Reading list:
"Harrowing Year" for Press Freedom; Analyzing Peacebuilding
Since it’s the holidays and class isn’t in session, I thought it would be a great time to assign some reading. While I can’t promise that it will be light reading, I can guarantee that it will be interesting.

First, the topic of journalists under fire continues to dominate discourse in the field. It was the theme of a wonderful conference I recently attended (see previous post) and of the most recent edition of the Peace Journalist magazine. The Press Freedom tracker has an interesting end-of-year analysis detailing what it calls a “harrowing year for press freedom. The Tracker has documented more than 100 press freedom incidents since January, from murders and physical attacks to stops at the border and legal orders.”

Alarming graphic from The New Republic

Along the same lines, the New Republic has posted an interesting article analyzing why so many journalists were murdered in 2018. Author Joel Simon observes, “There is no single explanation for why journalists are being killed and imprisoned. But the disappointing response of the United States government to these crimes—its abrogation of its traditional role as model for a free press—helps explain why the perpetrators are acting with such impunity."

Two other articles assess peace and peacebuilding. One, in Dr. Johan Galtung’s Transcend Media Services website, talks about how rural radio stations are helping to foster peace in Colombia. The second article, published at Peaceinsight.org, suggests strategies for enhancing peacebuilding, including bottom-up approaches, constructive conflict management, and confronting and transforming populism.

Here's hoping for a less harrowing and more peaceful 2019.

Journalists from around the globe compare threats, challenges

(Santa Fe, NM)-I traveled 754 miles from Kansas City to Santa Fe, New Mexico this week to attend and speak at a conference titled, “Journalism Under Fire” (JUF). Little did I realize that this short trip would literally take me around the world.

JUF was blessed by the active presence of 48 international journalists (literally, from Albania to Zimbabwe). These journalists were brought to the U.S. as Edward R. Murrow Fellows by the U.S.  State Department.

Interactions between the international journalists and the Americans present enlightened and enriched both groups. I was privileged to moderate two exchanges with the international journalists. One featured journalists from Ghana, Cote D’Ivoire, Cameroon, and Nigeria (panel discussion on misinformation), while another had reporters from Cameroon, Niger, and Nigeria (Citizen Exchange Circle). We discussed fake news and government propaganda; the double-edge sword of social media; the challenges of reporting about terrorism; and the state of media freedom in their respective countries.

Intl journalists' panel discussion

My breakfast and lunch chats with the visitors about their careers and their lives were equally enriching. Professionally, several journalists even indicated an interest in hosting me for a peace journalism workshop or project in their home countries in Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia.

At JUF, the international journalists and I were engaged by some wonderful speakers, including Pulitzer Prize winners Dana Priest (Washington Post) and Don Bartletti (Los Angeles Times).

Priest spoke about global censorship. Interestingly, she said that Facebook’s handling of news constitutes “a new kind of censorship” that promotes extreme views by giving consumers only the news Facebook thinks readers “want.” Photojournalist Bartletti showed his photo essays from the U.S.-Mexico border (including recent shots of the caravan), and from Honduras. His photos were evocative: infuriating, depressing, and startling.

Other JUF speakers included Ukrainian Olga Yurkova (fake news, Russia and Ukraine); Arbana Xhare from Kosovo (threats against journalists); Angela Kocherga and Alfredo Corchado (covering the U.S.-Mexican border); Nikahong Kowsar (the dangers of political cartooning in Iran); and several New Mexico journalists discussing their challenges and threats. I also spoke about peace journalism and covering migrants (see previous blog for details).

Journalism Under Fire plenary session

Journalism Under Fire was organized by Executive Director Sandy Campbell and his staff at the Santa Fe Council on International Relations. Jason Rezaian of the Washington Post spoke at JUF and wrote about the conference in the Post. Rezaian noted that the conference was timely, since threats facing journalism “one of the most consequential challenges facing free societies today.” I couldn’t agree more.

In Santa Fe, talking immigrants, media coverage, and PJ
(Santa Fe, New Mexico)—Given the right topic, even I can hold an audience’s attention.

This was proven today at the “Journalism Under Fire” conference, where a lively group of about 40 gathered with me to discuss media coverage of migrants, and how peace journalism can be a tool to improve that coverage.

After a quick examination of superficiality, negativity, and stereotyping coverage of Syrian refugees in  European and Turkish media, we talked about how many of those same traits can be seen in recent coverage of the caravan “crisis.” I showed findings of recent studies that showed the threat was exaggerated, and that negative language was used far more than positive language about the caravan migrants. Finally, we discussed the way that the president used the media to spread his anti-immigrant hysteria.

Peace journalism, conversely, would portray immigrants more three-dimensionally, and with a humanitarian angle. PJ would also reject the harsh, judgmental language we’ve seen so much in the media. I played several examples of peace journalism style stories, including a terrific piece by NPR’s Scott Simon about a family separated at the border (https://www.npr.org/2018/08/11/637780548/how-separation-affected-a-migrant-family).

