"This book, the first of its kind ever in Yemen, serves as a guide for Yemeni media professionals as well as a highly significant document that will go a long way in boosting their reporting skills in such a way that meets the standards of conflict sensitive journalism. It is also a compendium on a
...
number of workshops SEMC had conducted across Yemeni governorates over the past couple of years." (Introduction, page 8)
more
"In recent years, more and more social media (Facebook) groups have been created dealing with memories of the Holocaust in Hungary. In this article, I analyze and compare two groups, “The Holocaust and My Family” and “The Descendants of the Victims and Survivors of the Holocaust” in the fram
...
ework of my research project on the concept of digital trauma processing, entitled “Trauma Studies in the Digital Age: The Impact of Social Media on Trauma Processing in Life Narratives and Trauma Literature: the Case of Hungary.” I show how the concept of trauma and trauma processing itself are changing in the digital age as a consequence of the element of sharing (in posts and comments in digital media) gains more importance and thus counteracts the element of silence, which was considered the most important element of trauma on several levels. How does digital sharing of memories of traumas help unblock previously blocked avenues to the past, and how does it contribute to the processing of collective historical traumas and consequently to the mobilization of memories, modernization, and the transformation of identities? I examine how the given characteristics of the different types of Facebook groups, public or closed, influence the ways in which people communicate about a collective historical trauma. I touch upon the issue of research ethics in connection with the handling of sensitive data in social media research. I examine the book The Holocaust and My Family, a collection of posts from the group, and analyze as a case study a post and the related comments, in which a descendant of a perpetrator comes out in the group." (Abstract)
more
"Does social influence exerted through role modeling of collective action impact social change in contexts that are not conducive to collective action, such as long-lasting violent conflicts? We examined this question in two field experiments in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. We created t
...
wo versions of an episode of an existing media intervention (a show aiming to promote positive social change), in which fictional characters either planned collective action (role modeling condition), or did not plan action (control condition) to address grievances. In Study 1, role modeling affected individual-level outcomes: it increased perceived collective efficacy and willingness to take action, but exacerbated intergroup attitudes and reduced tolerance. Study 2 tested the influence of role modeling on a group-level outcome (group discussions). Discussions following the role modeling show focused less on grievances, and included more positive lessons of the show, as well as more statements about collective efficacy and collective action. The findings highlight the influence of role modeling of collective action through media on efficacy and action for social change, but caution against unintended consequences on intergroup attitudes." (Abstract)
more
"The Bougainville Audience Research Study is a comprehensive baseline study on the media and communication landscape in Bougainville. It offers key insights into the access and ownership of media and communication channels, and provides an in-depth picture of the audiences’ views and aspirations i
...
n relation to the Bougainville Peace Agreement." (Introduction)
more
"This Field Guide summarises the legal protection and responsibilities of media professionals operating in armed conflicts. It focuses on international humanitarian law (IHL) – also known as the ‘law of armed conflict’ – and sets out some aspects of international and UK criminal law. It is i
...
mportant for media professionals reporting from armed conflict to be familiar with the rules of IHL. The Field Guide is a summary version of a Handbook for media professionals on IHL also produced by the British Red Cross, and can be read in conjunction with it. The Handbook contains a more detailed discussion of the legal provisions set out in the Field Guide, using a similar structure." (Introduction, page 1)
more
"Combining perspectives from media studies and political ecology, this book analyses socially constructed news regarding three environmental conflicts in South America. In recent decades, South American political administrations have tied national economies to neo-extractive development strategies,
...
creating not only vulnerabilities to global commodity boom and bust pricing cycles, but also to conflict regarding environmental and cultural degradation from extraction activities. Environmental contestations among indigenous peoples, environmental and social NGOs, state actors, and extraction industries receive media attention, but how these disputes are covered has implications for understandings of media performance in democratizing nations. The authors examine three case studies of environmental contestation in a region that is simultaneously vulnerable to the effects of climate change, and yet has become once again dependent on commodity exportation to industrializing and industrialized nations for economic benefit and social development strategies." (Publisher description)
more
"This chapter deals with whether war journalism in mainstream media is fit to take a fourth estate role in reporting the new wars, from the end of the Cold War in 1989 to the present war against the so-called Islamic State. In particular, it is a critical study of shortcomings when it comes to provi
...
