Panel reflects on EW Center Cross Border Reporting Project
Five journalists from India and Pakistan and I held a fascinating discussion about a project we’ve been working on together for the last two years.

The discussion was a plenary lunch panel at the East West Center International Media Conference in Honolulu.

First, a bit of background. The East-West Center launched a project titled “Reporting on Cross-Border Issues of Mutual Concern” in 2020 for 80 Indian and Pakistani journalists that has included virtual workshops during the pandemic. This International Media Conference is the first time a handful of the journalists have met their colleagues across the border.

The 80 journalists are divided into four groups focused on economy and trade, agriculture and water management, environment and health -- all important cross-border issues of mutual concern. I have led them in workshops on Peace Journalism, an especially important topic for journalists sharing an often-hostile border.

During the pandemic they collaborated virtually on stories and projects that are featured on the blogsite they developed:  journalistsforchange.org, a global resource for cross-border media collaboration.

Five of these journalists were present for the panel: Safina Nabi, an Independent Journalist (Srinagar, Jammu, and Kashmir, India); Lubna Jerar Naqvi, Pakistan Gender Coordinator & Trainer, International Federation of Journalists (Karachi, Pakistan);Ravinder Singh Robin, Freelance Reporter (Amritsar, India); Khuldune Shahid, Correspondent, The Diplomat (Lahore, Pakistan); and Disha Shetty, Staff Reporter, The Fuller Project (Pune, India).

I began the discussion by asking the panelists about their use of peace journalism. Each journalist in turn said the PJ changed the way they report, and gave them new insights about how to report across borders. One journalist noted, much to my approval, that peace journalists “have a responsibility” to better reporting that builds bridges instead of deepening divides and hatreds. Several noted that peace journalism, and the project as a whole, have reinforced what they already knew about the striking commonalities between Pakistanis and Indians. I think we all agree that the media on the subcontinent can and should do more to highlight these commonalities and connections.

Session: Basics of Peace Journalism
A few hours after the panel, I gave a breakout session on the basics of peace journalism. I went over  the 10 principles of PJ (see below), and fielded a number of insightful questions. One young lady stated

her belief that peace journalists are advocates for peace—something that was just fine with her. I replied that I don’t see PJ as advocacy, and believe PJ can still be objective. In my view, reporting about peace, giving a voice to peacebuilders and the voiceless, and rejecting inflammatory words, images, and framing are all activities that can be done within the confines of traditional, objective journalism.

 Next week: Other highlights from the conference, and a few final observations.

 Peace Journalism Characteristics
1. PJ is proactive, examining the causes of conflict and looking for ways to encourage dialogue before violence occurs. PJ leads dialogue about solutions.
2. PJ acknowledges a common ground between parties, and rejects divisive, polarizing “us vs. them” reporting. PJ builds bridges.
3. Peace reporters reject propaganda from any source. Instead, they seek balanced, factual information from multiple sources (since there are almost always more than just two sides).
4. PJ rejects overly simple portrayals of issues and people (groups as monoliths, stereotypes), and instead seeks to illuminate complexity, nuance, and gray areas.
5. PJ gives voice to the voiceless, instead of just reporting for and about elites and those in power.
6. Peace journalists provide depth and context, rather than just superficial and sensational “blow by blow” accounts of violence and conflict.
7. Peace journalists consider the consequences of their reporting.
8. Peace journalists carefully choose and analyze the words they use, understanding that carelessly selected words are often inflammatory.
9. Peace journalists thoughtfully select the images they use, understanding that they can misrepresent an event, exacerbate an already dire situation, and re-victimize those who have suffered.
10. Peace Journalists offer counternarratives that debunk media created or perpetuated stereotypes, myths, and misperceptions. --Center for Global Peace Journalism