The audience pitched me some difficult questions to close out the discussion. Will audiences pay attention to PJ stories? (Actually, research shows audiences prefer PJ and solutions themed stories). How can we get media consumers out of their bubbles? (Not easy. Start with media literacy).
We could have discussed all of this for two more hours. However, I wouldn’t be surprised if the discussion doesn’t continue at coffee breaks and lunch over  the next couple of days.

I’ll have more about this excellent conference in the coming days. For now, learn more at: https://www.sfcir.org/journalism-under-fire/ .

On caravan, press regrettably plays 'follow the leader'
The American press’ regrettable “follow the leader” behavior while reporting the migrant “crisis” has served the Trump administration more than the public.

Trump sparked an avalanche of coverage as he repeatedly warned about the “threats” posed by a caravan of 3,000-7,000 Central American migrants winding their way through Mexico towards the U.S. Trump’s statements, and the accompanying press coverage, peaked in the 10 days before the midterms, and fell precipitously in the 10 days after the election.

From Oct. 27 to Nov. 5, the 10 days before the elections, Trump mentioned the migrant caravan more than 60 times, according to CNN ( https://tinyurl.com/ycek87o6). During those same 10 days, a LexisNexis broadcast transcript search showed 2,458 hits for news stories about the caravan. In the 10 days after the midterms, Nov. 7-16, Trump used the word “caravan” only once, during a news conference on Nov. 7 (CNN).  In a LexisNexis broadcast transcript search for Nov. 7-16, there were only 904 hits for “caravan” stories—a 63% drop from the pre-midterm level.

This trend was especially, and predictably, true on Fox News. CNN reported that the caravan was mentioned on Fox 733 times in the seven days preceding the election, and only 126 times in the seven days after (through Nov. 15). ( https://tinyurl.com/ycek87o6)

This data showing press coverage mirroring Trump’s caravan statements would seem to answer the chicken-egg question, “Do the press lead or follow?”

Of course, media must report what the president says or does, even if it is demonstrably false political propaganda. However, once initial reporting makes clear the president’s virulent anti-migrant stance, how much daily repetition is really needed? Certainly, such repetitious reporting puts the press at risk for becoming a vehicle for political propaganda, xenophobia, and fear mongering.

Some of this repetitious caravan reporting included fact checking aimed at setting the record straight. A NexisUni search showed 318 hits under “caravan fact check” before the midterms. This includes fact checking reports by AP, The New York Times, and NPR among others. There’s no question that fact checking is important. But the same questions must be asked here: Once the record has been set straight again and again, at what point does the fact checking become self-defeating? When can legitimate fact checking be perceived (or dismissed) by the president’s supporters as Trump-bashing? Does too much fact checking feed the narratives that Trump is being unfairly targeted by a hostile, “fake news” press.

There is a better way. Instead of being led by any politician, the media should set the tone, and the agenda, with more insightful, thorough coverage. In this instance, better reporting would have started with the same prominent (front page, lead story) coverage about the president’s caravan claims, then backed off (less coverage, less prominent coverage, less live coverage) once the reporting became repetitious. Better reporting would have featured a majority of stories focused on the migrants themselves, as well as the impact of the caravan on Mexican host communities. Better reporting would have muted the red-faced pundits and political opportunists on both sides. Why report the same hate, fear, and anger from all sides over and over?

More responsible reporting about any migrants (immigrants, asylum seekers, and refuges) would avoid spreading propaganda (like that coming out of the White House); not use language that reinforces stereotypes, racism, sexism or xenophobia (“invasion” of terrorists and criminals, for example); proactively report stories that offer counter-narratives that debunk stereotypes and challenge exclusively negative narratives (stories explaining that migrants are actually fleeing for their lives); and tell stories that humanize migrants and border officials.

Whether real or politically-created, there will be another “crisis.” Perhaps next time, the media can avoid being used as a political megaphone, and instead report in a way that gives a more nuanced view of the situation and of those seeking refuge.

Journalists struggle to overcome authoritarianism

It’s been a rough week for journalists here and abroad. 

In the U.S., White House attacks against the press, including nasty comments directed at individual reporters, continue unabated. From a peace journalism perspective, journalists are best served when they avoid falling into the partisan narrative trap laid by the president, and instead stick to the facts as much as possible. Good journalism, and especially reporting that rejects “us vs. them” narratives, is the best weapon against our critics. 

