Inaugural "Peace Journalist" magazine launched

The first edition of "The Peace Journalist" has been published. Click here for free download.


The magazine, a publication of the Center for Global Peace Journalism, features articles from India, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Uganda, among other places. When I sent out a call for submissions, I was shocked and delighted by the response from literally around the world.

As the magazine has been distributed (print and digital) during the last week, the response has been beyond enthusiastic. In fact, I already have materials submitted to me from South Africa and Kenya for the next edition in the fall. Based on the early response, I'd say "The Peace Journalist" will fill an important niche.

The second edition will be published in October, 2012. I hadn't planned on asking for submissions yet, but if you have something...

Vignettes: The last refuge of the thematically challenged

Random thoughts, complaints, musings, etc., condensed for your safety and convenience to a maximum of three sentences each:

1. As peace journalists, we need to become increasingly watchful of social media. While SM have proven to be a powerful tool for positive change (Arab Spring), they also have an unprecedented potential to spread official propaganda and incite hatred and even violence. Remember, ““Social Media is mightiest for the mightiest, not the oppressed.” (Morozov, The Net Delusion)

2. There are two Americas, white and black, according to a recent Newsweek/Daily Beast poll that finds that an overwhelming majority of whites (72%) and blacks (89%) believe the country is divided by race. Tellingly, only 19 percent of whites say that racism is a “big problem” in the U.S., while 60 percent of blacks say it is. The Trayvon Martin case is exposing those racial fissures, as 35% of whites say Martin’s death was racially motivated, while 80% of blacks think race motivated the shooting.

3. Shallow, pointless consumerism isn’t limited to the West. A 17-year old Chinese high school student recently sold a kidney so that he could buy an iPad and iPhone. (see story) Question: what role did the media play in inciting this insanity?

4. Since we now have an unofficial Republican presidential nominee, let the mud-slinging begin. As media, we can’t control what the candidates and their surrogates say, but we can control how we do our jobs. This year, as peace journalists, let’s avoid reporting especially hateful mudslinging. But if we must report inflammatory language, let’s at least hold the candidates accountable for language that divides, incites, inflames passions, or appeals to the lowest common denominator.

"The Peace Journalist" debuts soon

I’m putting the finishing touches in the next few days on the inaugural edition of The Peace Journalist, a publication of the new Center for Global Peace Journalism at Park University. The Peace Journalist is dedicated to disseminating news and information for and about teachers, students, and practitioners of peace and conflict sensitive journalism. I’m very proud of this magazine, which features articles from literally around the world. Within 7-10 days, the online version of the magazine will be posted on this site, so stay tuned.

Trayvon Martin and the search for responsible coverage

As my previous post below indicates (see below), there is precious little good reporting about the Trayvon Martin case. One exception is nicely balanced, deliberately un-sensational report by a Park University student featured in the latest edition of the Northland News, a weekly news program produced by the broadcasting students at Park University. I commended the reporter, Rudy Harper, and reminded him that even though we’re 95% sure what happened, it’s not our job as journalists to fill in that last 5%.

One very thoughtful analysis of the media coverage of Trayvon Martin is from the Poynter Institute, a journalism think-tank and training center.

Mallary Tenore writes, “Much of the coverage has featured coded language that leaves readers with confusion rather than clarity and impressions rather than facts. News organizations, for instance, have reported that the Department of Justice said its community relations service will meet with officials, civil rights leaders and authorities in Sanford, Fla., this week to “calm racial tensions” nearly a month after the 17-year-old African American was shot.” For the complete piece, titled “How to cover Trayvon Martin killing: Report on ‘racial tension’ and look beyond the hoodie”, click here.

Media lynch mob pursues "justice" in Trayvon Martin case

Is George Zimmerman an innocent man?

Even though he hasn’t even been charged with a crime, let alone convicted, the prospect that Zimmerman acted in self defense seems inconceivable, thanks in no small part to the tone, tenor, and volume of the media’s coverage of the Trayvon Martin shooting.

Of course, Zimmerman may be guilty, and may have acted with racial malice. But should the media determine this?

As a peace journalism instructor, one of the things I teach my students is to consciously avoid framing stories in such a way as they pour gasoline on the fire, and to be especially cognizant of inflammatory language that can exacerbate an already tense situation. In this instance, the media have not followed these guidelines.

Take CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360. Ordinarily, I find Cooper’s program to be among the best on television. Their coverage of Syria, for example, is putting increasing pressure on the international community to remove the despot Bashar Assad. However, I have found AC360’s coverage of Trayvon Martin’s shooting to be uncharacteristically sensational, leading a stampede to lynch Zimmerman before he’s even charged. In the guise of balance, Zimmerman’s attorney has appeared on AC360, but his lone voice is easily ignored among a cacophony of “get Zimmerman” shouts, repeated ad naseum.

