With the dawn of 21st century, journalism has taken never
seen before character in its evolution. Citizens now, have not to take any great
pains to get informed about any conflict and to view that from whatever the
angle they choose to the literature on war and peace suggests that portrayal of
conflicts by mass media is a major concern to combatants, public and media
professionals. As media coverage shapes the course of events in war and peace,
policy makers, journalist and social scientist all point to important role of
press in covering conflicts in Iraq, Kashmir, Afghanistan and Israel-Palestine,
besides political, ideological and others, war reporting is often
sensationalized for the sake of boosting circulation and ratings.
That being said now lets have some insight from peace literature that what does
peace journalism means? Jack lynch describes peace journalism as “Peace
journalism is when editors and reporters make choices-about what to report and
how report it that create opportunities for society at large to consider value
non-violent response to conflicts.It means peace journalism is more realistic in
the sense of fidelity to a reality that already exists, independently of it. To
report violence without background or context is to misrepresent it, since any
conflict is, at root, a relationship of parties setting and persuading
incompatible goals, to omit any discussion of them is a distortion.
At the same time, advocates of peace journalism have long been asserting that
miss representing the realities or covering of conflicts in a way that rather
then giving options or choices to the audience fixes as sponsored or Propaganda
based prison has bleared the prospects of conflict resolve. There is no denying
the fact that people are undeniably made to think from the perspective they are
offered on mass media.
Lets have some dreadful instance of misrepresenting realities. At the peak of
cold war, the leader of Al-Qaida, a terrorist organization, Usamabinladin was
portrayed as “warrior in the New York Times and the guardian because he was
fighting proxy war for the USA and its allies”.
As the war ended, after some time these same militants allegedwere blamed for
carrying out blasts on twin tower famously known as 9\11 incident Now they were
portrayed as “number one enemy for America”. This is how journalism has been
bitch for the rich. But now is the age of reason, globalization and multilatesim.
It is also imperative for journalist to change their perspectives and training
to present brighter side of journalism. Lets have some some look on how it can
play role in conflict resolving.
Firstly, journalists ought to explore the backgrounds and context of conflict
formation presenting causes and options on every side.
Secondly, all rival parties from all levels ought to be given voice.
Thirdly, they must offer creative ideas for conflict resolution, development,
peacemaking and peace keeping.
Fourthly, they must expose lies, coverup attempts and culprits on all sides and
reveals excess committed by and suffering inflicted on people of all parties.
Lastly, they must pay attention to peace stories and post war developments.
To conclude, peace journalism can play vital role in resolving conflicts across
the globe. The journalists ought to take responsibly to propagate peace
journalism in spite of war journalism.