A state newspaper in Tanzania claiming that
the arrested CPJ representatives were spies

In Africa, two recent incidents reflect the precarious nature of press freedom. In Tanzania, Committee to Protect Journalists Africa Program Coordinator Angela Quintal and CPJ Representative Muthoki Mumo were arrested, harassed, threatened, and interrogated by authorities. Their electronic devices were confiscated. “They repeatedly accused us of lying,” Quintal wrote. “We were alone at the mercy of a posse of men, some of whom were very abusive and hostile. The only woman agent had long gone home. We were taken back downstairs into a shabby sitting room and asked gendered questions. An intelligence agent was particularly abusive towards Muthoki. He even slapped and shoved her. I tried to intervene and was told to back off. I was terrified that Muthoki would be sexually assaulted (she was not) and I would be powerless to stop them.“ ( https://tinyurl.com/y9uen8ep )

Fortunately, Quintal and Mumo were released, thanks in large part to international pressure on the government.

Across the continent in Cameroon, authorities unlawfully detained TV reporter/anchor Mimi Mefo as part of a false news and cybercrime investigation. She was later charged with a state security offense of publishing false information about clashes between the army and separatists in Anglophone Cameroon. After a storm of protest, led by an online #FreeMimiMefo campaign, the government relented and released her. However, at least six other journalists have been arrested since Oct. 7, and two remain in prison. (http://www.africanews.com/2018/11/10/cameroon-journalist-mimi-mefo-released/ )  

In Cameroon, where I’ve spent the last two Julys, reporters surveyed in July, 2018 said that they believe they are safer (not safe) from arrest, kidnapping, and violence if they practice peace journalism. More details on this survey can be found in the latest Peace Journalist magazine (https://tinyurl.com/y7pb2cnb) , which also features stories about reporters under fire in Nigeria and Indian-controlled Kashmir.

Practicing responsible peace journalism doesn’t make us bulletproof, but it does make it more difficult for authoritarian regimes to justify the harassment, arrest, and abuse of journalists.

Reconciliation and media in the U.S.
Today, the day after the election, I thought it would be interesting for my peace journalism class at Park University to do a little brainstorming about reconciliation in the U.S. and how media can bolster reconciliation processes.

Toward that end, I asked student groups to identify reconciliation issues, and then list a few stories the media might tell about these issues that might generate valuable discussions about the issues at hand.

One group chose the victims of hate crimes and their perpetrators, and listed as "healing" reports stories where the perp openly discusses his crime, and stories about how he is reaching out to victims in various ways. A second group chose as their issues reconciliation between African Americans and police, and listed stories including contextual pieces about overall arrests and trends involving African Americans and joint (African Americans and police together) projects to assist those in need in the community. The final group chose reconciliation between Middle Easterners and the larger society. This group would promote stories that told stories about Middle Easterner academic achievers, and about common challenges in employment.

I kicked in my two cents and chose the related topic of reconciliation between Christians and Muslims in the U.S. The stories I would report would include how the two groups have joined forces on political campaigns, and features on how discrimination cuts across religious boundaries.

As always, I learned more from my students than they learned from me. 

Conference highlights power of peace radio

Because of its close connection to everyday people, radio offers a unique platform for peacebuilding.

That theme was prominently displayed at Park University on Oct. 26 as conference participants discussed, “Radio as an Effective Peacebuilding Tool: Achievements from Africa and America.”

The discussion began with a three-way Skype between Park University and peacebuilders from the

Via Skype, Rev. Fobang (l) and Alexander Vojvoda (r).

Cameroon Community Media Network (CCMN). Alexander Vojvoda and Reverend Geraldine Fobang introduced the 45 attendees to the CCMN, which is an association of media houses seeking to develop Cameroonian media and practice peace journalism. They discussed two recent peace journalism projects in Cameroon, one of which was raided and shut down by police.

Rev. Fobang also discussed the many steps taken to promote peace by the radio station she manages, CBS radio in Bamenda. These include a program called “Eyole-Wind of Peace” and a radio drama titled, “A Call for Peace.” Vojvoda discussed as well the importance of community media as a way to leverage peace journalism, provide a voice to the voiceless in Anglophone communities, and build bridges between communities in conflict.

The peacebuilding activities by CBS and CCMN are occurring against a backdrop of escalating conflict between rebels in Anglophone regions and Francophone authorities. October has been an especially difficult month, the presenters noted, due to the presidential election and one-year anniversary of the declaration of an independent Anglophone “nation” in northwest and southwest Cameroon.

The conversation then moved to East Africa. I discussed how radio has become a peacebuilding tool in that region, and played audio stories for the audience. These included peace and electoral journalism radio reports from Uganda and peace and reconciliation journalism stories from South Sudan.

The ability of radio to foster conversations was emphasized not only in Africa but in Kansas City as well. Speakers from two KC radio stations discussed how their outlets have fostered peace.

Laura Ziegler and Ron Jones from public radio station KCUR presented about the station’s “Here to Listen” community engagement project. Ziegler said the project was “designed to tell stories from the perspective of those who live the story.” Stories disseminated by this project are underreported tales from small towns around Kansas City which are told to “build empathy on all sides,” according to Jones.

