A busy 2016 to be followed by busier 2017

As I look back on 2016, I’m encouraged by what seems to me like growing interest in peace journalism generally and in the activities of the Center for Global Peace Journalism. Here is a partial list of our activities in 2016:

Kansas City area presentations: League of Women Voters; Johnson County Community College (JCCC) visiting scholar; Peacebuilding Conference (Park University and JCCC).

Others: Alliance for Peacebuilding in Washington, DC;  Juba, South Sudan; Munich, Germany; Klagenfurt, Austria; Salzburg, Austria; Freetown, Sierra Leone; Costa Rica (at the University for Peace).

Aborted, attempted workshop: Chennai, India (see previous post).

Publishing: Two editions of the Peace Journalist magazine; First US published peace journalism textbook—Peace  Journalism Principles and Practices.

In a bored (ha!) moment, I produced this map to show where I’ve taught PJ. I’m not sure if this is a testament to my energy or my insanity. (Click on map to enlarge)

2017 promises to be just as busy.

The signature project of 2017, and 2018-19 as well, is still in the planning stages, and can’t be officially announced until all the agreements are signed. I can say that it will involve me teaching several seminars in Nigeria in May, then bringing back 12 Nigerian journalists to Park University for a semester-long fellowship in the fall. Our partner in this project is one of the world’s most respected humanitarian organizations.

I also have plans to teach peace journalism projects in Cameroon and Pakistan, and to give at least several presentations here in the US, at the IVOH Annual Media Summit in New York in June, and at the NationalArchives in Kansas City in January. Of course, Park University and JCCC will also sponsor the fifth annual peacebuilding conference in late October or early November.

We’ll talk more in 2017. Happy New Year!

Final update: Immigration does what Cyclone can't
Our peace journalism project in Chennai, India had to be cancelled due to visa problems (long, long story). We are en route home. All tired and stinky but otherwise well. And yes, petty, narrow-minded Indian immigration officials did accomplish what a cyclone couldn't--washing out our workshop. Words can't describe how disappointed I am for my students Erin and Kristine, who have continued to be exemplary travel companions despite our many travails.

Update--8 hrs later, still waiting; students still cyclone suspects
It's about 8 hours later, and we're still waiting for our flight to cyclone-damaged Chennai, India.(See post below) Our flight is supposed to leave in about 2.5 hours, but we'll see. Though I cling to my contention that my students guests Erin Harrell and Kristine Kennedy may be to blame for the cyclone, I must confess that I am proud of their whine-free demeanor during this travel ordeal that began 30 hours ago. They are real troopers.

Students to blame for cyclone
Chennai, India, where myself and two Park students are headed on a peace journalism project this week, was struck by Cyclone Vardah today. (A cyclone is what they call a hurricane in these parts). For details, see: http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/live-andhra-tamil-nadu-coasts-on-high-alert-as-cyclone-vardah-makes-landfall/story-3PiQLAzLXB9njQDhfTdPQI.html .

We're in Abu Dhabi (UAE) waiting for our connecting flight to Chennai. Our first flight was cancelled, but we're re-booked on a later flight that gets into Chennai at 3:35am tomorrow. My Chennai contact tells me power is out in the city, and many streets are flooded. Thus, our seminar scheduled to start tomorrow will start Wednesday instead.

As for the headline above, one fact is beyond dispute: When I travel alone, no cyclone. When I travel with students, it's cyclone city.

More later.

Sierra Leone journalists share lessons from Ebola reporting

FREETOWN, SIERRA LEONE--Journalism during times of extreme crisis can literally be a matter of life and death. Just ask the 30 journalists who attended my peace journalism workshop last Thursday in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

When discussing their coverage of the Ebola crisis, which officially ended just one year ago here in Sierra Leone, several reporters shared stories of extraordinary peace journalism. A producer/reporter team talked about the lengths they went to insure that their listeners got accurate information about the disease and how it is spread. One women reporter said that on many days, there were actually hourly updates. Journalists here risked their lives bringing reports from hospitals, treatment centers, and Ebola-endemic areas.

We all agreed on the importance of the work the journalists did during the crisis, and on the fact that incorrect information could have literally cost lives.

