Choose truth, rather than a side<\/p>\n
By Mia Doornaert<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post joins the commemoration of World Press Freedom
\nDay on May 3 by looking at the media in areas of conflict and
\nareas post-conflict. Two articles, one on page 4, the other on
\npage 5 were distributed to the press by the advisory group on
\npress freedom of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and
\nCultural Organization.<\/p>\n
UNITED NATIONS: It's so easy to be balanced and sensible about
\nother people's conflicts. We look at strife and conflict between
\nethnic or cultural or social groups far away and wonder why they
\ndon't just talk to each other and find a way to live peacefully
\ntogether.<\/p>\n
But it's a totally different story when the problems are our
\nown. Tolerance and critical distance tend to give way to a much
\nsimpler approach: us (the good guys) against them (the bad guys).<\/p>\n
This phenomenon can be seen everywhere. The same people who
\nmarch for peace and tolerance elsewhere are often extremely
\nintolerant when it comes to conflicts in their own part of the
\nworld. Outsiders who encourage them to be more tolerant are
\nwritten off as busybodies, who either don't have the first idea
\nabout the local situation or have been brainwashed by the other
\nside.<\/p>\n
Journalists are not different in this from anyone else.
\nNothing is more difficult for them than to report on a conflict
\ninvolving their own country, nation or group. National or
\ncultural identification may often be a largely unconscious drive,
\nit is nonetheless a powerful one.<\/p>\n
Journalists therefore face a huge challenge when they try to
\nmaintain a critical distance about conflict at home, because they
\nthemselves are so much a part of one of the sides. Too many of
\nthem feel that their first duty is to their own side, rather than
\nto the professional ethics.<\/p>\n
Apart from this personal involvement, journalists are also
\nunder considerable emotional pressure from their readers or
\nviewers. What may be good, balanced reporting elsewhere can
\nquickly become betrayal if applied at home.<\/p>\n
Most people do not enjoy having their staunch beliefs and
\nprejudices undermined and they tend to see the media's purpose as
\nrallying to the cause, cheering the home side on to victory, as
\nin a sports game.<\/p>\n
In the Balkans and elsewhere, many journalists who attempted
\nto report events in a way that was fair on all the actors in the
\nconflict have had to go in hiding, for fear of the wrath of their
\nown compatriots.<\/p>\n
But even under those demanding conditions, journalism is still
\nabout information, about getting the facts out. The reporter's
\njob is to choose the truth, not a side, however painful it may be
\nto open one's mind to the arguments and motives of the "enemy".
\nProfessional ethics cannot be pushed aside just because the going
\ngets rough.<\/p>\n
Truthful, balanced reporting doesn't mean that the media are
\nnot free to choose a side in their editorial line. To quote the
\nwell known basic rule: facts are sacred, comment is free.<\/p>\n
But editorial comment needs to be based on facts. Propaganda
\nand hate speech -- which, for example, contributed so much to the
\nslaughter in Rwanda -- have nothing whatsoever to do with
\njournalism or with the freedom of the press.<\/p>\n
Journalists from outside the conflict area face different
\nchallenges. Simply having eyes and ears is not enough to be able
\nto see and hear what is really going on. Unless they are aware of
\nthe history and culture of the region they are assigned to, even
\nthe best intentioned reporters can misread a situation and easily
\nfall prey to propaganda.<\/p>\n
As UNESCO Constitution quite rightly says, wars begin in the
\nminds of people and therefore the search for peace also begins in
\ntheir minds.<\/p>\n
Men and women of good will who strive for peace need hard
\nfacts to work with. Only solid information can help them
\ndetermine what the parties involved need to reach a settlement
\nand end their conflict. Reporters who choose the truth instead of
\nsides, not only put their ethics into practice; they also further
\nthe cause of peace.<\/p>\n
This kind of journalism presupposes a great many things:
\nReporters who are firm followers of professional ethics and have
\nthe cultural background necessary to understand the events they
\nare covering; media and press organizations willing to invest in
\nmore than a "three day fireman" whose only interest is in
\nreporting bloodshed; and, of course, access to theaters of
\nconflict.<\/p>\n
Everywhere in the world, journalists from both inside and
\noutside areas of conflict, are denied access, with a litany of
\nexcuses: they are inflaming the conflict, exaggerating the
\nissues, favoring one side against the other, and so on.
\nPerversely enough, quite often these charges are true. The
\npresence of witnesses may well benefit parties in a conflict who
\nwere previously 'invisible', while it may hamper those who had
\nbeen hoping to be able to oppress and kill with complete
\nimpunity.<\/p>\n
So, the interest shown by journalists and the access accorded
\nto them will bring about at least one major consequence: there
\nwill be a record. The stories of the victims of violence will not
\ngo untold.<\/p>\n
Yet the mere presence of journalists cannot bring an end to
\nconflict, nor should it be expected to do so. They cannot be held
\naccountable for the way public opinion inside or outside the area
\nof conflict reacts to what they report.<\/p>\n
Contrary to a widespread belief, the media -- at least in
\ndemocratic or relatively open societies -- do not control the
\nminds of their readers or viewers.<\/p>\n
Their job is to enlighten them. And nowhere is that job more
\nimportant than when covering conflicts, because getting facts out
\nhelps to give the voice of reason a chance to rise above the
\nsound and fury of prejudice and hatred.<\/p>\n
The writer is the president of UNESCO's advisory group on
\npress freedom and a correspondent of the Belgium publication De
\nStandaard in France.<\/p>",
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