KCUR's Laura Ziegler

Ziegler and Jones also discussed KCUR’s “Beyond our Borders” initiative which, in the truest spirit of peace journalism, seeks to build bridges across Kansas City’s geographical and racial boundaries and, in Ziegler’s words, “to defy stereotypes.”

The radio and peacebuilding event concluded with a presentation by Spencer Graves, board member of community radio station KKFI. He gave examples of peace initiatives broadcast by KKFI or disseminated on its website, including events and rallies by PeaceWorks Kansas City.

The Oct. 26 radio session was part of a three-day Greater Kansas City Peacebuilding Conference which featured a keynote address from Ambassador Bill Taylor, executive vice president of the United States Institute of Peace. He discussed USIP’s peacebuilding efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan, and surprised many when he stated that he has hopes of a negotiated settlement with the Taliban in Afghanistan.

The conference was jointly sponsored by the Center for Global Peace Journalism at Park University (Parkville, MO), Johnson County Community College (Kansas), the International Relations Council (greater Kansas City), and Avila University (Kansas City).

New study:
Media more negative than sympathetic toward caravan migrants

A study of news media reporting about the migrant caravan in Mexico using the Lexis-Nexis database shows that negative mentions about the migrants outnumber positive ones, and that news media are guilty of exaggerating the “threat” posed by the migrants.

In the study of news reports by the Center for Global Peace Journalism from Oct. 1-22, negative mentions more than double sympathetic ones in newspapers (2,773 articles); while negative mentions outnumber sympathetic ones by about 25% in broadcast transcripts (1,444 stories). Negative mentions included terminology like “surge,” “threat,” “flood,” “stream(ing),” “criminals,” “force,” “illegal/illegals,” and “crisis.” Sympathetic terms searched for included “poor,” “asylum,” “hungry,” “dehydrated,” “sick,” “misery,” “migrants,” “flee,” “refugee,” “poverty,” and “murder rate.” The most used negative terminology in both newspapers and on broadcasts was “illegal/illegals,” which appeared in 26% of broadcasts and 58% of newspaper stories.

The study also shows the media are exaggerating the “threat” posed by the number of migrants. The Guardian reports there are 3,000 caravan migrants (Oct. 19), while CNN says there were 2,200 on the bridge connecting Guatemala and Mexico, while 900 tried to cross the border illegally (Oct. 22). How many migrants constitute a threat is debatable. Still, much of the media are engaging in hyperbole by using subjective labels for the caravan like “massive,” “enormous,” “huge,” and even “large.” There were 383 of these exaggerated terms in the 1,444 broadcast stories analyzed, and 184 exaggerations in the 2,773 newspaper stories in the study. Broadcast stories used these exaggerations (by percentage) about four times as often as their newspaper colleagues.

Interestingly, the broadcast stories about the migrant caravan were simultaneously more negative (39% of the stories) and more sympathetic (31% of the stories) than their newspaper counterparts (19% negative and 8% sympathetic). One might conclude that the newspaper stories were more neutral and less sensational generally, which is understandable given the partisan ideological extremes present in broadcasters like Fox and MSNBC.

The data does not take into account duplicate words appearing in any one story. For example, "asylum" and "flood" could appear together in one or more stories. Thus, reaching any conclusion about the tone of any individual story is difficult, though the number of times each word is used can give us some useful information about the tone and narrative of the reporting in general.

That said, these findings are consistent with previous research in the field that indicated predominantly negative narratives about migrants, including framing of migrants as invaders and hype about the “threat” and “crisis” which labeled migrant groups using terms like “flood,” “tide,” and “waves.” (Peace Journalism Principles and Practices, 2016, p. 158).

See below, full data from the study.

Findings of study conducted Oct 22, 2018:

Oct 1-Oct 22, Lexis Nexis, all broadcast transcripts

Database searched for "caravan."1444 stories produced. In these 1444 caravan stories, we searched for the terminology listed below.

Negative terminology—surge-25; threat-28; flood-11; stream(ing) 11; criminals-18; force 151; illegals/ illegal 148; exploding 5;  crisis--168  --565 negative mentions

Exaggerated terminology—massive 34; enormous 13; huge 296; large 40  --383 exaggerations 

Sympathetic terminology—poor 3; asylum 215; hungry 2; dehydrated 3; sick 55; misery 3; migrants 6; flee 25; refugee 13 ; poverty 81; murder rate 48;   --454 sympathetic mentions

Oct 1-Oct 22, Lexis Nexis, all Newspapers

Caravan 2773 hits

Negative terminology—surge-41; threat-11; flood-6; stream(ing) 2; criminals-9; force 148; illegals/ illegal 298; exploding 0; crisis-1  --516 negative mentions

