure fact cannot be emphasised enough. As a
boundary disputes. Years later, even if the media Feminist peace journalism addresses structural violence voice that offers information, the media is perhaps among
narrative...and ing value judgments and aligning themselves by
hasn’t been so proactively involved in facilitat- and cultural violence, and acknowledges the need to dis- the earliest to know about the country’s fragile state, or at
taking sides. That a biased report or one con-
ing conflict and genocide, a subtle undercurrent present their structed on untruths can culminate in distrust,
mantle these factors by shining a light on the root causes the very least, to know where the country’s fragile areas
and the enabling environment that culminate in lie. Instead of exacerbating conflict by playing
that borrows from these instances continues. truth. disillusionment and cynicism about the media
”
particular forms of violence. up on these divisive aspects, the media should
is a given. In an already polarised society that is
War journalism divided, or on the brink of conflict, a section of function from a place of commitment to truth-
Central to feminist peace journalism is gaze: telling.
War journalism keeps war alive. It is the front- the society can end-up feeling disadvantaged. who is producing what, for whom, and to what
runner element that campaigns for the pro- Their voices being silenced renders the essence end? Feminist inquiry aims at subverting the Refraining from alarmist or over sensationalised
longed business of war. For the uninitiated, as of a democracy redundant. patriarchal male gaze, and instead, strives to reporting will go a long way towards keeping the
the name suggests, War Journalism refers to
look at the world, gathering and interpreting media within its line of duty. What the media
journalism that is focused on war, and encour- A community of people who subscribe to such
knowledge through the subversion of patriar- needs to be providing is wholesome information
ages a presentation that [1] is heavily-oriented forms of media reporting, where violence con-
chal structures, and to look at the world with and a statement in clear terms that what it does
towards violence and projects the conflict arena tinues to remain the key theme, will be more
a non-cis-het male lens. It serves to question not know, it does not know. Bridging the objec-
in a two-party and one-goal deal. It confines inclined to sponsor or create conflict. The saying
structures that are oppressive, discriminatory, tive with purported statements covered with the
itself to closed spaces and time, and studies the that history is written by the hands of the victors
unequal and exclusionary. subjective are counterproductive at best, and
cause and effect only in the arena. It typically rings true in the context of the media. Accord-
concerns itself only with the visible or tangible ingly, the foundations of hatred will continue to only go to create space for baseless propaganda
Put together, Feminist Peace Journalism aims at to thrive.
effects of violence, making the conflict opaque. be built upon, and a future citizenry swearing by passing the mic to facilitate transparent jour-
The focus is on an ‘us-and-them’ rhetoric while hatred and anger will be built on the founts of --Kirthi Jayakumar
nalism, storytelling, truth-telling, and creating
seeing the enemy ‘them’ as the problem and false or incorrect or unverified information. information by relying on facts, and exploring
“
dehumanising them. War journalism is heavily References
the realities of the situations around us. Drawing 1. See Lynch, J. & Galtung, J. (2010). Reporting
reactive in that it waits for violence to start before it does Peace journalism from the values of intersectional and contempo-
or says anything, and is heavily propaganda-oriented, In contrast, Peace Journalism doesn’t concern itself with Conflict: The Low Road and High Road
rary standpoints feminism, feminist peace jour- Feminist PJ is
seeking only to expose ‘their’ untruths while helping to the winner-versus-loser rhetoric, but rather zooms right
cover up ‘our’ own flaws. into the root of the very issue. It portrays conflicts in real-
nalism takes the formula of peace journalism centering on 2. Lynch, J. & McGoldrick, A. (2010) “A Global
and amplifies it further by centering the voices Standard for Reporting Conflict and Peace” in
istic terms and encourages the exploration of backgrounds of those that have been marginalized, excluded, the voices of R.L. Keeble, J. Tulloch & F. Zollmann (eds.) Peace
It tends towards the elite, by focusing on ‘their’ violence and contexts of conflict formation. It presents the causes
and ‘our’ suffering, calling ‘them’ evildoers and focusing oppressed, and talked over. It is cautious about those who have Journalism, War and Conflict Resolution. (Peter
and options of every side involved, without introducing
only on the elite segments of society – spokespersons and the ‘us’ versus ‘them’ perspective.
