Photos both convey and hide truth of Ukraine war
During the first month of the war in Ukraine, much was written about the words being used to describe the war, or the euphemisms employed by the Russians to sanitize it (“Special Operation”). However , from a peace journalism perspective, an examination of the war’s images is just as crucial, perhaps more so. As Saumava Mitra writes in The Peace Journalist, “Peace journalism asks for the ‘true face’ of war to be exposed. Arguably there is no better way of showing the true cost of war and violence than through photographs because of the universal emotional appeal of visuals. Photographs, as such, are unmatched as messages of hope, empathy and peace.” (Oct. 2016, p. 6)

While images can be messages of peace, it is also unfortunately true that they can convey powerful manipulative messages. To analyze this, a new study looked at Ukraine war images in Russian media, and compared them to images in Western media.

Study
The study examined three Russian media outlets (Russia Today, Tass, and Pravda) and three Western media outlets (Reuters, AP, and Le Monde). On March 16 and March 18, the first 10 photos encountered on their websites were categorized. Most were on home/landing pages, others were found on “Live Update” pages or the first Ukraine story encountered. A total of 20 photos from each outlet (10 on March 16, 10 on March 18) were categorized. This means 120 photos total were analyzed—60 from Russian media; 60 from Western media. Some were double listed if they were “hits” in more than one category (“Suffering” and “Bloody,” for example)

Findings
In Russian media, the most common category of photos included those of officials/diplomats/generals, with 27 categorized. 19 photos were general in nature (troops not in combat, Kremlin, meeting room, airplane, UN, dam, portraits of deceased soldiers, etc.)

Of the 60 photos from Tass, Russia Today, and Pravda, none showed any Ukrainian victims. Only one showed destruction in Ukraine, though this was blamed on Ukrainian soldiers. Only one alluded to refugees, but the allusion was to Russian refugees from the Donbas region. Even then, no photo was shown of the refugees themselves, only a volunteer sorting boxes of clothes the article claimed were for Donbas refugees.

There were no “action” photos of the war, not surprisingly.

A visual scanning of these websites would make one think that the war was limited in scope, which makes sense since Russian media are using the sanitized euphemism “Special Operation” (or sometimes just “Operation Z”) instead of calling it "war."

In Western media, of the 60 photos, 29 showed destruction, and 19 had a theme of suffering (6 bloody). The suffering photos included 5 of children, 3 of families, and 10 of others—adults, or victims who couldn’t be clearly seen. One was of pets in a shelter.

Only 3 photos were of refugees. Some photos (people sheltered, for example) may have been of internally displaced persons (IDP’s), those this information was not available from the captions.

Analysis/Peace Photojournalism
The contrast between Russian and Western media is stark. The Western media coverage certainly reflects more of the reality of the war, while the Russian photojournalism virtually ignores the war itself—few images were even taken in Ukraine. No Ukrainian victims were shown. Combine the lack of empathy-producing images and the “de-Nazification” propaganda spewed by Putin, it’s no wonder that 58% of Russians support the invasion of Ukraine, while on 25% oppose it. (Washington Post, March 8)

Regarding photojournalism from the Ukraine war, peace journalism would ask the following questions:

1. Are the images needlessly sensational/bloody? 
2. Do they accurately reflect the events? (Are the images presented in context?) 
3. Do the images demonize “them,” and deepen “us vs. them” narratives?
4. Do they portray survivors only as victims, only as helpless?
5. Taken as a whole, are an outlet’s photos disproportionately concentrated on leaders/officials? Are citizen/survivors ignored or marginalized?

For Russian media, the images are noteworthy for what they omit—victims, destruction, and brutality.

From Pravda

As for demonizing the West, there is one scary image from Pravda (right) that shows a women silhouetted against a mushroom cloud with a headline asking if NATO is planning for a nuclear war. Pictures like this and photos of stern, lecturing Russian officials (half of all Russian photos in the survey) combined with propaganda positioning Russia as a victim has worked, since 60% of Russians blame the U.S. for the war. (New Yorker, March 14)

Western media could sometimes do a better job providing context. We see a destroyed apartment building, but is this the exception, or are all the surrounding blocks destroyed as well? Also, many victims are shown, but only three were distinctly labeled as IDP’s or refugees. Are the rest of the survivors huddled in shelters refugees, IDP's, or locals? This context matters.

Despite these minor blemishes, Western photojournalism of the war has been exemplary, putting a human face on the suffering inflicted by the Russians, while in the process compiling photographic evidence of Russian war crimes. The most brilliant example of this is a photo spread by the AP titled, “Why, Why, Why? Ukraine’s Mariupol descends into despair.”

It’s vital for peace photojournalists to continue working to show us rays of humanity and hope through the dark clouds of this terrible conflict. If enough rays of light and truth can shine through to the Russian people, perhaps this awful war can be over sooner than we think possible.