Exaggerated terminology—massive 120; enormous 6; huge 7; large 51  --184 exaggerations 

Sympathetic terminology—poor 25; asylum 21; hungry 6; dehydrated 0; sick 31; misery 1; migrants 12; flee 35; refugee 10 ; poverty 66; murder rate 2;   --209 sympathetic mentions

Conclusions—
--Negative mentions more than double sympathetic ones in newspapers; about 25% more in broadcast transcripts
--Negative mentions in 39% broadcast; 19% of newspapers
--Most used negative terminology—illegal/illegals –26% of broadcast; 58% of newspaper
--Exaggerations in 27% of broadcast stories but just 7% of newspapers
--Sympathetic mentions in 31% of broadcast; but just 8% of newspapers

Article: Role of media in conflict; community media and conflict
I'm honored to be featured in a new publication titled, "Civilian Peace Workers and Conflict Prevention," produced by the Brot für die Welt (Bread for the World) and financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Here is an excerpt from the Q&A featured in the magazine that I did with my colleague Alexander Vojvoda of the Cameroon Community Media Network:

AV--What unique opportunities do community media offer to facilitate dialogue in conflict situations? How do peace journalistic tools and methods support community media in their work?

SY--Community media are in a perfect position to facilitate dialogue among players in a conflict. They can do this at the smallest local level, and in such a way that the discussion itself is seen as productive rather than threatening. One of peace journalism’s key tenets is giving a voice to the
voiceless. This is precisely what community media can do best. In providing this voice, those who have been traditionally marginalized feel empowered, and are less likely to strike out violently.

The principles that underlie peace journalism also provide a compelling justification for community media in Cameroon and elsewhere. These include not just giving a voice to the voiceless, but encouraging dialogue, exploring solutions, and rejecting simplistic “us vs. them” narratives. Community media are uniquely positioned to promote each of these principles. Community media are in a perfect position in facilitating dialogue, exploring solutions, and rejecting simplistic “us vs. them” narratives.

AV--How can community media using peace journalistic principles better serve IDP’s and refugees and the communities that host them?

SY--Content analysis research in places that host large numbers of refugees like Turkey, Lebanon, Austria, and Germany show that migrants are typically portrayed negatively by news media, often as a burden, and often through the use of dehumanizing language (flood, wave, infestation, etc.) Peace journalism asks journalists to offer counter narratives that portray the displaced in a more three-dimensional way, not ignoring the challenges their presence creates, but also reporting the positive impact that they may have on communities. PJ also recommends reporting that humanizes refugees and promotes the idea that the displaced themselves should be employed as reporting partners, especially on stories that analyze the situations encountered by the displaced.

The entire publication can be accessed at: https://www.communitymedia.cm/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/BfdW-Heft-16-Englisch-Webfin.pdf 

The New Peace Journalist is here!
The latest edition of the Peace Journalist magazine, a semi-annual publication of the Center for Global Peace Journalism at Park University, has arrived. This edition features a series of reports about the safety of journalists in Nigeria, Kashmir, and Cameroon, as well as an interview with the Committee to Protect Journalists. Also featured are articles from Zimbabwe, Lebanon, and India.

For flip-through format on Issuu, see: https://issuu.com/peacejournalism/docs/peace_journalist_oct18_web 

For .pdf of the magazine: https://www.park.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Peace-Journalist-Oct18-web.pdf

The next issue will be April, 2019. The copy deadline will be March 3, 2019.

Enjoy!

Mandela peace summit delights, disappoints
At the UN Monday, world leaders gathered for the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit. Somehow, I got invited.

Mandela Peace Summit, UN, Sept. 24.

Speakers included dozens of prime ministers, presidents, and foreign ministers, and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. Each presenter sang Mandela' praises, and urged one another to carry on his legacy. This event, designed to honor Mandela and discuss peace, occurred the day before the opening of the General Assembly on Tuesday (when world leaders laughed at Donald Trump).

The event was simultaneously uplifting and discouraging.

Many of the speakers were inspirational. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said, "The challenge of our age is to answer the question, what is it that we can do to convey peace, prosperity, and democracy everywhere?...Conflict has its roots in poverty, exclusion, and marginalization. We (leaders) represent the hopes of billions for a peaceful and prosperous world."

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was equally eloquent. "We're all part of the same community. We must live in a way that respects and enhances the freedoms of others," he said.

Kumi Naidoo, Amnesty Intl, at the Peace Summit.

The day's most passionate speaker was undoubtedly Amnesty International President Kumi Naidoo, who stated his refusal to adjust to the continuing inaction, to "not adjust to leaders who espouse fascist narrative, to not adjust to bloodbaths, to not adjust to inhumane treatment of refugees..."