I am not questioning the accuracy of CNN’s reporting, only the amount (41 reports, and counting, according to The Atlantic) and tone. How often do the same allegations need to be repeated? How often do we have to hear from grieving parents or angry protesters? How many times do we need to hear a fuzzy recording of Zimmerman allegedly uttering the f-word followed by a racial slur?

The repetitive and negative coverage have created an atmosphere where officials may be forced to indict him, even if the evidence doesn’t call for an indictment. If indicted, Zimmerman stands almost no chance of finding an unbiased jury anywhere in this country.

Of course, CNN and other media outlets can’t resist the “racial tensions” element to the story, an element both juicy and inflammatory. Dori Maynard, president of the Robert C. Maynard Institute for Journalism Education, said, “When I hear ‘there are racial tensions,’ a.) I don’t know what that means, b.) I don’t know why there are tensions…Tensions is a nebulous word.”

Maynard added, “It tells me that people who don’t share the same ethnic or racial background are at odds with each other, but really? All of them are… There’s too much room for fill in the blank. I think as audience members, all of us are going to fill in the blank differently.” (Daily Kos)

These kinds of convenient, broad accusations of racial bias may boost ratings, but they do little to create an atmosphere where Zimmerman can properly utilize his constitutional protections.

Worse, one is left to ponder the possible consequences if authorities decide not to charge Zimmerman, or if he is charged and later found innocent. If this happens, will the media induced hysteria inevitably lead to a violent reaction?
Sadly, it’s hard to imagine another outcome.

--Follow me on Twitter @PeaceJourn

Footnote: For another interesting take on this, see a piece in The Atlantic discussing the fact that Fox News has virtually ignored the Trayvon Martin case, running only one story. Is Fox racist?

Ugandans react to Kony 2012

Ugandans have a variety of mixed—and fascinating—opinions about Kony 2012. (For my view, see previous blog entry below). Here is what some of my Ugandan friends and colleagues are saying:

“About Kony 2012, it will be every Ugandan's Joy to have him brought to book or Killed. What has made many Ugandans irate about this situation, me inclusive is the timing. For 20 years Kony committed atrocities and not a single campaign of this nature was launched, six years later when the man is admiring a mouse hole for a home, a 'savior' comes. The video has already had psychological effects on people especially from the north, where they can’t help but remember those days and situations. Instead of us focusing on reconstruction, we are invoking animosity among a fragile population. Just imagine the LRA returnees and their neighbors. Steve, I welcome all efforts towards scooping Kony out of wherever he is hiding and that will bring lasting nightmare free sleep but in doing so, we need respect the plight of the people who are enjoying promising peace development and psychological stability in Northern Uganda. …I only wish it came out at least 15 years ago.” –Director, development NGO

“The invisible children and film makers need to think peace in their scripts They should re-edit the language used, and why wear Kony T-shirts at the screening? To me the video bring sad memories of the war. –Director, media NGO
“In my opinion, such videos are uncalled for at this time; this is a healing time for Northern Uganda and such videos compares to putting salt on a fresh wound. Its sensational nature thus does not guarantee it any accuracy. It miscommunicates that the war is still raging when it is not.”--Journalist

“The Kony 2012 project is. It comes like Obama's 100 troops-too late really. A peace journalist can cover this but in a different way. I said northern Uganda is in a healing process and this means there are a lot of reintegration and rehabilitation activities taking place. This is what a peace journalist should focus on now. After all the bad things people have or the world has seen during the over decades LRA war in Northern Uganda, people now will love to hear and see good things after the bad ones.” –Journalist, Gulu

“As a peace journalist, I think the work was not done professionally, it was not necessary at the moment, and lacks focus because the region which is ravaging from the war is now relatively peaceful and so many developmental activities are taking place…As peace journalist, I think Invisible Children in their campaign (should) would have brought in the aspect of post war recovery activities focusing at the current situation while giving the reflection of the war time.

This is the program in the recovery drive which would include how much is needed to address the wounds of the war which left so many orphans widows/widowers, The Invisible children would also include in the video what good things are needed to help the victims of war and the current activities they are doing in regards to rehabilitation of the post war areas like in northern and DR Congo. I think the IC would have hired the expertise of local Journalists in the land to document that campaign; it would have been done in a professional way. I think the issue of Kony should be left to people of Uganda/Northern Uganda other than throwing trash for people to view across the globe.” --Journalist, Northern Uganda

--Follow me on Twitter @PeaceJourn --