Peace Journalists share Mandela's legacy

By Steven Youngblood

Nelson Mandela would have made a fine peace journalist.

At a fundamental level, Mandela and peace journalists share an understanding of the importance of language. One key tenant of peace journalism is that the words we as journalists use matter—that they can either soothe or inflame passions. Mandela might have gone one step further, noting not only journalists’ responsibility to choose their words carefully, but also their duty to use language in a way that bridges divides and brings people together. Mandela said, “Without language, we cannot talk to people and understand them. One cannot share their hopes and aspirations, learn their history, appreciate their poetry and savor their songs. I again realize that we are not different people with separate language; we are one people with different tongues.” (http://africa.waccglobal.org/what%20is%20peace%20journalism_.pdf )

Another value peace journalists share with Mandela is a commitment to ongoing dialogue, like the kind begun under Mandela’s post-apartheid Peace and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa. The Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory is continuing that work today, offering “a non-partisan platform for public discourse on important social issues…that contribute to policy decision-making.” (nelsonmandela.org) Peace journalists, of course, can provide this platform, but not just to those in power. We seek to give a voice to all parties, with a special emphasis on giving voice to the voiceless.

I hope Mr. Mandela would be proud of the work that one group of peace reporters just concluded in Lebanon. These reporters told the stories of Syrian refugees living in Beirut in a way that demystified the stereotypes about these individuals while fostering a dialogue within Lebanese society about how to accommodate and protect 440,000 refugees.

Many of Mandela’s principles not only align with peace journalism, but also lay out a blueprint for successful peace journalists.

This blueprint for peace journalists can be found, succinctly, in the UN’s written declaration of July 18th as Nelson Mandela International Day. The UN declaration “recognizes Nelson Mandela’s values and his dedication to the service of humanity, in the fields of conflict resolution, race relations, the promotion and protection of human rights, reconciliation, gender equality and the rights of children and other vulnerable groups, as well as the uplifting of poor and underdeveloped communities. It acknowledges his contribution to the struggle for democracy internationally and the promotion of a culture of peace throughout the world.” (masterpeace.org).

This statement is not only Mandela’s legacy, it is his charge to all of us, but especially to those of us who subscribe to the notion that we as journalists have a higher responsibility. This means that we must study and understand conflict resolution, and apply that knowledge to balanced reporting that gives proportionate voice to those who seek peace rather than exclusively to those who rattle the sabers of violence. Mandela’s legacy charges peace journalists with facilitating meaningful dialogues on race, and empowering those in our society who are marginalized (women, children, and the poor). This means that along with peace journalism, we should practice development journalism, using our platforms to focus attention on societal problems and solutions.

Most of all, this legacy charges journalists with putting our spotlight on the Nelson Mandelas in each society—those who seek peace and reconciliation. Mandela’s statement during his 1964 trial is a testimony to the positive power of language, and to journalism’s responsibility to give voice to those who seek a peaceful path. Mandela told the court, "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." (transcend.org)

--Follow me on Twitter @peacejourn

Peace journalists ponder hip-hop culture

By Steven Youngblood

A very bright young lady named Lilia asked a million dollar question at my Bronx, NY peace journalism boot camp last week.

What, she asked, is the role of hip-hop and other entertainment in promoting negative stereotypes? Because I teach journalism, I haven’t given this subject much thought, even though it’s clear that the images created by the entertainment industry are every bit as power as those crafted by journalists. Now, thanks to Lilia, I will be incorporating the discussion that we had about this subject in the Bronx in my future peace journalism trainings.

Hip-hop, the students agreed, is often misogynistic and promotes violence. Many hip-hop artists, the students said, aren’t really living the street lifestyle, but are instead presenting themselves as gangsters for public relations purposes—to connect with their audience and

thus sell CD’s.