The producer/reporter team agreed, incidentally, to produce a longer article about their Ebola reporting for the April, 2017 Peace Journalist magazine.

In addition to Ebola reporting, we also discussed how peace journalism might apply to electoral and reconciliation journalism here. Though the civil war here ended in 2002, the reconciliation process is ongoing. This process, I suggested, could be assisted by news reports about peacebuilders and through the use of media platforms as forums for ongoing discussions.

I was impressed by my Sierra Leonese colleagues’ commitment to their profession, and look forward to working with them in the future.

Peace Journalism Perspectives podcast/radio program debuts
A new radio program, Peace Journalism Perspectives, debuts Dec. 1 at 7:00 pm on KKFI 90.1 FM in the Kansas City area. The inaugural show features stories from South Sudan, and a discussion about the media and the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

The program is also archived on a podcast available at http://slyoungblood.podbean.com/ .

PJ takes stage in Sierra Leone
At the International Peace Research Assn conference this week in Sierra Leone, peace journalism is taking a prominent role. Some highlights:

At a peace journalism commission session, Prof. Jake Lynch from the University of Sydney discussed his proposed agenda for future peace journalism research. Lynch, largely considered the father of PJ, posed the following questions to the overflow crowd:
1. Does PJ exist, and if it does, it is a byproduct of “normal” news?
2. Where is PJ practiced?
3. What is its impact? Do readers notice the difference, and does it prompt them to take different meanings (from the news they’ve consumed)?
4. Could it be expanded? Could journalists implement it?
5. Is it consistent with objectivity?

Prof. Brian Wilson from the University of  British Colombia discussed sports journalism for peace. He cited research that shows that sports media promotes xenophobia, violence, and militarism. Wilson recommends that sports coverage applies to other areas of peace discourse. His research into peace sports media will identify best practices in peace and sports journalism, and develop pedagogical tools to teach peace sports media.

Prof. Gloria Ooko from Moi University in Kenya discussed how Kenyan media have covered terrorism. Her findings, illustrated with examples like the West Gate Mall attack, showed that news media use a war journalism construct; dehumanize terrorists; use “us vs. them” narratives and profile Somalis as “them”; and adopt a “government mentality” in their coverage. She said the Kenyan public gets only a one dimensional view on terrorism and how to deal with it. Ooko recommended that media re-think their current approaches.

In another session, Prof. Jacob Udo-Udo Jacob of the American University of Nigeria talked about peace journalism efforts underway in Nigeria. He discussed a recent peace journalism project at AUN (highlighted in the Oct. 2016 Peace Journalist magazine), and the establishment of the Peace Journalist’s Network. There are 78 journalists active in the network, many of whom work in areas afflicted by Boko Haram. Prof. Jacob noted that PJ is needed in Nigeria because press coverage has been episodic, “moving from one theater of violence to the next.” He noted that press has a responsibility to treat all sides fairly; to be community-driven; to open up community engagement for peace; and to provide a platform for solutions that come from all sides.

I also made a presentation about our Reporting Syrian Refugees in Turkey project. Tomorrow, I'll be giving a PJ workshop for Sierra Leonese journalists.

Intl Peace Research Conference begins in Sierra Leone
We're underway today in Freetown, SL with a presentation on conscientious development. Later today, I'm looking forward to presentations on media's role in peacebuilding and peace journalism and objectivity. Tomorrow, I moderate a panel on media and peace, and later give a break out session on responsible reporting about refugees.

Fake news and propaganda

Did fake news fuel Donald Trump’s rise to the presidency?

At least one writer of fake news, Paul Horner, thinks so. He told the Washington Post, “I think Trump is in the White House because of me. His followers don’t fact-check anything — they’ll post everything, believe anything. His campaign manager posted my story about a protester getting paid $3,500 as fact. Like, I made that up. I posted a fake ad on Craigslist.” (http://tinyurl.com/zoed6lr).

Another example is a false story about buses packed with paid anti-Trump protesters that was shared 16,000 times on Twitter and more than 350,000 times on Facebook. A New York Times article yesterday de-constructed exactly how this lie went viral.