who holds the pen while telling a story, and been marginal- Lang: New York)
builds in a committed, and dedicated approach
peacemakers. In sum, what War Journalism does is create
to stay away from sensationalism. ized, excluded, 3. SALHANI, Jorge; SANTOS, Heloisa dos and CA-
a hype that gets everyone to say “Never Again” and em- It effectively serves the purpose by [2] being transpar-
ploy powerful sounding hashtags – but it stops with that. ent in the representation of the causes, background and
oppressed, and BRAL, Raquel. A Feminist Perspective on Peace
The media as a platform is meant to crystallise Journalism. Rev. Estud. Fem. [online]. 2020,
talked over.
”
Once the conflict is resolved or becomes old news, there issues concerning a conflict; giving a voice to the rival public opinion as only one part of its duty. Its vol.28, n.3, e61625. Epub Nov 30, 2020. ISSN
is a massive decline regarding concern over the issue, yet parties involved and their views; exposing lies, cover-ups primary responsibility is pivoted around being 1806-9584.
without ever understanding the root of the problem in the and attempts to cover-up as well as culprits on all sides a conduit between the incident and those who http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1806-
first place. This leaves a sort of Band-Aid on the sore, with- unequivocally; revealing the suffering inflicted on people should be informed of it. Deploying feminist 9584-2020v28n361625 https://www.
out any concern for preventing the conflict from recurring. of all parties involved in the conflict; paying attention to peace values, the media would not only have scielo.br/scielo.php?pid=S0104-
peace stories and efforts for peace and providing informa- a duty to collect facts, ascertain and verify the
Take any conflict in the world today. There are a range of 026X2020000300205&script=sci_abstract
Continued on next page
pg 8 www.park.edu/peacecenter Vol 10, No. 1 pg 9
If the events at With this in mind,
the US capitol in
January revealed
Media literacy projects launched the Center for
Global Peace
Literacy from Pg 10
nothing else, they
underscored the Leveraging links between PJ and media lit Journalism recently
concluded two me- to mis, dis, and mal-information and an overview of mis/
increasing im- dia literacy proj- disinformation in media reports about Covid-19 and the
portance of the peace journalism approach (and the dire ects--one in the Kansas City area, and the other in Yemen. recent civil rights protests. We armed the students with in-
consequences of traditional journalism) as well as peace formation about how to sniff out fake news (e.g. consider
journalism’s connection to the field of media literacy. Me- Kansas City media literacy project the source, the target audience, double-check info, exam-
dia literacy, according to Cortland.edu, has five key princi- As American wound down the road toward the November ine the writer’s motivations, etc.); how to conduct their
ples: All media are election, it became abundantly clear, if it wasn’t already, own fact checking; and how to implement their own basic
that social and content analysis study to detect media biases.
constructions; the
media construct
Peace Journalism and Media Literacy traditional media
reality; audiences Hypothesis: Media literate consumers are more receptive to peace journalism were being weap- The students did an excellent job coming up with coding
negotiate meaning framing and storytelling approaches onized by political lists designed to discern differences, for example, in re-
in media; media operatives and ports about hydroxycholroquine (a Covid “cure” promoted
MEDIA ILLITERATE MEDIA LITERATE by Donald Trump) on Fox News vs. CNN.
have commercial malevolent foreign
implications; and RECEPTIVE --Propaganda-pro “us”; or anti --Balanced, neutral news actors against the
American people. Central Middle School Principal Dr. Jarius Jones was thrilled
media contain “them” --Bridge building, peacebuilding
--Anti “them” news stories between “us” and “them” by his students’ engagement in the project. He said, “...
