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
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
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