On CNN’s Reliable Sources yesterday, media critic Brian Stelter ruminated about fake news, noting “the evidence indicates this is more of a problem on the right, among some, not all, but some Trump supporters.” Stelter’s essay on the subject is worthwhile viewing. (http://tinyurl.com/j6h48t8)

As I’ve thought about fake news, I’ve referred back to the chapter on propaganda in my new textbook Peace Journalism Principles and Practices. The link between fake news and propaganda is clear given the definition of propaganda: information designed and used to influence opinion. During this election, consumers were inundated with false information designed to change or reinforce opinions about the candidate, and ultimately, to sway votes.

The emergence of fake news presents yet another challenge to journalists, as well as one more justification for peace journalism. A look at PJ’s principles shows that it is built to battle fake news. These principles include verifying claims/propaganda from all sources; seeking and verifying facts from multiple sources, and not just official ones; and offering counter-narratives that debunk propaganda and fake news that create stereotypes, myths, and misperceptions.

The prevalence of fake news means that responsible journalism is more important than ever.

Reconciliation journalism

Two recent stories show the power of media to tell reconciliation-themed stories. The first is a story on a Kansas City TV station that discusses how a Syrian student at Park University, where I teach, is dispelling negative myths about Syrians and Muslims.

The second is a fine BBC story about how Tunisian victims of abuse are speaking out on live TV as part of their country’s “truth and dignity” reconciliation process.

Next: Sierra Leone and IndiaIn the next month, I’ll be in Freetown, Sierra Leona (Intl Peace Research Assn and PJ seminar) and Chennai, India (PJ seminar at Anna University). I’ll keep you posted.

Fake news and propaganda

Did fake news fuel Donald Trump’s rise to the presidency?

At least one writer of fake news, Paul Horner, thinks so. He told the Washington Post, “I think Trump is in the White House because of me. His followers don’t fact-check anything — they’ll post everything, believe anything. His campaign manager posted my story about a protester getting paid $3,500 as fact. Like, I made that up. I posted a fake ad on Craigslist.” (http://tinyurl.com/zoed6lr).

On CNN’s Reliable Sources yesterday, media critic Brian Stelter ruminated about fake news, noting “the evidence indicates this is more of a problem on the right, among some, not all, but some Trump supporters.” Stelter’s essay on the subject is worthwhile viewing. (http://tinyurl.com/j6h48t8)

As I’ve thought about fake news, I’ve referred back to the chapter on propaganda in my new textbook Peace Journalism Principles andPractices. The link between fake news and propaganda is clear given the definition of propaganda: information designed and used to influence opinion. During this election, consumers were inundated with false information designed to change or reinforce opinions about the candidate, and ultimately, to sway votes.

The emergence of fake news presents yet another challenge to journalists, as well as one more justification for peace journalism. A look at PJ’s principles shows that it is built to battle fake news. These principles include verifying claims/propaganda from all sources; seeking and verifying facts from multiple sources, and not just official ones; and offering counter-narratives that debunk propaganda and fake news that create stereotypes, myths, and misperceptions.

The prevalence of fake news means that responsible journalism may be more important than ever.

Reconciliation journalism

Two recent stories show the power of media to tell reconciliation-themed stories. The first is a story on a Kansas City TV station that discusses how a Syrian student at Park University, where I teach, is dispelling negative myths about Syrians and Muslims.

The second is a fine BBC story about how Tunisian victims of abuse are speaking out on live TV as part of their country’s “truth and dignity” reconciliation process.

Next: Sierra Leone and India

In the next month, I’ll be in Freetown, Sierra Leona (Intl Peace Research Assn and PJ seminar) and Chennai, India (PJ seminar at Anna University). I’ll keep you posted.

To my Muslim students, friends, colleagues, and family around the world:

On what must be a very difficult day, I am writing to remind you that tens of millions of Americans, myself included, still have open minds, open hearts, and open doors for our Muslim brothers and sisters.

The experts are still trying to sort out why, but suffice it to say that there are hundreds of explanations for the election results.  As someone who always tries to see the glass half full, I interpret these results not as an embrace of Islamophobia, but instead as a repudiation of the American political status quo.

Whatever may unfold during the next four years, please remember that our journey continues to fulfill Dr. Martin Luther King’s dream of the United States as a nation where people are judged not by the color of their skin (or their religion, or gender, or sexuality), but by the content of their character.