ideological and
value messages. --Misinformation/disinformation --Voice of the voiceless stories on How can we fight Center Middle School and Center High School scholars
about “them” all sides back? I think one have been afforded the opportunity to apply critical think-
PJ and media --Pro “us” news --Solutions oriented stories of the best ways ing skills to real-world issues. Knowing that relevant topics
literacy are, in fact, --Sensational news framing --Analyzing/discussing journalism is through media and current events are being examined during the study, is the_misreport_digital-web). The students also produced a
--Voice for “our” voiceless responsibility (peace?), ethics, literacy. Media lit- exactly the experience we want for every student.” podcast (https://soundcloud.com/user-961623623/media-
two sides of the
--Inflammatory, demonizing lan- and objectivity eracy is the thrust literary-podcast). Both of these products were profession-
same coin. While it
guage about “them” behind a project I KC literacy project concludes with summit, magazine ally executed.
is vital that media --Spreading misinformation like
embrace more pro- spearheaded last The project culminated in December with a Media Literacy
blue lies (lies that are told on be- Summit on Zoom Yemen media literacy project
ductive peace jour- half of a group) to benefit a politi- year. Sponsored
nalism approaches, by a Citizen Diplo- wherein stu- On March 18, Steven Youngblood, director of the Center
cal, economic, social, racial/ethnic
it’s equally crucial group; or to denigrate/damage an macy Action Fund dents presented for Global Peace Journalism, conducted a media literacy
that news con- opposing group Rapid Response their research workshop for Yemeni journalists sponsored by the US Em-
sumers are able award from the about media bassy in Yemen and US State Department.
to intelligently, SEMI- --Balanced, neutral news --Misinformation/disinformation U.S. Department of literacy and its
RECEPTIVE --Solutions orientation stories about “us” or “them” State, the project importance. The The 2.5 hour seminar via Zoom covered in the introductory
thoughtfully, and segment a discussion about whether journalists can recog-
critically receive
--Counternarrative stories about was titled, “Me- presentations
“them” dia Literacy for were excellent, nize fake news, as well as definitions of terms like mis -and
media messages.
--Sensational, inflammatory news Students: Lessons and indicated dis-information. The seminar transitioned into an over-
The chart shows UN- --Propaganda—pro “them” or anti --Propaganda about “us” or from Covid-19.” an abundance view of news media literacy and its principles. Then, the
my hypothesis RECEPTIVE “us” “them” of critical think- journalists examines mis- and disinformation case studies,
about the rela- --Misinformation about “us” --Sensational news framing It kicked off in ing that will be especially focusing on the “Infodemic” of false information
tionship between --Bridge building, peacebuilding --Inflammatory, demonizing September with a necessary if the about Covid-19.
stories between “us” and “them” language Zoom conference students are to
media literacy and
--Counternarrative stories about --Spreading misinformation like for Center Middle become sophis- The final segment of the seminar armed the journalists,
peace journalism.
“them” blue lies (lies that are told on be- and Center High ticated media who came primarily from Yemen with a few Egyptians and
The basic premise --Stories giving their voiceless a Above-From the media and literacy
half of a group) to benefit a politi- School students consumers. Turks sprinkled in, how to combat misinformation. The
is that individu- voice cal, economic, social, racial/ethnic seminar for KC students. Below-Flyer
from Kansas tools discussed included fact checking, social media veri-
als who are more --Thoughtful consideration about group; or to denigrate/damage an for media literacy for journalists pro-
City, and college As part of the fication, how to educate their readers/viewers on how to
media literate are journalism responsibility (peace?), opposing group gram in Yemen.
students from project, the be smarter news consumers, and how to check their own
more willing and ethics, and objectivity
Johnson County students submit- work and the work of others using content analysis tools.
able to break out
Community College ted articles that Saleh Al-Mansoob, a reporter for Al-Jumhuriya newspaper,
of their media echo
(Overland Park, KS) and Park University (Parkville, MO). were compiled said, “The training information has been useful to us as
chambers, and better equipped to sniff out bias and inac-
into a magazine, journalists. We learned about how we can verify mislead-
curacy. Thus, media literate individuals are more receptive
The Misreport-A ing news and rumors. What terms should we use? How do
to peace journalism style messaging, including counternar- Co-presenters Lewis Diuguid (journalist/multicultural
education trainer), Allan Leonard (Fact Check Northern Ire- Study of Media we get real information in light of the Covid-19 pandemic?
