Journalism during conflict: Peace journalism

Journalism during conflict: Peace journalism

Soeryo Winoto
Staff Writer
The Jakarta Post
Bandung, West Java

It is not easy for a reporter to cover conflicts and report on
them in a neutral manner that is capable of pleasing and
satisfying both warring groups, without the insertion of personal
opinions based on the reporter's religion and ethnicity.

Whereas media reports are expected to contribute in toning
down the situation on the battlefield, reporters, editors and
media owners are said to have their own "visions and missions".

Following various conflicts across the world, the term "peace
journalism" was coined in a bid to remind the media to side with
humanity and, at the least, not to contribute to the worsening of
a conflict situation. "Peace journalism" training sessions for
journalists have been held in a number of places, as explained by
speakers during a one-day seminar on Saturday.

The seminar on globalization, religion and the media was held
in Bandung by the Bandung Islamic University (Unisba), German
Service for Academic Exchange (DAAD), and the Ilmenau University
of Technology.

Thomas Hanitzsch of the Ilmenau University of Technology, one
of the speakers, said that the media must be extra careful in
reporting conflicts. "Sometimes, the media may even stimulate
terror simply because of its existence: The Taliban, for example,
might not have destroyed the Buddha statues in Bamiyan if it was
not assured of extensive coverage by the global media."

Later in his paper, Hanitzsch turned his attention to the
Maluku conflict. He clearly showed how media outlets changed
their positions based on their respective interests in the
conflict between religious communities in Maluku.

The prolonged clashes between Muslims and Christians destroyed
harmony within Suara Maluku, the sole daily newspaper published
in Ambon up to 1999. Christian and Muslim journalists had been
working side by side in the paper for years. When the war broke
out and the city of Ambon had been divided into various Muslim
and Christian ghettos, things changed in the newspaper, whose
offices were located within a Christian area.

"Over time, it became apparent that to a high degree reports
submitted by Muslim journalists did not get published as the
editorial offices were controlled by Christians," Hanitzsch said.
"Some days later, all the names of Muslim journalists suddenly
disappeared from the masthead."

More surprisingly, the main shareholder of Suara Maluku, the
Surabaya-based Jawa Pos Group, decided to split the newspaper
into separate Christian and Muslim papers: The Ambon Ekspres,
which represented the interest of Maluku's Muslim minority, was
born.

Hanitzsch warned that if national media coverage in a
multiethnic and multireligious country like Indonesia sided with
one party in a certain conflict, it could lead to the threat of a
metastasis of the crisis, affecting territories outside of the
core conflict area. Hanitzsch cited the conflicts in Lombok,
which occurred after the conflict erupted in Maluku, though the
role of the media here is not clear.

Another speaker, Santoso S. Hamijoyo, noted the intricacy and
sensitivity of social conflicts, rendering them difficulty to
cover in an objective, value-free fashion compared to lighter
subjects. The question was how honest journalists could be in
view of the conflicting interests of the various groups involved
or associated with social conflicts, Santoso, a professor of
communications, said.

All parties, including journalists, would find it difficult,
though not impossible, to remain objective or interest-free in
the face of conflicts, especially pervasive conflicts with
serious and multiple ramifications in society.

Reporters could be honest in their news writing about a
conflict; but they might not be capable of revealing what was
concealed below the surface, Santoso said.

In Indonesia, one of the first introductions to peace
journalism was the arrangement of a visit of a group of reporters
to the Central Sulawesi capital of Palu in November 2000.

The visit, sponsored by the British Council and led by
facilitators Jake Lynch and Annabel McGoldrick, was aimed at
experimenting with peace journalism in the context of the Poso
conflict.

Still, maybe only a few know what peace journalism is really
all about and what it means for the day-to-day work of reporters.

Similar to the concept of "development journalism", peace
journalism emerged from a normative view on what the media does
and what it should do, Hanintzsch said.

By definition, peace journalism is a program or pattern of
journalistic news coverage that contributes to the journalists'
"snaking" when covering and seeking sources, and coverage which
promotes peace. This implies that peace journalism does not just
simply mean the outcome of journalistic work, but also refers to
how journalists act and perceive their roles in reporting
conflicts.

"The concept of peace journalism looks quite suitable,
especially for Asian cultures where the purpose of communication
is to generate social harmony and freedom," Hanintzsch said.

What does peace journalism mean for the day-to-day work of a
reporter? Journalists may say it's just basic, good journalism --
but the tips for conflict reporting as cited by Hanintzsch are
indeed essential reminders.

The following 10 practical suggestions are quoted from Johan
Galtung and Richard C. Vincent, drawing on the coverage of the
second Gulf war in 1991:
1. Cover both sides
2. Push to get access to locations, people and topics
3. Don't stick to elites as news sources
4. Avoid glorifying warfare technology
5. Don't cut out "blood and guts" stories since they show the

real horrors of war
6. Publish accounts on "ordinary" people
7. Provide background information
8. Be aware of spin-doctors who try to manipulate you
9. Accounts on how media or journalists cover conflicts should

not push the actual conflict aside
10. Communicate and support peace initiatives.