Please remember that you are always welcome in my class, at Park University, and in my home.

Peace,

Steven Youngblood

Election rhetoric alarms, divides

If you’re like many Americans, you’ve been alarmed with the divisive, “us vs. them” rhetoric employed by the presidential candidates, as well as the way that this rhetoric (and the campaign as a whole) have been covered by the media.

Along with Mara Williams from Kansas City Star and Professor Marie Paxton from Johnson County Community College (JCCC), I’ll be presenting a session on “Peace Journalism and the Rhetoric of the 2016 Election” on Saturday, Nov. 5 in Hudson Auditorium (inside the Nerman Museum) at JCCC. Our presentation is part of a two day peacebuilding conference titled “Peacebuilding: Redefining ‘Us vs. Them’” being held at Park University Nov. 4, and JCCC Nov. 5.

Peacebuilding: Redefining Us Vs. Them-Nov. 4-5

Unfortunately, there has been no shortage of “us vs. them” rhetoric from both candidates. Hillary Clinton’s most noteworthy entry in this category was the now infamous “basket of deplorables” comment.  “You know, to just be grossly generalistic, you could put half of Trump’s supporters into what I call the basket of deplorables. Right?” she said to applause and laughter. “The racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, Islamaphobic — you name it. And unfortunately there are people like that. And he has lifted them up.” (http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/11/us/politics/hillary-clinton-basket-of-deplorables.html?_r=0)

Candidate Donald Trump has regularly employed “us vs. them” rhetoric. “We’re a divided nation, and each week it seems we’re getting more and more divided. . . . [We see] race riots on our streets on a monthly basis. Somebody said don’t call them race riots, but that’s what they are. They’re race riots. And it’s happening more and more.” (http://www.salon.com/2016/10/05/donald-trumps-white-supremacist-fantasies-inside-the-race-riots-all-across-america/)

In a recent speech, Michelle Obama said that most Americans are excluded from Trump’s vision for a better country. “It’s easy to dehumanize ‘them.’ To treat ‘them’ with contempt,’ Obama said. ‘Because you don’t know ‘them.’ You can’t even see ‘them.’ And maybe that’s why this candidate thinks certain immigrants are criminals instead of folks who work their fingers to the bone to give their kids a better life, to help build the greatest nation on Earth. Because he doesn’t really know them.” (http://www.vox.com/2016/10/20/13353340/michelle-obama-speech-phoenix-trump)

In addition, critics have observed that Trump’s rhetoric has divided Americans along gender and religious lines as well. Regarding Trump’s Islamophobia, Amanda Taub noted in the New York Times, “Mr. Trump, knowingly or not, joined a long line of people who have justified harsh policies against a group by portraying its members, often in sexualized terms, as perilous to women. By using women to measure moral distance between ‘us’ and ‘them,’ such messages portray outsiders as not just different, but dangerous.” (http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/17/us/politics/donald-trump-muslims-immigration.html?_r=1)

In our session, we’ll also discuss how news media have covered divisive rhetoric from both candidates, and whether journalists have engaged in creating a false equivalency—giving equal weight to rhetoric, misstatements, lies, and wrongdoing by both candidates. In the New York Times in September, Nicolas Kristof discussed this issue, asking the fundamental question, “Is it journalistic malpractice to quote each side and leave it to readers to reach their own conclusions, even if one side seems to fabricate facts or make ludicrous comments?” 

(http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/15/opinion/when-a-crackpot-runs-for-president.html?_r=0)

In his column, Kristof cites PolitiFact statistics that show Clinton lying 13% of the time, and Trump lying 53% of the time. Given this, is it fair for news media to present similarly numbered and weighted articles showing that both candidates lie? Likewise, Kristof noted that there no equivalency between the work of the Clinton Foundation compared to the Trump Foundation, or between accusations leveled against the Clinton Foundation versus actual violations of the law by the Trump Foundation.