ratives, bridge building, giving peacebuilders a voice, and
land), and I presented the attendees with an introduction Literacy (https:// We have gained new skills. This training was thorough.”
rejecting propaganda and “us vs. them” story framing.
issuu.com/peace- --Steven Youngblood
Continued on next page journalism/docs/
pg 10 www.park.edu/peacecenter Vol 10, No. 1 pg 11
April 2021 Q: How have you used peace journal- was the core of my stories
Projects builds bridges across boundaries
ism in your work during the last four --I work for (an Indian daily newspaper). In
months (after the September workshop)? our daily meeting, I have become the kind of
Quotes collected from East West Center/Cen- ‘Voice of Pakistan’ after attending our meetings
Pakistani, Indian and why it should aim at building
peace and work for inclusive growth.
Since I am a certified fact-checker
associated with Google News Initia-
ter for Global Peace Journalism Zoom conference
participants, February, 2021. --We are writing about India sending vaccines to vari-
journalists unite In the month of January 2020, I came
tive India Training Network as well, I
--Collaboration in fact checking work and made it cross-
ous countries including Pakistan under the Covax initia-
tive. Interdependence is one of the important reasons for
used this opportunity to connect with
The East-West Center, a State Dept. to know about the first-ever India-Pak- fellow journalists and debunk fake border practice to debunk misinformation peace
grantee, launched a project titled istan cross-border journalism project claims about Pakistan which are viral --Covering the communally polarising issue (redacted) --Fact checking during COVID rumours, especially ones that
“Reporting on Cross-Border Issues of by the East West Center (EWC) and on social media platforms in India. in India, I looked at the impact the hateful politics and stigmatised a community or profession
Mutual Concern” for 80 Indian and I was really excited to get an oppor- the impact it has on the minds of children who are being
Pakistani journalists last year. The tunity to join the group of journalists taught to hate their classmates and friends from other --We in our group of three (from both sides) covered the
project has included subject matter from both the neighbouring countries faiths story of farmers in detail.
seminars (economy, environment, ag- to discuss and work on cross-border I got immediate support and required --Try to add all voices instead of giving one side of the
riculture, and health) as well as more issues of mutual concern. quotes in the series of fact checked ar- --I am working in a conflict area, but I tried to cross check story
generalized seminars on multimedia ticles from colleagues across the bor- from both sides of
production and peace journalism.
A series of workshops was scheduled
in Kathmandu in the mid of 2019, but
COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown
der - Naveed Akbar (Senior reporter of
AAJ News), Tahir Amin (Staff Reporter
LoC
--Coordination for Indian-Pakistani Reporters: --Have been
more aware
of the words I
cross boarder stories
How we use peace journalism
In the project, one journalist from at Daily Business Recorder), and se-
each country is working together as a forced the EWC to postpone the physi- nior journalist Lubna Jerar Naqvi. use in my copy
team on a cross-border media story to cal gathering by one year. In its place --I try to stop the to not make it
be published or broadcast within the were two seminars featuring much- I became a part of a separate group sharing or spreading provocative/
region and on the project’s website needed interaction started on Zoom. with Usman Hanif, Safina Nabi, and of hate content on different social media platforms espe- inflammatory but focused on giving information
(https://www.journalistsforchange. Shahzada Irfan. We are all are working cially --I’ve used it for my college academic writings. It was help-
The cross border journalism project collectively on a few topics assigned --Look at yourself as an independent observer and not ful to look at security studies through the lens of peace
org/). Two peace journalism work-
features interactions within subject to us. partisan to any side giving the other side a disadvantage journalism
shops have been held thus far, one in
matter areas (agriculture, economy,
September last year, and one in Janu-
environment, health) as well as more The regular online interaction and --In December, I did a story … holding both the Indian and --I have stopped writing words like Hindus and Muslims
ary this year.