One theme emphasized by a half dozen speakers was the importance of multilateralism, and the folly of unilateralism--a clear shot at the U.S. president, though his name was never mentioned. Naidoo touched on this, as did the head of the African Union, a spokesperson for The Elders (a peacebuilding group), the Namibian president, and the EU Commission chair.

Collectively, it was reassuring to hear their speeches, almost all of which correctly emphasized the role of poverty, inequality, and discrimination in impeding a lasting peace. However, I was disappointed that so few speakers discussed or proposed concrete actions--let alone pledged to take action.

I wish I had these leaders as students. I would put them in groups, make them come up with a concrete action plan (with deadlines for implementing each action), and ideas for communicating their actions and goals to their citizens. If each country started with 2-3 attainable goals, perhaps some momentum could be built.

While the speeches were nice, lasting peace is going to take much more effort and commitment than a day's full of well-meaning oratories.

Mandela Peace Summit, UN, Sept. 24

PEACE SUMMIT UNDERWAY AT UN
A host of speakers, including a number of presidents and the UN Secretary General, are singing the praises and embracing the legacy of Nelson Mandela today at a peace summit named after the late South African leader. Somehow (perhaps mistakenly!), I was invited to this event.

I have been inspired by a number of speakers, especially the head of Amnesty Internaional. Also, Several speakers have taken shots, indirectly, at Donald Trump.

I'll be listening to all the fascinating speeches this afternoon, and have a full report on the Mandela Peace Summit in the next few days. Stay tuned.

Nelson Mandela Peace Summit
I was honored to be invited by the UN to participate in the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit next Monday in New York. The summit’s being held a day before the start of the 73rd session of the General Assembly.

According to the UN, “The focus of the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit is on Global Peace in honour of the centenary of the birth of Nelson Mandela. This Peace Summit offers the opportunity for world leaders to renew their commitment to global peace, conflict prevention, conflict resolution, peacebuilding, promotion and protection of human rights and long-term development initiatives as called for by the Secretary-General. The Peace Summit will also adopt a political declaration, which will reaffirm the values of Nelson Mandela.”

Stay tuned—I’ll be writing about this next week.

International Day of Peace: Peacebuilder Heroes
To celebrate the International Day of Peace on Sept. 21, I’m writing/Tweeting/Facebooking about some people I know who I consider the unsung heroes of peacebuilding. These heroes include:

#PeaceDay Hero: @glorialaker is the founder of the #PeaceJournalism Foundation of East Africa (in #Uganda). She’s taught/mentored 100’s of journalists, and is a role model especially for aspiring female reporters. Her work has been recognized/honored by @bbc : https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03wbz3x . #ParkPeace

#PeaceDay Heroes: #Cameroon Community Media Ntwk (@ccmn) works with reporters, radio promoting #peacejournalism & peaceful communities. Their heroes are Rose Obah, Alex Vojvoda @atzo, staff at CBS radio/Buea.#ParkPeace  https://www.communitymedia.cm/

#PeaceDay Heroes: @VanessaBassil and Media Assn for Peace-Lebanon @map_lb, who are working to educate youth abt #peacejournalism, peace/gender, peace/environment, etc.  http://maplebanon.org/

#PeaceDay Heroes: Tom Patterson, Janette Jasperson @jccctweet, founders of Greater #KC Peacebuilding Conference. http://www.jccc.edu/conferences/peacebuilding/  #ParkPeace

#PeaceDay Heroes: @johangaltung, @ProfJakeLynch, the grandfather/father of #peacejournalism and ongoing forces for good in the world. https://www.transcend.org/tms/ #ParkPeace

#PeaceDay Heroes: The late #ShujaatBukhari & the dedicated staff @RisingKashmir nwsppr, which bravely carries the torch, legacy of Bukhari, & his commitment to peace  http://risingkashmir.com/#ParkPeace

"Fake News" is inflammatory propaganda. Let's stop using it.
If you’re like me, you groan every time you hear the term “fake news.” My first instinct is to ignore it and hope it goes away, but that’s not working too well lately thanks to a barrage of negative stories about the White House.

So if ignoring this won’t work, what’s a peace journalist to do?

For starters, journalists should take the advice of writers like Daniel Funke, who advises on Poynter.org that reporters should "stop calling everything fake news." I’d go further, and add that we should stop using the term altogether unless we’re directly quoting someone. Why should we just say no to this phrase?  According to Poynter, using the term has important consequences:

“In a study published Aug. 15, Emily Van Duyn and Jessica Collier of the University of Texas at Austin found that, when people are exposed to tweets containing the term “fake news,” their ability to tell real from fraudulent stories decreases. Those findings were based on a Mechanical Turk survey of 299 U.S. adults between April and December 2017.” Thus, the more we use the term, the more we aid those who seek to sow confusion.

Peace journalism teaches us that words matter, especially inflammatory ones. “Fake news” has taken on a transcendent form which goes well beyond merely reporting that isn’t factual. The political baggage the term carries makes it inflammatory and confusing, and that’s why I believe we should avoid or eliminate it.