At our presentation, we’ll also discuss the “us vs. them” divisiveness of the gender rhetoric emanating from the presidential race, and how that should be portrayed by the media. I’ll use this fact to get our discussion started: In the week following the release of the “Access Hollywood” video (‘grab them by the p***y’), there was seven times more coverage of Trump’s sex scandals on the network evening news programs than of Clinton’s Wikileaks emails. (http://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/nb/mike-ciandella/2016/10/13/7-1-trump-sex-scandals-vs-hillary-wikileaks-coverage) Does this reflect balanced coverage, or an exploitation of gender turmoil?

This rhetoric, and the way it’s been covered, cry out for a peace journalism approach. Specifically, journalists would be well served to present inflammatory and divisive comments by the candidates in a more thoughtful manner. Coverage should offer analysis and context of such comments while unflinchingly calling out racism, sexism, xenophobia, homophobia, etc. In addition, reporters should reject the “us vs. them” narrative, and instead press candidates to address issues that impact voters from disparate racial, ethnic, and economic boundaries. Peace Journalism would address issues that bring communities together.

I’m looking forward to a lively discussion on Nov. 5, and the day before from 1 to 4pm at Park University’s underground PDL center. For more information on the peacebuilding conference, and to register for free lunch on Nov. 5, go to: http://www.jccc.edu/conferences/peacebuilding/.

Thousands throng to newsstands so they can be the first to purchase:
Peace Journalism Principles and Practice
After a few delays, the first U.S. peace journalism textbook, Peace Journalism Principles and Practice: Responsibly Reporting Conflicts, Reconciliation, and Solutions, has been published by Routledge/Taylor and Francis Books. It is available through the publisher, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, etc.

The book's chapters are noted below. Happy reading!

Chapter 1—The Peace Journalism approach
Chapter 2—How traditional media inflame and encourage conflict
Chapter 3—Propaganda and the peace journalism approach
Chapter 4--Reporting civic unrest and the need for peace journalism
Chapter 5—Peace journalism: The academic and practical debate
Chapter 6—Measuring peace and peace journalism
Chapter 7-Peace journalism, stereotypes, and racial narratives
Chapter 8-Crime, mass shootings, and the peace journalism approach
Chapter 9-PJ: Debunking traditional media narratives about terrorism
Chapter 10—Media narratives of the vulnerable-Immigrants, IDP’s, and refugees
Chapter 11-Peace and Electoral Journalism and media narratives
Chapter 12—Peace journalism as a tool for reconciliation
Chapter 13-PJ as development tool
Chapter 14-Peace Journalism: Obstacles and Prospects.

Election rhetoric
As part of a two day peacebuilding conference (see website) sponsored by Park University and Johnson County Community College in the Kansas City area, I will be co-presenting a session on Rhetoric and the 2016 Presidential Election. Every time I think I'm about finished with the presentation, something else happens--like the Access Hollywood Trump video. In the coming week or so, as I finally finish the presentation, I'll be sharing some of my findings in two separate posts. The first will give an overview of media coverage (it's been very heavy on Trump and personal attacks), while the second will look at false equivalency, and examine whether Trump and Clinton should be covered as equals. Stay tuned.

Peace Journalism Principles and Practice
My textbook (see photo, left) was originally supposed to be published in mid-September. However, unspecified production delays have pushed this back into October. On Amazon's site, it shows an "in-stock" date of Oct. 16. (Strangely, Amazon also lists "used-like new" books for sale--even before I have a copy in my hands!) Again, stay tuned.

October Peace Journalist magazine:
Journalist as refugee in Uganda; PJ project in South Sudan
The October, 2016 edition of the Peace Journalist magazine has hit the virtual newsstands! Reports include peace journalism projects in South Sudan and Liberia and a new way to look at journalism--Peace News.

For a .pdf version/download, see:
http://www.park.edu/center-for-peace-journalism/Peace%20Journalist%20Oct%202016-web.pdf

Or if you prefer a flip-through online magazine (via Issu), see:
https://issuu.com/peacejournalism/docs/peace_journalist_oct_2016-web 

Enjoy!

