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
Demonizing language—Thief, criminal, thug, liar, terrorist, evil, racist
Victimizing language—Helpless, pathetic, tragic, defenseless
PEACE JOURNALISM AND TRADITIONAL JOURNALISM STORIES-
SIDE BY SIDE COMPARISON
See two examples here.
PJ SEMINARS, WORKSHOPS, LECTURES WORLDWIDE-2007-2022
Steven Youngblood, Center for Global Peace Journalism, Park University
Shown: Face-to-face seminars, workshops, lecture
Example/Twitter: Africa The Good News @AfricaGoodNews
Examples: FactCheck.org; MediaWise @MediaWise; Snopes @Snopes
Examples: Media Matters on Facebook and @Mediamatters; Transcend Media @transcend_media
Examples: @PeaceJourn; @transcend_media; Peace Journalism Facebook pages; Media Foundation for West Africa @The MFWA; Intl Center for Journalists
Examples: Transcend Media @transcend_media and transcend.org; Media, War and Conflict Journal @MWC_Journal; Global Council for Tolerance and Peace Facebook and @GCptNews
Center for Global Peace Journalism Twitter, FB,, blog http://stevenyoungblood.blogspot.com;
Transcend media service blog https://www.transcend.org/tms/;
Refugee Online Network blog https://refugeeonlinews.wordpress.com/
Examples: Grasswire grasswire.com; Internews Europe http://www.internews.eu/ ; Netamo https://www.netatmo.com/en-US/site/about ; Stop and Frisk Watch App http://www.nyclu.org/app ; Lede Blog http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/04/17/were-you-or-someone-you-know-at-the-marathon-finish-line/
Example: If conservative, search Twitter hashtag #ImpeachTrumpNow; If liberal, seek out #WitchHunt.
PeaceTech Lab is a “set of technologies used by citizens to build a powerful, emerging movement: a movement aimed at effective grassroots conflict prevention- made possible by groundbreaking amounts of data for early warning, the ability to mobilize through digital networks, and new private sector resources invested in fragile and emerging countries.” More: https://www.peacetechlab.org/
Applying peace journalism principles to reporting reconciliation
1. Avoid inflammatory, sensational language and story framing that re-opens old wounds
2. Reject sectarian “us vs. them” narratives, and instead report to build bridges between communities
3. Give peacebuilders equal coverage to those perpetuating or fueling conflict, without favoring any one side or perspective
4. Reject formulaic, stereotyping coverage of the other side and instead offer counternarratives that offer new perspectives on perceived enemies (“them”)
5. Lead societal discussions about solutions, without advocating for any one solution
6. Provide a platform for victims and ex-combatants on all sides to tell their stories
7. Report sensitively and humanely on those traumatized by the conflict
8. Take extra care to balance stories with information from all sides
9. Report stories that expose those on all sides who benefit from ongoing conflict
PEACE JOURNALISM AND REPORTING MIGRANTS
1. Consider the consequences. Ask—what impact could the interview/story have on A. The refugee/migrant’s well-being; B. The well-being of the migrant’s family/associates back home; C. The well-being of other migrants; D. The ability of NGO’s/aid agencies to meet migrants basic needs.
2. Avoid spreading propaganda, regardless of the source. Even refugees and those who serve them have an agenda.
3. Don’t use language or images that rely on or reinforce stereotypes, racism, sexism, or xenophobia.
4. Proactively investigate and report refugee stories that offer counter-narratives that debunk stereotypes and challenge exclusively negative narratives.
5. Partner with and employ reporting partners who are themselves displaced or migrants.
6. Humanize individuals and their stories. Look for examples that illustrate larger statistics or trends.
A. Scott Simon-NPR-6:09-- https://www.npr.org/2018/08/11/637780548/how-separation-affected-a-migrant-family
B. Children of War-Turkey-10:00
C. Refugee tent city-2:20--- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwlNYd6KxDs
D. A look inside the journey of Central American migrants-CNN-- https://tinyurl.com/y9hfun4p
Ask yourself these questions: What does the public need to know, and how much coverage is too much? When do reporters become obsessed with a story when the public is not? A community is more than a mass killing or disaster or conflict.
1. Always consider the impact of your reporting. Don’t gratuitously make things worse for the people whose stories you report, or for the general public.