So what should we say instead of “fake news”? The Poynter article recommends using terms like “misinformation,” “disinformation,” “hoax,” and “malinformation.”

The term is more than just inflammatory. Peace journalism also advises journalists to reject both propaganda and “us vs. them” narratives. The phrase “fake news” was created as a clever propaganda tool by those who seek to discredit the news media. Thus, every time journalists use the term, they’re rewarding the propagandists. The term “fake news” also creates a false “us vs. them” narrative pitting “real Americans” (as defined by the White House) against the greedy, reckless “mainstream” media.

By avoiding or marginalizing the term, we can perhaps begin to open up a necessary, broader discussion across political boundaries about news media accuracy and bias. This kind of cross-boundary, common-ground-seeking discussion is exactly what peace journalism promotes.

For more on Fake News:
http://cits.ucsb.edu/fake-news/
https://www.poynter.org/news/reporters-stop-calling-everything-fake-news
https://www.poynter.org/news/should-we-stop-saying-fake-news

Reminder: The Peace Journalist
Reminder that submissions for the Peace Journalist magazine are due Sept. 7. We seek submissions on peace journalism initiatives, research, etc. However, we do not seek general submissions about peace projects, unless they entail a media angle. Submissions should be 500-1500 words, and sent to me at steve.youngblood@park.edu by Sept. 7. Photos are welcome.

You can view the previous edition (April 2018) on Issuu at: https://issuu.com/peacejournalism/docs/peace_journalist_apr2018_web_new

You can also download a .pdf copy of the magazine by clicking this link. For more about the magazine, and our Center for Global Peace Journalism, please see www.park.edu/peacecenter.

Chart-News Bias
I stumbled across this chart a few weeks ago, and found it interesting. I don't know that I 100% agree, but I do think it provides good grist for a discussion. Comments?

EDITOR'S NOTE: The Boston Globe has put out the call to newspapers nationwide to publish independent opinion pieces today that counter the notion that journalists are “fake” and “enemies of the people.” My modest contribution to this initiative, below, has also been published online by The Kansas City Star.

From Kashmir to Cameroon to Kansas City, journalists aren't 'enemies of the people'
Kashmiri journalist Shujaat Bukhari  is not an enemy of the people. Neither are the dozens of Cameroonian journalists I met in July, or American journalists like Scott Simon or Laura Ziegler. Actually, these journalists and their colleagues are the exact opposite of enemies: they are servants of the people.

 As we know, community service usually requires some type of sacrifice. For American journalists, these sacrifices might include their peace of mind and having to endure the growing controversy and instability that comes with their vocation. Every day, journalists dodge insults and false accusations, and forge ahead with what must seem like a Sisyphean task of trying to educate citizens about the lives of the voiceless and marginalized in our society. For example, NPR’s Scott Simon recently produced a brilliant, emotional story about how forced separation affected one Guatemalan migrant family. This heart wrenching piece will no doubt be criticized as hopelessly sentimental and biased—the product of a “snowflake.” One can respectfully disagree with Simon’s story selection or the tone of his piece. However, I challenge anyone to listen to this story and come away with the conclusion that Scott Simon is an enemy of the people.

In Kansas City, it seems equally inconceivable that any sane person could think that the dedicated journalists at the Kansas City Star or KCUR-FM, for example, are enemies of the people. Who could believe that the Star’s Mara Rose Williams’ exemplary reporting about education (both K-12 and university), or her numerous tweets touting the accomplishments of the area’s students (“Lincoln College Prep Poets Finish in Top 10”; “Student Wins First Place in Photographic Technology”) position her as anyone’s enemy? The same can be said of any of the fine reporters and producers at KCUR like Laura Ziegler, whose recent insightful story about Tonganoxie, Kansas exemplifies journalism’s potential to serve local communities. Ziegler, Steve Kraske, Gina Kaufmann and their colleagues certainly are not enemies of the people.

While these American journalists feel like they’re figuratively under fire, journalists elsewhere in the world literally are under fire, justifiably fearing arrest, injury, or even death for doing nothing more than performing their duties. The “enemies of the people” rhetoric coming from the U.S. provides a convenient justification for authoritarian governments to crack down on journalists and journalism.
  

This is exactly what’s happening in Cameroon, where a paranoid government regularly abuses journalists. During my month teaching peace journalism in Cameroon, I heard dozens of stories of reporters who were threatened, beaten, and jailed for merely doing their jobs. In fact, I witnessed government intimidation first hand, as gendarmes swooped down on one of my workshops and shut it down. Instead of being intimidated by this raid, the Cameroonian journalists in my workshop became more defiant and committed to doing their jobs and serving their communities. Cameroon’s journalists are not anyone’s enemies.