broad areas like multimedia produc- training sessions helped all of us Pakistan states accountable for the region’s volatility and during conflicts, instead say two groups of different reli-
The two pieces below were written by tion and peace journalism. to understand the issues and most not just peddling one state’s narrative gion
a Pakistani and an Indian participant importantly look for solutions through --Restrained using inflammatory words --I write about climate change often and I’m much more
In the very first interactions with orga- carefully created articles covering all mindful now of reiterating how both the issues and
in the project, which will culminate
nizers Susan Kriefels and Carolyn Egu- the cross-border identical topics. --More selective about language/ tend to do more solutions have to involve multiple countries
with a face to face workshop later in
chi from EWC and presenters Stephen personalize stories/talk about people’s life
2021 in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Franklin, Steven Youngblood, Randall Personally, I am very much excited to --Be careful reporting on conflict zone --Working on cross border water conflict but
Smith, and Steve Rice, and discussions finish the story assignments quickly, avoiding term “Indian Water Aggression”
with selected fellow journalists from meet everyone in Kathmandu later --Fact checking and excluding all hate incidents
both India and Pakistan, I realised that this year, and take forward the col-
this project was going to be one of the
best collaborations I have ever done in
laboration to a new level where we all
become the change agents to estab- “This is really a nice city. You should
Pakistan, India from Pg 12
Youngblood. Who knew the project
my entire professional career. lish peace in the South Asia region. visit Lucknow,” wrote Biswajeet Ban- It is amazing that East-West Centdf - a was also an opportunity to make
--Pratyush Ranjan nerjee project based in Honolulu, Hawaii – friends?
For me, it was the first interaction would be the platform to give journal-
with anyone from Pakistan, and the A Pakistani perspective “I wish I could. Is there an Urdu Shia ists in neighboring countries an oppor- Susan Kreifels, Media Programs Man-
An Indian Perspective continuous discussion with them on tunity to connect.
“Lucknow (India) is cold now….I College in Lucknow? My father used to ager of EWC, smiled as she encour-
“Peace cannot be kept by force; it can cross-border issues and their solutions believe Karachi is comfortable,” said study there,” I wrote back. aged journalists from both countries
only be achieved by understanding.” made me think that people from both When I was selected by EWC, I
Biswajeet Bannerjee while we chat- to brainstorm and produce interesting
--Albert Einstein countries have been facing almost the “Yes, there is a Shia College in Luc- thought it would be a series of work-
ted online while discussing a story we stories.
“There is a higher court than courts same issues for ages. know. It is still there and has a good shops conducted online due to Covid
of justice, and that is the court of were working on.
reputation,” Bannerjee wrote. “I had a and lockdown, it will be impersonal Participating in this project has made
conscience. It supersedes all other The EWC team which initiated the “Yes, we have mild winters compared hunch that you have a link with Uttar and routine. Happily, I was proved me realize making peace is tough and
courts.” --Mahatma Gandhi project brought together 80 selected to elsewhere.” I wrote. “My father Pradesh and Lucknow…...” wrong when suddenly faces on the is an ongoing process. Peace journal-
“Journalism is in fact history on the journalists on a single platform to used to live in Lucknow when he was computer screen became familiar and ism is a tough job but someone has to
run.” --Thomas Griffith brainstorm, ideate, and work on a child. He loved that city.” This short online discussion brought everyone comfortably interacted. do it.
cross-border topics directly related to two strangers in different countries,
These three quotes sum up the mean- the people living on both sides of the neither of whom ever visited the One primary focus of the project was And that is exactly what Kreifels has
ing of journalism, how it should work border. Continued on next page other’s country, some common things. peace journalism, taught by Steven
Continued on next page
pg 12 www.park.edu/peacecenter Vol 10, No. 1 pg 13
April 2021 April 2021
Slow journalism is an effort to develop a form of truth- tains status quo and exclusionary systems of knowledge Slow from Pg 14
telling with room for nuance and complexity, also incor- construction. of dissent. This means understanding democracy as a con- these normative structures operate is to create the space
porating ideas of co-production and participation. This versation that should not aim for closure. Because democ-
This perspective on knowledge dissemination has a long to change them.