2. Accuracy is paramount. First rumors can be dramatic and exaggerated. Facts can be slippery in mid-crisis. Inaccurately quoting a victim can be traumatic. Check, double check, triple check facts.Make sure the person knows you will have to check the facts. Go back over the interview with them.
3. Journalists should thoughtfully select the images they use, understanding that they can misrepresent an event, exacerbate an already dire situation, and re-victimize those who have been traumatized.
4. Don’t prematurely jump on the “blame” bandwagon, or to conclusions, and consider the impact of “blame” reporting on traumatized victims and the public. Later, journalists should lead societal discussions about solutions (without advocating for any one solution).
5. Don’t intrude. The National Union of Journalists (UK) code of conduct says, a journalist “does nothing to intrude into anybody’s private life, grief or distress unless justified by overriding consideration of the public interest. Be honest and clear about what you are doing. Identify yourself.
6. Avoid inflammatory, sensational language that exacerbates or fuels conflict or trauma. Never embellish stories.
7. Do your research so you know the background and be sensitive to contested narratives and language.
8. When reporting about conflict or trauma, journalists should give a voice to the vulnerable, marginalized voiceless in their societies—women, youth, minorities, the poor, etc.
9. Journalists should reject formulaic, stereotypical coverage and instead offer counternarratives about the trauma, its impact, and those affected.
From: https://dartcenter.org/sites/default/files/DCE_JournoTraumaHandbook.pdf ; https://dartcenter.org/sites/default/files/DCE_JournoTraumaHandbook.pdf; and developed from principles of peace journalism by Steven Youngblood
Using PJ principles to combat disinformation
1. Focus on accuracy and fact-checking. Peace journalism
emphasizes the importance of accuracy and avoiding the spread of false
information. By prioritizing fact-checking and verifying information before
publishing or sharing on social media, journalists can help to combat mis and disinformation.
2. Rejecting us vs. them….and encouraging more openness to other perspectives. Peace journalism encourages journalists to provide context and multiple perspectives on an issue which can help to prevent the spread of mis and disinformation.
3. Build trust
with the audience. Peace journalism emphasizes the importance of building trust
with the audience by emphasizing balance, giving voice to the voiceless, and
exploring solutions.
Example…Building trust initiative-- having conversations with audiences helped build a sense of trust between those who were interviewed and the journalists. https://medium.com/trusting-news/research-insights-reaching-and-building-trust-with-diverse-audiences-3d53fc337884
4. Avoid sensationalism and inflammatory language. Peace journalism encourages journalists to avoid sensationalism and inflammatory and divisive language that can contribute to or exacerbate mis and disinformation.
5. Collaborate with other journalists and organizations from the "other side." Peace journalism emphasizes the importance of collaboration and cooperation across boundaries. By working together to report stories of mutual interest and fact-check information, journalists can have a greater impact in leading discussions about peace while and combating mis and disinformation. Examples… www.journalistsforchange.org ; The bridge (Georgia and South Ossetia)
6. The marginalized, and those who advocate for peace, are often the targets of mis and disinformation. PJ gives a voice to the voiceless and to peacebuilders, thus allowing them to “prebunk” and debunk incorrect information.
7. Peace journalism principles can be applied to combat political mis and disinformation and propaganda, and hyper partisan political reporting that undermine democracy. This can be done by Promoting more balance and transparency in electoral and political reporting; helping journalists and their communities identify and counteract disinformation across many platforms; encouraging more thoughtful (and less partisan or sectarian) societal discourse that builds bridges across boundaries; promoting peace journalism practices, and peace generally, on social media, which can be used to encourage dialogue, promote tolerance, and bridge partisan divides; carefully choosing the language used in reporting; and offering counternarratives that debunk propaganda and fake news.
4. Call out candidates who use inflammatory, divisive, racist, sectarian, xenophobic, or violent language. Edit out these comments, or broadcast these comments, and then offer pointed analysis and criticism of what was said.
Uganda Peaceful Election Stories
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/stevenlyoungblood59448/episodes/2013-03-26T09_28_32-07_00
Rotary
Moldova Fulbright
1.
What
is Fulbright
https://fulbrightscholars.org/us-scholar-awards
countries
2.