So, why should peace journalists care about any of this? The students and I agreed that anything that promotes stereotypes and distortions about any one group can undermine understanding and peace. Thus, it is the journalist’s role to expose anything—music, movies, TV programs—that creates a false negative stereotype. If our commitment as journalists is to the facts, and to facts presented in context, then let’s consider reporting about African American males (for example) that goes beyond the words and images in hip-hop music and videos.

Bronx boot camp students present Peace Positive

BronxNet peace journalism students worked hard during the boot camp last week producing man on the street montages and video packages with peace journalism themes. They are collecting their stories into a 30-min program that they are calling “Peace Positive”. I will post the link to this program once they finish editing it later in June. (Photos: From recording session for Peace Positive interview/anchor segments).

For a sample of some of the topics their work covered, see the anchor intros below, taken from “Peace Positive’s” master script.

B-WHEN WE LOOK AT MEDIA TODAY, HOW DO YOU THINK AFRICAN AMERICANS ARE PORTRAYED? WE SPOKE TO A FEW BRONX RESIDENTS ABOUT THIS VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC. LILIA YUDINA HAS THE REPORT.

A—INTRO 5 CRIME VICTIM TREATMENT HAS A POWERFUL PRESENCE IN THE BRONX…AS IT PLAYS A CONSISTENT ROLE IN THE DAILY LIVES OF SOME OF ITS RESIDENTS. THE VOICES OF THE PEOPLE ON THIS TOPIC HAVE A RIGHT TO HEARD. SO REPORTER LILIA YUDINA WENT OUT TO GET THEIR VIEWPOINTS.

A—INTRO 7 TERRORISM HAS PLAUGED OUR COUNTRY FOR THE LAST DECADE. BUT, SHOULD TERRORISTS BE ABLE TO SEEK JUSTICE IN OUR COURTS? OUR REPORTERS SPOKE TO BRONX RESIDENTS ABOUT HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT THIS ISSUE.

B—INTRO 9 THERE’S BEEN A GREAT CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING THE 9-11 MEMORIAL AT GROUND ZERO. SHOULD THE HIJACKERS FROM THE ATTACK BE FEATURED IN THE MUSEUM, SINCE THEY ARE A PART OF THE HISTORY? OUR REPORTERS GOT REACTIONS FROM BRONX RESIDENTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE.

Stereotypes create distorted impressions about The Bronx

Students log video after shooting peace-themed stories

By Steven Youngblood

(Bronx, NY)--On the surface, you wouldn’t think that places like Lebanon (my previous peace journalism seminar) and the Bronx (my current seminar) have much in common.

However, as today’s discussion revealed, both places suffer from the same stereotype-fueled, negative media narrative. I asked my students today to list stereotypes about the Bronx. Without hesitation, they rattled off several dozen, including that the Bronx is violent, the hood, the ghetto, it has no culture, it’s all Hispanic, it’s dirty, stinky, and burned down, it’s all projects, the people are uneducated, on welfare, drug addicts, unwed young mothers, high school dropouts, all immigrants and gang bangers, etc.

The dominant stereotype of Lebanon, of course, is that it is violent--a stereotype it shares with the Bronx.

Students get ready for a peace journalism bootcamp shoot

Here and in Lebanon, I discussed with the young journalists the importance of being aware of all stereotypes, since these are inherently inaccurate. Stereotypes are generalizations, which while true in some cases, are never true in all cases. Yes, some here in the Bronx are poor, on drugs, and single mothers, However, these negative realities are just part of the story here, 10 pages of a 100 page book. I challenged the journalists to not fall into the trap of reporting only those stories which confirm the stereotypes, but instead to break out of the norm and seek compelling stories which give a more complete, contextually correct of the Bronx and its people.

Towards that end, the young reporters were sent out today to produce video packages that dispel these stereotypes. One group is producing a story debunking myths about uneducated Bronx residents, while another is telling a story about the “real” personality of Bronx residents.

If accuracy is the centerpiece of good journalism, as it should be, the reporting being done today reflects not some radical model of reporting, but instead sound, fundamental journalism.