Webinar by Jake Lynch
See below, info on a fascinating webinar being offered by Dr. Jake Lynch on "Peace Journalism in Media Development Aid."
The freedom of journalists to report on matters of public interest, without fear of reprisals, is seen as key to delivering SDG 16:10. But journalism in both the developed and the developing world has often been seen as imperilling peace – from partisan media in Rwanda and their complicity in genocide, to the New York Times reporting of Iraq's so-called "weapons of mass destruction" in the build-up to the invasion of 2003. In response to such concerns, a globally distributed reform movement has emerged, based on Peace Journalism, or – as it is sometimes known - conflict–sensitive reporting. Jake Lynch has been the chief ideas-giver of this movement, and has been commissioned to devise and carry out media development aid interventions, in the form of journalist training programs, in many conflict-affected societies, for clients including all the major development agencies. In this webinar, he presents the prospects for Peace Journalism to be extended as a contribution to building peaceful and inclusive societies, and enabling development. 

To register, and for more info, see:
http://sydney.edu.au/arts/peace_conflict/news/latest_events.shtml?id=8893

Covering civic unrest using PJ
Today in peace journalism class, we're discussing how media cover civic unrest, like Ferguson, Baltimore, and last week's unrest in Charlotte. We'll begin by looking at several videos from CNN and FOX, and discussing the words and imagery used.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/09/22/fox-friends-charlotte-riots-sad-show-theres-no-unity-says-trump.html

Discussion: riots turn violent—looting video; video choices.

http://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2016/09/21/police-fatally-shoot-man-in-charlotte.cnn/video/playlists/charlotte-police-shooting-protest/

Discussion: words used vs.  images shown; cries of family—inflammatory? Images?

http://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2016/09/22/charlotte-protest-tear-gas-jpm-orig.cnn/video/playlists/charlotte-police-shooting-protest/

Discussion: war zone-like coverage? Characterize….Reporters as center of story?

Our class will conclude with students designing a newspaper front page for the day after the unrest began. They'll select 3 or 4 images, and also write a headline. My Charlotte front page is below.

Engaging with others on International Day of Peace
If you advocate peace, a glance at the headlines on any given day is enough to make you cover your face in despair and give up hope. A Google news search shows over 141-million hits under “war,” including recent headlines from Kashmir, the Philippines, Afghanistan, and, of course, Syria. Throw in 34-million more hits on “violence,” including Chicago’s murders and the New York bombing, and the hopelessness is easy to understand.

We don’t have to succumb to this despair. Despite our seeming powerlessness as individuals, there is still something we can do Wednesday, Sept. 21, on the International Day of Peace, to contribute in a small way to peace in our communities and in our world.

We could protest, and demand peace. A few years ago, I received a typed letter from a Park University alumna who, at 92 years old, still conducts a one woman peace protest every week. She stands on a busy street corner in Indiana every Saturday with a sign that says, “War is Not the Answer.” Here in KC, peace activists have protested against a south KC weapons plant, and in favor of justice for African Americans and Palestinians.

These protests, and the activists who peacefully engage in them, are admirable. If you’re up to the challenge, find a street corner, and channel our 92-year old friend.

Realistically, however, the majority of us aren’t comfortable participating in such demonstrations. For us non-protesters, there is still a way that we can encourage a more peaceful Kansas City.

On Wednesday, to commemorate the International Day of Peace, challenge yourself to engage someone from a different race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or national origin. In a city as diverse as KC, this is easily done by simply driving to a part of town that you usually don’t frequent. You could visit an ethnic restaurant or business, of which there are thousands in the area. Go to an African American barbershop, a Mexican bakery, or an Arab/Palestinian restaurant, and sit down with the owners or employees. What do they think, for example, of Donald Trump’s wall or Hillary Clinton’s emails? Do they feel discriminated against? Do they think their children have equal opportunities in America? Ask about their views on immigration policy, and on whether the U.S. should admit Syrian refugees.

At Park University, we’re taking this advice on Sept. 21, and engaging with a group of six Pakistani academics who will be visiting our campus. The Pakistanis, from a school called Sukkur IBA, are on a semester-long exchange program at Johnson County Community College. At Park, they’ll be meeting with students in three classes. In my peace journalism class, I’ll ask our visitors to discuss at length the media portrayals of a supposedly dangerous and terrorist-infested Pakistan, and to reflect on the recent flare-ups in the disputed Kashmir region. I’ll also be

interested in hearing their impressions about Trump’s candidacy. In addition, the visitors will be meeting with Park faculty and staff to explore our common challenges as educators.