Moldova
--Google map, surrounded 3 sides
--Transnistria https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-64824517
--large minority of russian
speakers…consuming Russian media propaganda…at least some support Ukraine war
3.
Moldova
one of most impacted countries because of the war
"Moldova
is one of the countries most affected by the war in Ukraine, not only because
of its physical proximity but also because of its inherent vulnerabilities as a
small, landlocked economy with close linkages to both Ukraine and Russia,"
the World Bank wrote in its latest 2023 country overview. https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/moldova/overview
a. Energy
availability and prices
--traditionally
heavily dependent on Russian gas
--energy
deficits--=blackouts and brownouts
--price
increases—gas 4 x more expensive now, according to UNDP
--(60% of Moldova’s population live in energy
poverty, spending more than 10% of their budgets on energy bills), according to
UNDP
--$300
mil usaid aid, and aid from UN and EU as well, to help stabilize prices and
acquire more expensive European energy
b. Political
plans to undermine Moldovan govmt
c.
Russia wants to
stage a coup d’état in Moldova, the country’s President Maia Sandu said Monday.
Sandu called for
heightened security measures in Moldova after the pro-EU government resigned
last week, following months of pressure from Moscow which is waging an all-out
war on neighboring Ukraine.
“The plan included
sabotage and militarily trained people disguised as civilians to carry out
violent actions, attacks on government buildings and taking hostages,” Sandu
told reporters in Feb.
https://www.politico.eu/article/moldova-president-maia-sandu-russia-attack/
d.
Moldova
next?
Moldova
diplomat Alexandru Flenchea, on NPR Mar 4 2023
“Of all Ukraine's neighbors, Moldova is closest
to the battlefields. Russian cruise missiles overfly Moldovan airspace. Russian
missile debris have fallen on Moldovan territory several times. So we have
already encountered a number of significant security incidents.”
https://www.rferl.org/a/moldova-kremlin-target-ukraine-war/32298211.html
e.
Disinformation
and propaganda target
Torn
between integrating with the West or remaining in Russia’s orbit, Moldova is
particularly vulnerable to foreign, i.e., Russian propaganda. The propaganda
circulating in the country focuses particularly on disenfranchising NATO, the
European Union and the West in general. This phenomenon triggers political
polarization within Moldovan society, which influences the public agenda and
the decision-making processes in the country. Moreover, it undermines the security
policies and ordinary democratic course set by the current government, all
while undermining confidence in state institutions and increasing
non-compliance with the rules set by them.
In
the context of the war in Ukraine, as well as during the COVID-19-pandemic, the
scale of this phenomenon is being felt massively with news that intentionally
misinform the public and have a significant impact on the public’s perception
and thus real-life consequences.
--Blurring the truth: disinformation in
southeast Europe, by Konrad Adenauer Foundation, 2023
4.
My
Fulbright
My project during the 2023-24
academic year (September 2023-May 2024) will address several of these issues.
Focus—Peace journalism and combating mis and disinformation
---Themes:
Peace journalism—to address polarizing, us vs them reporting that drives
Romanian and Russian speakers apart; that raised tensions that could lead to
violent conflict
Combating mis and disinformation—To train Moldovan high school, university students to analyze content for propaganda; To train media how to most effectively combat propaganda and to show media how to best educate the public about propaganda and how to combat it.
---Activities:
a. Teach at State University of Moldova—Lectures and longer units in various
classes throughout communications and journalism department on the topic
discussed; as well as in peace studies courses
b. Design coursework and teach
workshops and seminars for young journalists (middle and high school) at the
Centrul Media Pentru Tineri https://tineri.md/
C. Design coursework and teach workshops and seminars for professional
journalists at the Independent Journalism Center
D. If possible, design workshops and seminars for journalists regionally, from Romania, Georgia, Ukraine, etc.
--Govmt control and ownership
--Censorship
--Lack of awareness of PJ--students, professionals
--Safety of journalists
1. Train 100 professional journalists in PJ before May, 2018
3. At least 150 journalism/communications students trained in PJ before May, 2018
1. Four 2-3 day workshops for professional journalists;
https://cicelyrnguyen.wordpress.com/
Kellen www.haveyoueverscene.blogspot.com
Stephanie https://1466843.wixsite.com/mysite
Links
Previous video projects