Sahel journalists inspire. Also, more pain au chocolat, please
I’ve never felt as good about an event as I do today in the afterglow of a stimulating workshop last week for 21 journalists from the Sahel region of Africa. We gathered in Abidjan, Ivory Coast for a week long workshop to discuss “Strengthening the Role of Media in Countering Violent Extremism.”

My positivity can be described in three words—fraternité (to borrow a term from my French colleagues), determination, and relief.

Fraternité: In the last two years, I’ve given dozens of online workshops and lectures, and they have been uniformly adequate. We all did the best we could with the online format. However, this in-person workshop was a stark reminder that face-to-face interaction can’t be duplicated on Zoom. The participants, from Mauritania, Mali, Chad, Ivory Coast (Cote D’Ivoire in French), Morocco, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Algeria, and Niger, immediately and strongly bonded. There were some serious discussions, of course, but many of their interactions featured laughter. At the end of the workshop, one participant told the group that “we have created our own family.” Indeed, many of their end-of-workshop comments featured the word family—a development that would've been impossible if we had only met online.

Determination: I leave the workshop truly inspired by the grit, courage, and determination of the participants. I’ve lectured in many troubled places like Kashmir and South Sudan, but nowhere I’ve been are journalists faced with such daunting challenges. Journalists in the Sahel have to stare down Al Qaida or Boko Haram; repressive government officials; and menacing police and army representatives. Add to this suffocating poverty and Covid-19, and finish it off with climate change manifested in the shrinking of Lake Chad, which has always been the source for water, irrigation, and food for millions in the region. The lake has shrunk by 90% since the 1960’s, according to the UN, creating unimaginable misery.

One can’t help but be encouraged and energized by the journalists' stubborn insistence on making their countries and regions a better place, despite the hurdles.

Relief—It is an indescribable relief to finally get back out there in the field teaching peace journalism. It was exhilarating being there in person. I loved chatting with the Sahel journalists. We held many memorable visits over breakfast, lunch, or tea about their countries and our collective hopes and dreams. I saw delightful pictures of their kids.

Oh, and the food in Ivory Coast was spectacular, especially the seafood and pastries. I could eat a pain au chocolat (a croissant-like pastry stuffed with chocolate) every day for the rest of my life.

I still feel relief being back on the road there even though Covid-era travel has become nightmarish, with Q-Tips up my nose (WAY UP), countless forms to fill out, and lengthy question and answer sessions at airline ticket counters, soul-crushing places where time actually moves backwards. My trip home was 29 hours door to door. Still, I can’t wait to do this all over again soon, perhaps in Nigeria and/or Pakistan this year.

See you out there. For my visit, please stock up on the pain au chocolat.

 

 

 

 Journalists process reporting trip to attack site
ABIDJAN, IVORY COAST—The longer I spend with these 21 journalists from the Sahel region of Africa, the more I admire their determination and professionalism, both of which were on display during our second field trip this week.

We’ve gathered here for a week long workshop to discuss “Strengthening the Role of Media in Countering Violent Extremism.”

This field exercise was on Wednesday. Participants bussed to nearby Grand Bassam, a city of 100,000 that has seen its share of troubles the last six years. First, 19 were killed in a terrorist attack in the vicinity of a beach hotel in 2016. Then, Covid devastated Grand Bassam’s economy because the community, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, depends heavily on tourism. (France24)

In Grand Bassam, they interviewed four survivors of the attack, including the owner of a café where the terrorists struck. The interviewees detailed what they saw, and were obviously still traumatized by the attack. The journalists were then tasked with writing a story using their interviews, but also tapping into their impressions of their experiences in Grand Bassam.

The day after the field trip, the journalists gave their impressions about the experience. One said “the emotion is still there,” a sentiment echoed by many. Another lamented that the survivors never received any psychological counseling, and that their trauma is as raw as the day of the attack. “The survivors are not psychologically strong,” the journalist observed.

Other class sessions yesterday and today included a presentation from Andrew Caulk, public information director for the U.S. special operations command in Africa. He talked about the importance of context in countering violent extremism. He said building credibility as a journalist is also vital in “degrading violent extremists trying to make people afraid.” Caulk added that more information about terrorism threats actually makes populations less fearful, since this info helps them feel empowered to address these threats and make themselves safe.

Trainer Nicolas Pinault then discussed countering violent extremist messaging and toxic narratives. The participants gave examples of mis and disinformation from their countries, including faux reports about an illicit impregnation, a French drone being shot down, and Ivorians being beaten in Niger. Pinault also presented six types of ideological arguments used by extremists to justify their cause and to recruit. These arguments include injustice themes, us. vs. them, articulating a non-human common enemy, etc. The next day, I followed up on these six arguments, and the journalists and I brainstormed topics for counternarrative stories to refute extremists’ arguments.

On Thursday, journalist participant Hamat Ali Mouta talked about his community radio station (RNI Radio) in Ndarason in the Lake Chad basin, a distressed area that has been the site of attacks from the terrorist organization Boko Haram. Mouta talked about the lack of infrastructure there, including schools, as a factor fueling violent extremism. Other factors leading to extremism in the region, according to Mouta, include unemployment, injustice, and climate change, which has drastically shrunk Lake Chad.

