Peace Journalism

Peace Journalism Definitions

In Peace Journalism, Jake Lynch and Annabel McGoldrick (2005) define the practice as, “when editors and reporters make choices—of what to report, and how to report it—that create opportunities for society at large to consider and value non-violent responses to conflict” (p. 5). Their definition adds that peace journalism applies “the insights of conflict analysis and transformation” (p. 5) to journalistic practices of balance, fairness, and accuracy in reporting.

The Center for Global Peace Journalism at Park University in Parkville, Missouri, adapts and expands on the Lynch and McGoldrick definition. The center maintains that peace journalism is a practice in which "editors and reporters make choices that improve the prospects for peace. These choices, including how to frame stories and carefully choosing which words are used, create an atmosphere conducive to peace and supportive of peace initiatives and peacemakers, without compromising the basic principles of good journalism. Peace journalism gives peacemakers a voice while making peace initiatives and non-violent solutions more visible and viable."

From Reporting Beyond the Problem: From Civic Journalism to Solutions Journalism (Steven Youngblood, 2021)

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

PEACE JOURNALISM AND LANGUAGE

TRADITIONAL JOURNALISM:
Demonizing language—Thief, criminal, thug, liar, terrorist, evil, racist
Victimizing language—Helpless, pathetic, tragic, defenseless

Sensational/emotional language—Martyr, bloody, massacre, brutal, tragedy, atrocity, genocide, slaughtered, enemy

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

Peace Journalism and Social Media

Application of peace journalism principles to social media platforms

1. Use SM to offer counternarratives that debunk media created or perpetuated stereotypes, myths, and misperceptions.
Example/Twitter: Africa The Good News @AfricaGoodNews

2. Use SM as a tool to hold the powerful (governments, businesses, etc.) to account for their actions.
Examples: FactCheck.org; MediaWise @MediaWise; Snopes @Snopes

3. Use SM to broaden societal conversations so that they include (and indeed, are led by) the traditional voiceless: the poor and disadvantaged, victims, marginalized communities, etc. Example: Activate Labs, on Facebook and @ActivateLabs

4. Use SM to call out irresponsible traditional media when it stigmatizes, scapegoats, uses hateful or inflammatory language or “us vs. them” narratives, etc.
Examples: Media Matters on Facebook and @Mediamatters; Transcend Media @transcend_media

5. Use SM to connect and mobilize like-minded peace journalists.
Examples: @PeaceJourn; @transcend_media; Peace Journalism Facebook pages; Media Foundation for West Africa @The MFWA; Intl Center for Journalists

6. Use SM as a tool to analyze and deconstruct conflict and to connect with conflicted parties on all sides.
Examples: Transcend Media @transcend_media and transcend.org; Media, War and Conflict Journal @MWC_Journal; Global Council for Tolerance and Peace Facebook and @GCptNews

7. Use SM to disseminate peace journalism reporting, thus sidestepping profit driven traditional media. Examples:
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/

8. Use SM to fact check, crowd source, and lead discussions about solutions, without advocating any one solution.
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/

9. Use social media to seek opinions outside your ideological bubble.
Example: If conservative, search Twitter hashtag #ImpeachTrumpNow; If liberal, seek out #WitchHunt.

10. Use social media to tag those with opposing viewpoints, as a way of engendering conversations.

---Suggestions developed jointly with colleagues in Northern Ireland, 2019.

One more important resource: PeaceTech Lab (by USIP)
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/

PEACE JOURNALISM AND RECONCILIATION
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

10. Reject reporting that uses only elite voices, and instead give the “voice of the voiceless” perspective on how those marginalized are impacted by conflict, peace proposals, and reconciliation processes

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.

MIGRANT COVERAGE EXAMPLES
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

PILLARS OF RESPONSIBLE CONFLICT AND TRAUMA REPORTING—
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.

CONNECTING PEACE AND ELECTORAL JOURNALISM

What a peace journalist would try to do in an electoral situation:

1. Give voices to multiple candidates, to multiple ideologies (not just the extremes), and to multiple players involved in the process, especially the public.

2. Avoid coverage fixated on polls, surveys, and who’s ahead. Instead, concentrate on issues of importance as identified by the public.

3. Check and verify candidates comments and claims. Critically analyze everything candidates say.
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.

5. Hold candidates accountable for name calling and baseless charges against their opponents.

6. Focus on the candidates’ positions on issues of importance—schools, health care, roads—instead of personality clashes.

7. Balance overall coverage with comments from disparate political players. Balance includes getting input from informed citizens.

8. Center stories around everyday people, their concerns and perceptions about the candidates and issues. Reject reporting that gives opinions/sound bites only from political leaders and/or pundits. --Source: Steven Youngblood

Uganda Peaceful Election Stories
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/stevenlyoungblood59448/episodes/2013-03-26T09_28_32-07_00

South Sudan Reconciliation Stories

https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/stevenlyoungblood59448/episodes/2016-05-18T04_59_41-07_00

One man, two journeys

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TRoIrcdqdQ

Rotary Moldova Fulbright

1. What is Fulbright

https://fulbrightscholars.org/us-scholar-awards

countries

https://fulbrightscholars.org/awards/search?query=&field_award_multi_country=All&field_award_type_list%5B8323%5D=8323&field_award_degree_reqs=All&field_invitation_req=All

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.

Peace Journalism Project: Ethiopia

Obstacles
--Govmt control and ownership
--Censorship
--Lack of awareness of PJ--students, professionals
--Safety of journalists

Goals
1. Train 100 professional journalists in PJ before May, 2018

2. At least 100 peace journalism stories produced and disseminated by Ethiopian journalists before May, 2018
3. At least 150 journalism/communications students trained in PJ before May, 2018

4. At least two universities prepare curriculum for PJ course, or PJ units for existing courses, before May, 2018

5. Help to launch at least two peace journalism themed news reports or radio programs in Ethiopia before May, 2018

Activities
1. Four 2-3 day workshops for professional journalists;

2. Teach two 8 week classes with PJ themes at Gondar University

3. Teach three one day seminars at two other Ethiopian universities

4. Teach two additional one day seminars for NGO's (UN, local media organizations)

5. Develop PJ curriculum alongside Ethiopian professors at Gondar, one other university

6. Implement PJ story tracking project at Gondar University

7. Convene peace journalism summit as culminating activity in May, 2018