Youngblood (l), and Bukhari (r, in white) at Rising Kashmir

Like his Cameroonian brethren, Shujaat Bukhari, the editor of the Rising Kashmir newspaper in Indian-controlled Kashmir, did his best to serve his violence- plagued community by producing journalism that rejected sectarianism and sensationalism. I met Bukhari while speaking at his newspaper’s offices in 2016, and we discussed Rising Kashmir’s necessary balancing act. In volatile Kashmir, favoring either the Indian authorities or Kashmiri protesters or militants could result in the paper being raided by authorities (as it was in 2016) or the paper’s staff being the target of violence.

As with his colleagues in Cameroon and in the U.S., it was hard for me to imagine how anyone could consider Bukhari an enemy of the people. Yet, sadly, this is exactly what happened two months ago, when an assassin’s bullet cut down Bukhari and two of his bodyguards in front of his newspaper’s offices.

Shujaat Bukhari knew better than most that words matter, and that inflammatory rhetoric  like “enemies of the people” imperils not only the practice of journalism but also journalists themselves.

One can disagree respectfully with journalists and argue that they’re biased. But spouting vitriol like “enemies of the people” ignores the essential  public service being performed by journalists, and disrespects the memory of Shujaat Bukhari and his 1,312 colleagues who have been killed worldwide since 1992. (Committee to Protect Journalists)

Audio: Trapped between two loaded guns
Cameroonian journalists say they're "trapped between two loaded guns." How can they stay safe and still do their jobs? Is peace journalism the answer?

New audio report: https://soundcloud.com/user-217095053/can-cameroonian-journalists-safely-do-their-jobs 

Call for Papers:
Peace Journalist Magazine
I’m writing with my semi-annual call for papers for the Peace Journalist magazine. We seek submissions on peace journalism initiatives, research, etc. However, we do not seek general submissions about peace projects, unless they entail a media angle. Submissions should be 500-1500 words, and sent to me at steve.youngblood@park.edu by Sept. 7. Photos are welcome.

You can view the previous edition (April 2018) on Issuu at: https://issuu.com/peacejournalism/docs/peace_journalist_apr2018_web_new

You can also download a .pdf copy of the magazine by clicking this link. For more about the magazine, and our Center for Global Peace Journalism, please see www.park.edu/peacecenter.

I look forward to reading your submissions.

Best wishes,

Steven Youngblood
Editor, The Peace Journalist
Director, Center for Global Peace Journalism
Park University, Parkville, Missouri

Survey: Threats to Cameroon Journalists; Workshop Wrap
(YAOUNDE, CAMEROON)—A new survey shows that journalists in Cameroon face threats from both authorities and rebels, though the risk varies greatly from region to region.

As part of three peace journalism workshops I’ve taught here in July, journalists filled out a survey that asked them to rank the threats they face from 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest threat level. Not surprisingly, journalists in the conflict regions (northwest, southwest) registered much higher threats from both government (NW-3.78; SW-3.48)and separatists fighting the government (NW-2.81; SW-3.13). In six other regions combined, the average threat level perceived by journalists was much lower from both government (2.40) and separatists (2.55). Journalists from all regions rated the threat level from opposition politicians as very low.

Journalists from all regions agreed that those who practice peace journalism have a lower threat risk overall. This is contrary to a few discussions we’ve had in class. (See previous post)

I’m continuing to crunch these numbers, and will have a full report in the October Peace Journalist  magazine.
  

Workshop day four
Our four day workshop in Yaounde concludes today with discussions about whether peace journalism is possible here, and how to best move forward as potential violent conflict looms over Cameroon. Yesterday, we discussed social media, and the journalists practiced writing Facebook posts and tweets.

Next week, I’ll post a  blog summarizing my experience in July in Cameroon.

Might peace journalism put reporters at greater risk?

(CAMEROON)—Threats against journalists seem to lurk everywhere in Cameroon. Many of the journalists we talked to in Bafoussam and Bonaberi said that one of the best ways to mitigate those risks is to practice responsible peace journalism.

 

Today, their colleagues at a four day peace journalism workshop disagreed. They say practicing peace journalism will actually put them at greater risk of threats, intimidation, incarceration, or kidnapping. Why? One journalist said that reporting about humanitarian issues, as peace journalism asks, will anger officials who don’t want to such issues. Another journalist said the word peace itself may incite anger by either side of the conflict—from separatists who think peace means that you are opposed to their goal, and from authorities who believe peace means acceding to the separatist’s demands.

Also today, the journalists from throughout Cameroon engaged in some preliminary planning for upcoming, contentious events in Cameroon like the opening of school, the separatist’s independence day on Oct. 1, and the presidential election on Oct. 7. 

This four day workshop is sponsored by the Center for Global Peace Journalism at Park University, the Cameroon Community Media Network, and the Fredrich Ebert Foundation.