counters the normative ethos of modern-day journalism, racy is a political structure based on creating conversation
which is intent on ‘breaking’ news to disseminate infor- history. Consider the founding of the public library sys- around best societal practices, ending this conversation As an act of speaking peace into existence through telling
mation quickly. This rapid and widespread dissemination tem in the United Kingdom—In 1850, a parliamentary act means ending the opportunity for participation. Think- the stories of peacebuilding and considering how peace
was passed making libraries open to the public. This was
SLOW
of information is ing of journalism as an effort to create spaces for ongoing might be maintained, the act of developing a slow journal-
often seen as a done out of a desire to give working class people access to conversations means accepting a form of journalism that ism of peace is a radical step towards the more peaceful
pillar of democracy information and ‘culture.’ However, this still maintained a does not seek quick conclusions. Walt Harrington argues world that can be. Speaking of a sense of slowness is a
through creating hierarchical class system. The working class was invited to that conducting journalism quickly causes writers “to fall
Slow journalism can a more informed participate in a construction of culture of which they were back on well-worn themes and observations—interpretive
radical choice to remove understanding from traditional
linear temporality and traditional notions of progress. This
citizenry. However, not allowed a say.
be valuable peace tool this assumes that
cliches” and does allow “the time or frame of mind to see
anything beyond that.”
removal allows for transformation.
“
understanding is Contextualizing this understanding of knowledge-building Discussions of
based on information that is objective and concrete. This in the democratic theory of Jacques Rancière and Chantal This is a system of understanding I attempt in my own the potential of
view is particularly difficult when considering reporting on Mouffe offers a framework for understanding the revolu- doctoral work. Before the coronavirus pandemic, I was this transforma- Conducting a more narra-
tionary nature of a ‘slow’ journalism for peace. Rancière conducting anthropological fieldwork in Germany. My tive space are
peacebuilding efforts and from societies affected by con-
understands democracy as working against the privatiza- tive and co-produced style of
flict, which often are consumed by differing and conten- PhD thesis aims to understand how peacebuilding efforts beginning in the
tious understandings of societal realities. tion of society. Rather than thinking of this as more State can be more participatory and democratic. My fieldwork peacebuilding journalism creates space for
”
involvement in society, he sees this as more opportunity consisted primarily of conducting qualitative ethnographic field. Critiques of conversation.
This is not to suggest that truth is malleable but rather to for individual citizen involvement in the State. In his semi- interviews with former political prisoners incarcerated ‘fast’ journalism
say that the most objective, or at least complete, truths nal text Hatred of Democracy, he describes this as a pro- within the Cold War-era East Germany, the German Demo- addressed by the
are those that are co-produced and create room for dis- cess of “enlarging the public sphere.” An essential part of cratic Republic (GDR). The interviews conducted were slow journalism movement mirror critiques of top-down
cussion and various perspectives. Access to information, this process, according to Mouffe, is the institutionalization done based on structured dialogue, rather than a more peacebuilding efforts. From Transitional to Transformative
without the ability to also participate in contributing to traditional semi-structured or structured interview format. Justice, a recent collection of papers edited by Paul Gready
Continued on next page
that information, as a pillar of democratic practice main- In this style, interview length is dictated by the participant and Simon Robins, addresses a critique that transitional
been working on, building peace in
Pakistan, India from Pg 13 and multiple interviews are conducted with a single par-
ticipant. Although I focused each interview around similar
justice efforts lack opportunity for participation. This cre-
ates a problematic space in peacebuilding efforts that, in
for journalists from both sides par- themes, the conversation’s direction was heavily dictated the interest of transitioning a society out of a violent and
this region through projects of the We also met some amazing Indian
ticipating in this project. And it was by the interviewee and what they thought was important difficult past, often disenfranchises average citizens by
EWC. These projects help journalists women journalists who helped me
heartening to see mature approach for me to know and understand in my research. limiting room for individualized perspectives.