ding the public with relevant information about the legality and legitimacy of the ways in which the humanitarian operations under the UN declaration on the “Responsibility to Protect (R2P)” are pursued. However, in almost all respects, journalism is a national institution with competence deficits in the field of international law and humanitarian rights. The new and asymmetric wars – in which established distinctions, e.g., between civilians and soldiers, between embedded reporters and combatants as well as between war and peace are blurred – make such shortcomings a growing and severe democratic problem. A global journalism with higher professional standards in this field is important as one of several correctives in order to reverse the current threat spirals that jeopardize our collective security." (Abstract)
more
"The Saudi state has permitted government-appointed religious scholars and clerics and government institutions to refer to religious minorities such as Shia in derogatory terms or demonize them in official documents and religious rulings. In addition, in recent years, government-appointed clerics ha
...
ve used the internet and social media to demonize and incite hatred against Shia Muslims and others who do not conform to their views. “They are Not Our Brothers”, is based on an analysis of Saudi clerics’ fatwas and statements, court rulings, and the 2016-17 Ministry of Education religion curriculum. The report documents Saudi religious officials’ incitement to hatred and discrimination; anti-Shia bias in the Saudi criminal judicial system; and the religion curriculum’s use of anti-Shia rhetoric. The report shows how such speech is instrumental in Saudi Arabia’s enforcement of a system of discrimination against Saudi Shia citizens. The report calls on the Saudi authorities to take immediate steps to end the use of hate speech by state-affiliated clerics and governmental agencies. The authorities should also end anti-Shia bias in the justice system, allow Shia to freely practice their religious beliefs on an equal basis with Sunni citizens, and reform the education curriculum to remove anti-Shia elements." (Back cover)
more
"Journalism is a dangerous business when one’s "beat" is a war zone. Armoudian reveals the complications facing frontline journalists who cover warzones, hot spots and other hazardous situations. It compares yesterday’s conflict journalism, which was fraught with its own dangers, with today’s
...
even more perilous situations—in the face of shrinking journalism budgets, greater reliance on freelancers, tracking technologies, and increasingly hostile adversaries. It also contrasts the difficulties of foreign correspondents who navigate alien sources, languages and land, with domestically-situated correspondents who witness their own homelands being torn apart." (Publisher description)
more
"Menschenfeindliche und rassistische Äußerungen (Hate Speech) gegenüber religiösen und ethnischen Gruppen im Internet haben sich weltweit massiv ausgebreitet. Das Internet ist weniger ein Ort der multikulturellen Begegnung als des aggressiven Kulturkampfes mit weitreichenden Folgen für gesellsc
...
haftliches Handeln von der Diskriminierung bis zur fremdenfeindlichen Gewalt. Der vorliegende Beitrag beschäftigt sich in konzentrierter Form mit unterschiedlichen politikwissenschaftlichen, soziologischen und kommunikationswissenschaftlichen Erklärungsversuchen für die Ursachen der Hasskommunikation. Abgerundet wird der Beitrag durch eine Reflexion über ethische und co-regulative Maßnahmen in einer wehrhaften liberalen Demokratie." (Abstract)
more
"Research suggests between 80 and 90% of journalists have been exposed to a work-related traumatic events such as murder, mass casualties, war and natural disasters. Most journalists exhibit resilience despite repeated exposure to such traumatic events. However, a significant minority are at risk fo
...
r long-term psychological problems, including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression, and substance abuse. Unsurprisingly, the greater the exposure to violence, suffering and death, in particular involving children, the more likely people are to break down. And those are the situations exactly what many journalists have to deal with as part of their job. Due to the 30 years of war in Sri Lanka, many journalists suffer PTSD as they witnessed many horrible events involving death, violence, bomb attacks and human suffering. Even though the war ended eight years ago, trauma is still there in many minds. Currently, many of the younger journalists are more likely to report occupational dysfunction due to PTSD. This article will analyze what impact such traumatic situations had on journalists and what methods and training can better prepare fresher journalists to face such traumatic events well in advance." (Abstract)
more
"This paper assesses the role of social media and digital technologies (SMDTs) in the reporting of violent events, and evaluates their relative strengths and weaknesses as compared to other means available. It seeks to understand how SMDT data are collated, how reliable the data are, and what practi
...