We can’t change the depressing headlines by ourselves—certainly not in one day. But we can do our small part on this International Day of Peace to build bridges between communities, between people, through the simple act of beginning a meaningful dialogue with someone different than ourselves. 

CNN, Fox focus on refugee threat, not humanitarian crisis

When covering Syrian refugees, Fox News and CNN are reporting much more about the supposed threat posed by refugees than the continuing humanitarian crisis.

A Lexis Nexis study by the Center for Global Peace Journalism examined Syrian coverage using threat terms (threat, terrorism, terrorist, crime, ISIS) and humanitarian terms (humanitarian, suffering, relief, injured, pain, desperate, fear). On both CNN and Fox News, a majority of the coverage discussed Syrians as a threat, rather than as victims.

From May 1-Aug. 15, there were 66 Fox stories listed by Lexis Nexis under “Syrian refugees.” Of these, 49 contained the word threat (74%); 44 terrorism (66%); 45 terrorist (68%); 36 crime (55%) and 44 ISIS (66%).  In stark contrast, of the 66 Syrian refugee stories on Fox, only 3 contained the term suffering (4%); 0 humanitarian; 4 relief (6%); 16 injured (24%); 5 desperate (7.5%); 2  pain (3%); and 4 fear (6%).

CNN had almost three times as many Syrian refugee stories during the study period as Fox. However, like Fox, there was far more discussion of Syrians as a threat. There were 172 CNN stories listed by Lexis Nexis under “Syrian refugees” from May 1-August 15. Of these, 73 contained the word threat (42%); 61 terrorism (35%); 60 terrorist (34%); 68 crime (39.5%) and 88 ISIS (51%). CNN also had far less humanitarian reporting than threat reporting. Of the 172 stories, 5 contained the word suffering (3%); 9 humanitarian (5%); 10 relief (5.8%); 11 injured (6%); 13 pain (7.5%); 2 desperate (1%); and 16 fear (9%).

What these statistics don’t show is the tone of the stories about the Syrian refugees--if they are portrayed as terrorists or criminals, or instead as victims of incorrect, threatening stereotypes. Regardless of the tone of the coverage, the preponderance of the reporting is still dominated by a discussion about refugees as threats. Given the limited space in the news hole, especially during an election year, it’s not a stretch to suggest that one reason that the humanitarian coverage is so limited is because the threat narrative is so prevalent.

In Peace Journalism Principle and Practice (Routledge Publishing, 2016), I argue that refugee coverage can be better if it utilizes the tools of peace journalism, beginning with offering a more realistic balance between coverage discussing the threat with stories that highlight the humanitarian crisis. In reporting about refugees, peace journalists should avoid language and framing that reinforce racism, Islamophobia, or xenophobia; report stories that offer a counter-narrative to the distorted “Syrians-as-terrorists” narrative; and humanize refugees by giving their stories a platform.

CNN and Fox News can better serve their audience by adopting peace journalism as a framework for their reporting on Syrian refugees.

Last call: Submissions for Peace Journalist magazine
The deadline for submissions of peace and media themed articles for our magazine is Sept. 7. Scroll down to previous post that describes what/how to submit. Thank you.

South Sudanese journalist, family struggle in Uganda
My colleague/friend "Robert" and his nine family members have safely left the turmoil of their native South Sudan behind, and are working to start new lives in Uganda. (See previous posts below for more details). This is the latest dispatch from Robert, and it is disturbing, so much so that I have written to Ugandan friends in hopes that they can assist Robert and his family. I will keep you posted.

"Hi Steve,

Thanked God I have arrived  this afternoon 26/08/2016 in Kiryandongo Bweyale (in Uganda) after a long detention by the Ugandan police at the boarder point of Elegu between Elegu and Gulu in a place called Atiak since Thursday 25/08/2016 afternoon.

It was surprising to me as a refugee to be demanded 550 USD as border clearance fees for my nine family members whom you people have helped  to evacuate from the war torn country of South Sudan.