to see the story from other side and with the story- Zeba Warsi and Shreya
from both sides. In fact, it was nice to
improve the way they have been do- Pareek. This is an act of collaborative knowledge production and a
see how many participants highlighted Creating journalistic efforts for the purpose of sharing sto-
ing journalism. some stories from each side which movement away from hierarchical preferences of knowl- ries and reaching conclusions quickly leaves little space to
The EWC’s cross border journalism
project has not only helped to im- they thought did not adhere to the edge from certain sources over others. It is an acknowl- consider alternative narratives. Conducting a more narra-
Building peace is harder than war. edgement that the job of the anthropologist is not to act
prove the way journalism is done for rules of PJ and could have been done tive and co-produced style of journalism creates space for
But Susan and experts from the EWC as a singular voice producing ostensibly objective knowl-
cross border stories, but (the peace in a better way. conversation and for the development of new ideas that
enable journalists from Pakistan and edge but to reflexively engage in the knowledge building
journalism instruction) also made us Galtung argues are necessary for sustained peace.
India to see the finer elements of sto- It is evident that despite being patri- process while being critical of one’s own preconceived
ries that are otherwise hidden below aware of how we report local sto-
otic, they want to work towards peace assumptions. Using this style places importance on the in- The COVID 19 pandemic and the resulting lockdowns and
the rhetoric. and build bridges. dividual narrative as an essential part of building pluralistic other disruptions have colloquially been called ‘The Great
and nuanced societal understanding, particularly in places Pause.’ This temporal framing of our collective global
And soon as South Asians Peace journalism is an with a contentious history and divided past. This follows a reality is echoed in calls to ‘restart’ economies. It’s as if
usually do, we had a What- important tool to help try trend in contemporary anthropology towards viewing the normal as we know it were simply put on pause and we’re
sApp Group which began to mend relationships.
ries that are sensitive. With delicate work of the ethnographer as a collaborative project in un- all fumbling for ways to press ‘play’ again. Understanding
buzzing from the time it Journalists have a duty
relations between our two countries, derstanding humanity with the participants. This collabor- the pandemic as a ‘pause’ removes a sense of urgency
was created. to continue to speak above the din of
peace journalism is helping us to ative approach problematizes the observer: subject binary from problems that should feel urgent—racism, climate
hate in the region. endemic of traditional colonial ethnographic practice. change, etc. Considering this period an opportunity for
The second friend I made was Pra- tackle sensitive stories more carefully,
tyush Ranjan, a fellow fact checker reporting facts without provocation. slowness, rather than a pause in normal, offers space for
The EWC, Susan Kreifels, and the Johan Galtung argues that to reach a state of ‘positive’
and journalist, had shared a story he us to reconsider if we want to press play again on our old
whole team should be commended peace, it is necessary to examine every day dominant
needed fact checked about Pakistan During the initial days of the project, lives. By framing our worldviews in linear temporality, we
for efforts to bring peace in the region structures that perpetuate structural violence and to
and I volunteered. This was an inter- the Indian farmers’ protest was going limit the potential for transformation. Developing a slow
and we hope this project continues for introduce new ideas for changing or dismantling these
esting experience. As well as Vijay on. Pakistan had a temple attack. And journalism to report on and discuss peacebuilding efforts
years to come to help build peace and structures. In Galtung’s understanding, structural violence
who has some great stories we are there were some incidents across the is a step towards this transformative framework.
lifelong friendships. is, at its very core, exclusion from participation. It is a
collaborating on. Line of Control (LoC). This was a test --Laney Lenox
--Lubna Jerar limiting of potential. To slow down from the pace in which
pg 14 www.park.edu/peacecenter Vol 10, No. 1 pg 15
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