·
Avoid reporting a conflict as consisting of two opposing sides.
Find other affected interests and include their stories, opinions and goals.
Interview merchants affected by the general strike, workers who are unable to
work, refugees from the countryside who want an end to violence etc.
 |
| A checklist for conflict sensitive journalism |
·
Avoid defining the conflict by always quoting the leaders who make
familiar demands. Go beyond the elites. Report the words of ordinary people who
may voice the opinions shared by many.
·
Avoid only reporting what divides the sides in conflict. Ask the
opposing sides questions which may reveal common ground. Report on interests or
goals which they may share.
·
Avoid words like devastated, tragedy and terrorized to describe
what has been done to one group. These kinds of words put the reporter on one
side. Do not use them yourself. Only quote someone else who uses these words.
·
Avoid emotional and imprecise words. Assassination is the murder
of a head of state and no-one else. Massacre is the deliberate killing of
innocent, unarmed civilians. Soldiers and policemen are not massacred. Genocide
means killing an entire people. Do not minimize suffering, but use strong
language carefully.
·
Avoid words like terrorist, extremist or fanatic. These words take
sides; make the other side seem impossible to negotiate with. Call people what
they call themselves.
·
Avoid waiting for leaders on one side to offer solutions. Explore
peace ideas wherever they come from. Put these ideas to the leaders and report
their response.
Adapted from Conflict Sensitive Reporting
Check Book
Tags
Opinion