Peace Journalism: A tightrope walk between advocacy journalism and constructive conflict coverage

Abstract

Starting from an understanding of peace journalism that regards it not as an antipode, but as a necessary prerequisite of good journalism, the present paper undertakes a synthesis of the theses and antitheses presented by David Loyn, Thomas Hanitzsch, Jake Lynch and Samuel Peleg in conflict & communication online, Vol. 6, No. 2. The author locates the tasks of the peace journalistic program in the study of the conditions and possibilities under which journalists can actually do their work better in war and crisis situations, as well as in the provision and practical realization of the competencies that are necessary for this. Although peace journalism will occupy a minority position in the foreseeable future in conflict and crisis communication, even from this position it can contribute to making media discourse on conflicts more transparent and balanced and protecting conflict coverage from the fateful propaganda traps into which traditional war reporting is continually falling. As a precondition for this many myths must be critically examined that journalism shares with media sciences, and a clear line must be drawn between journalism and public relations. In particular, journalists must be warned not to prematurely cast the traditional tools of good journalism overboard. Of course it is urgently necessary that the usual understanding of objectivity in journalism must be revised and constructively enhanced; to radically turn away from the demand for objectivity not only endangers the acceptance of the peace journalistic project in the journalist community, however, it also can cause peace journalism to squander the trust bonus that its recipients have granted it. Toward the end of the last millennium, peace researchers, journalists and media people began to think about how the potential of the media could be used not only to fuel conflicts, but rather to encourage peaceful conflict settlement and serve as mediators of peace-building and reconciliation processes. What was initially still an academic project quickly developed into a movement that united under the slogan of "peace journalism" in part quite heterogeneous efforts. And as any movement, it brought about its critics as well: media researchers and journalists who regard the peace journalism movement as an assault on the integrity of journalism and its professional norms. The present paper takes up the arguments of some of the most prominent opponents and adherents of the peace journalism project and presents a point of view, under which they can be reconciled. If peace journalism is understood the right way, it is not an antipode of good journalism but its necessary prerequisite.