The workshop has been underwritten by the U.S. Embassy-Algiers and administered by Equal Access International.

On Monday, I will reflect on our experiences here in Ivory Coast. There is much to process.

Abdijan's Al Bayane shows how peace journalism is done
(ABIDJAN, IVORY COAST)--21 journalists from the Sahel region of Africa have gathered here in Ivory Coast to discuss “Strengthening the Role of Media in Countering Violent Extremism.”

The five day workshop, featuring journalists from Mauritania, Mali, Chad, Ivory Coast (Cote D’Ivoire in French), Morocco, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Algeria, and Niger, began yesterday.

For peace journalists, the highlight of the workshop so far was the serendipitous discovery of a devotee of peace journalism right here in Abidjan called Al Bayane radio/TV. We met today with CEO Imam Cisse Guidiba, who shared with the group his vision to make Al Bayane a “social force” in Ivory Coast and indeed throughout Africa.  Though his station is Islamic in nature, he said it serves all communities across societal divisions with what Imam Guidiba called “a good message” of fraternity and respect that contributes to the development of society. Sounds like textbook peace journalism to me.

Imam Guidiba, as interviewed by workshop participants

During our visit, Imam Guidiba also addressed the issue of Islam and violence, strongly stating that violence has no part of Islam. He said extremism is based on ignorance—a lack of knowledge that Al
Bayane radio/TV is designed to combat.

Earlier today, I led a discussion about trauma reporting, offering advice on how to report about traumas while respecting victims’ rights. Trainer/journalist Tatiana Mossot followed with a presentation on how journalists can deal with the trauma they have experienced, including PTSD, in the conduct of their jobs. Statistically, 13-15% of journalists suffer PTSD, she said, comparable to PTSD in first responders. The Sahel journalists shared words that describe how they’ve felt after covering traumatic events—crimes, disasters, terrorist attacks, etc. These words included: pain, anger, abandonment, weakness, guilty, powerless, frustration, stress, surprise, justice, compassion, and worry. Participants shared their experiences in reporting traumatic events, including seeing bodies. Mossot recommended that the journalists get in touch with their feelings, and not hesitate to ask for help. Day two also featured presentations on deepfakes and fact checking.

Monday
On the first day of the workshop, journalists fanned out into Abidjan to conduct man-on-the-street interviews asking about security at the upcoming 2023 Africa Cup in Abidjan. These interviews revealed a reluctance to discuss security, especially when compared to football. People are conscious of security, one interviewee said, but they don’t want to feel paranoid. The public knows there’s a threat, observed another journalist, but they are optimistic that all will go well. A third journalist noted that the people she interviewed seem much more interested in everyday crime than terrorist attacks at the Africa Cup.

Day 1 discussion: Terrorism in the Sahel region

The first day of the workshop began with a discussion about how violent extremism is covered in media in their respective countries. The journalists told stories about the obstacles they faced from governments (propaganda, dearth of information), international media outlets, and social media. We also discussed the importance of reporting about the causes of (why and how youth are radicalized) and solutions for terrorism.

Presentations on Monday also included valuable information about the range, extent, and players (Al Qaeda, Islamic State, Boko Haram, etc.) involved in terrorism in Africa generally, West Africa, and the Lake Chad area, where the remoteness, low education, ineffective or even absence of governance, and poverty of the region provide ripe ground for radicalizing youth. Climate change, which has led to the dramatic shrinking of Lake Chad, was also discussed as a driver of instability and thus, violent extremism.

The workshop, underwritten by the U.S. Embassy-Algiers and administered by Equal Access International, will continue Wednesday through Friday this week.

Ivory Coast PJ project set to get underway
Abidjan, Ivory Coast)—I’ve seldom been as anxious to start a workshop as I am this one.

First, the topic,  “Strengthening the Role of Media in Countering Violent Extremism,” is fascinating, as is the fact that the week-long event will feature journalists from throughout this region. Journalists from Mauritania, Mali, Chad, Ivory Coast (Cote D’Ivoire in French), Morocco, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Algeria, and Niger are participating. The project is sponsored by the U.S. Embassy-Algeria, and administered by Equal Access International. I am the lead instructor.

We’ve been “meeting” on Zoom twice a week since last fall, discussing peace journalism, storytelling, and the unique challenges faced by reporters in this region. 

Second, it’s been two years since I’ve been in the field working. Sure, I’ve done Zoom seminars and lectures about peace journalism for participants from around the world, and it’s been fine—certainly better than nothing. But there’s no substitute for handshakes, spontaneous comments and jokes, and chats about life, work, and family over lunch or an adult beverage.

We start tomorrow. Stay tuned to this space for updates and photos. I also plan to produce an audio story, time permitting. We’ll talk soon.