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Journalists' Respons[ability] to Promote Peace (audio) |
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 Cape Town: One of the participants at the Congress is journalist Frank
Jomo from Malawi. In this interview, Frank shares insights on the
responsibility of journalists to de-escalate violence through careful
reporting.
Citing the example of the Kenyan election conflicts in December
2007, Frank notes that when journalists reported the tribes of people who
committed violent acts, the violence was exacerbated by acts of retribution.
When journalists did not name tribes, the violence was reduced. Frank shares an
additional example of the care required to only identify people with their
religion if religion plays a direct role in their actions or motivations.
These examples relate to Cees Hamelink’s workshop on hard
versus soft communications. “Hard” communication refers to beginning a dialogue
with an agenda to tell one’s own story, including truths about past offenses.
If instead one intentionally practices “soft” communications, with openness to
new insights and outcomes, one can listen better, and allow a new, shared
future to emerge.
These
insights highlight how thoughtfully we should choose the words we use to
communicate, especially when we are speaking about violence or conflict. While
some words may be accurate, they may not be conducive to building peace and
understanding. We must analyse our communications through an additional lens to
truth – that of fostering openness and mutual understanding.
Listen to the interview
Carole St. Laurent, Multimedia/Web Specialist, fluidIT solutions
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The World Association for Christian Communication is a UK
Registered Charity (number 296073) and a Company registered in
England and Wales (number 2082273) with its Registered Office
at 36 Causton Street, London SW1P 4ST. It is an incorporated
Charitable Organisation in Canada (number 83970 9524 RR0001)
with its head office at 308 Main Street, Toronto ON, M4C 4X7.
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