I was detained with the whole family the whole day on date 25/08/2016 and was threatened to be taken back to South Sudan not until i paid 1,320,000 UGX ($391) to the police who did not even write any document reflecting the amount of money paid to their office but only to released the family late evening making us to travel in the night yesterday.

On a sad note my mother has developed mental problems as a result of frustration and bulling that we experienced at the border, coupled with the situation we are in right now, In fact, it was beautiful when I received the money hoping to cater for many things, but now the situation has changed with all the but luck we have experienced. My mother is in poor health status as I write now... 

Today when I presented my family members to be reunited with me to get refugee status, people working in the office of the deputy camp commandant are demanding money. I truly do not know  how other journalists from this country of Ugandan can come in to help the situation? In fact it has now become worse in this refugee camp since on the first day I entered the camp. What I saw I could not be able to explain all thing here. otherwise Other South Sudanese have made their way back to South Sudan promising to go and die in their country with gun other than being undermined in this country."

Journalist, family continue journey to safety
My journalist/friend "Robert" and nine family members are continuing their journey from South Sudan to the relative safety of Uganda. See previous posts below for details.

As promised, here is the latest dispatch from "Robert" describing his journey:

(AT THE UGANDA-SOUTH SUDAN BORDER)--"I left South Sudan on Sunday 14/08/2016 at dawn time from my village to Nimule South Sudan- Uganda border. This was to allow me move a little bit when it was dark in order for security men not to see me moving out with the whole of my family all from my home because they would end up arresting me .On my way, there were a lot of obstacles from south Sudan SPLA and South Sudan police forces who could not allow many southern sudanese fleeing for their life to enter Uganda (because they were pretending there was) no war in south Sudan. This is very different from what people see on the grounds i.e., frequent cases of claches between the army and the rebels in other areas in South Sudan.

Meanwhile, a lot of briberies were taking places in order for one to be alowed to enter Uganda. As we were coming, we happened to meet more than seven check points in ln less than twenty miles of journey from my village. They  checking people entering to Uganda. All those checking had to be paid in order for one to get to the Udandan side of the country.

We met differen tarmy forces on the road namely Matiang Anyor forces. These are forces  of the SPLA Chief of General of Staff Paul Malong Awan. These are presidental guards all are deployed on the road to check civilians leaving thier homes for neigbouring countries and police of different catogories on the road who could not allow people entering with heavy luggage.

While traveling we were able to see abundant homes of the South Sudanese ethnic groups called the Madi and the Acholi people who have left their home for refugee camps in Uganda and Congo, leaving their goats and other household utensils now being used by the soldiers. Some isolated case was where I saw some  soldiers  chasing goats from some of the homes that were abandoned (until) they shot the goat using a bullet.

Currently, I have left my family at the border and am traveling back to bring them (after) I have manage to retrieve the money for clearence for the whole family including accommodations in town here.

In conclusion, cases of cholera and measles are high in some of entrance parts to Uganda, and  many family are also dying as a result of that.

This is some thing brief to share and will share more if (when) I settle."

Stay tuned for more updates from "Robert" in the next few days.

Journalist, family to begin journey to safety
Our journalist/friend "Robert" and his nine family members will be making the dangerous trip from South Sudan to Uganda this weekend. The two previous posts also have details about his situation. We were able to locate some good samaritans who are helping "Robert" fund this journey.

"Robert" has agreed to write a journal about his experiences, which I will share on these pages.

Here are the last two emails from "Robert":

Hi Steve,

I will be starting my journey to Uganda on Sunday 14/08/2016 and will keep you informed when i get to Uganda. I planned to begin the journey by Sunday so that it will not be very expensive in hiring lodge when it is a weekend days when the bank will not be functioning. 

Wishing you all the best weekend

yrs (Robert).

On Thu, Aug 11, 2016 at 12:30 AM:

Hi Steve,

Thanks for the work welldone. Iam organising to travel very soon and will let you know if i reached safely. It will take me two days to reach the Uganda and will take for me  some two days looking for a house to rent in Uganda because i will need to get some two rooms for the family and then buy for them food so that they find thing ready. But I will keep you updated on a every bit of step in the process i will talk to you more when i reached

I greatly thank you for the struggle. be blessed 

Regards to all, yrs (Robert).