cal and ethical issues are associated with their collection and use. We start by situating the application of these technologies within the wider discussion of the use of information and communication technologies for development (ICT4D) and the sub-field of real-time data for development (RTD4D), before presenting the different types of SMDT data collection instruments and methods. We then assess the reliability of SMDTs for the reporting of violent events, identifying potential factors of biases in the data, such as geographical coverage, demographic and socioeconomic factors, or biases resulting from the nature and configuration of violent events. We also look at whether such data can accurately capture underlying dynamics of violent events. Finally, we look at the practical and ethical challenges associated with the collection of SMDT data on violent events." (Summary)
more
"This guide is driven by the need not to add to the library of information on violent extremism but to underscore a message often missed: to reach young people effectively, we must respect their ability to grasp the reality of injustice, intolerance, and inequity [...] we found that three key messag
...
es emerged from our analysis of all Youth Contributor submissions. For each key message, we have identified a corresponding framework to guide policy support to empower stakeholders.
1. Peace, empathy, and compassion cannot be taught. These are skills that are only fully realized through experiential learning and lived experience.
Policy Action: Provide opportunities for exchange and interaction and create conducive environments in which young people can develop and practice these skills.
2. Start now. Stakeholders can take immediate and important actions, even small actions, to support a culture that prevents violent extremism. No one needs to wait for permission or a comprehensive set of instructions.
Policy Action: Provide resources such as technical support, financing, guidance, and networks to empower actors.
3. This is a long, slow process. Preventing violent extremism requires the development of a resilient culture. It is the work of expanding opportunity. All stakeholders can play critical roles in making this culture a reality." (Preface, page 10-11)
more
"Effective development cooperation that is sensitive to conflict contexts has to integrate media and communication into their overall strategy by taking into account the communicative needs of societies faced with democratization conflicts. In view of this policy problem, empirical evidence gathered
...
by the MeCoDEM project in four transitional countries (Egypt, Kenya, Serbia and South Africa) helps to understand the communication dynamics between journalists, activist and political actors. This policy brief presents some key findings from the project with the aim of informing future policy development." (Introduction)
more
"This collection of essays explores the complicated relationship between the messengers bringing news of catastrophic upheaval and the recipients of that message. It concentrates on the journalists, photographers and film-makers, reflecting not only the motivations behind their work, but also the ps
...
ychological consequences of witnessing extreme suffering. The audience interpret the news according to their circumstance, be it with anger sympathy or with compassion-fatigued indifference. The book explores that reaction, which is always more nuanced than anticipated. Finally, the modern communication circle is completed by exploring the potential of the media to diminish conflict. This is demonstrated by the media bringing together communities that are either geographically or historically divided." (Publisher description)
more
"This study aims to investigate the reporting of major conflicts in Pakistan by two leading TV channels i.e. Geo TV and Dunya TV, to ascertain the nature of the coverage in terms of being escalatory or deescalatory. It aims to explore these conflicts from a peace journalism perspective. The conflict
...
s include: the Taliban conflict, Balochistan conflict, sectarian conflict and ethno-political conflict in Karachi. The study is primarily a quantitative content analysis to explore the media coverage of conflicts during both high and low intensity periods from 2014 to 2015. The findings suggest that Pakistan news TV channels reported the Taliban and the ethno-political conflict in Karachi in an escalatory fashion, ridden in a de-contextualised pattern. While, on the other hand, the Balochistan and the sectarian conflict were mainly reported in de-escalatory terms owing to various socio-cultural reasons impacting the coverage. The findings are quite consistent with the existing literature on conflict journalism, which suggests that the media, in general, adopts a more propagandist and nationalistic stance, when the threats to national security are highest whereas it adopts a more humanistic stance, when the threats to national security are assumed to be low." (Abstract)
more
"In this article, I seek to inform Peace Journalism (PJ) education and training in conflict-affected countries in particular. Based on a case study of the professional experiences of Afghan photojournalists, I offer insights into the acceptability and adoptability of PJ practice by journalists from
...
conflict-affected countries. I present six key findings of a larger study on Afghan photojournalists in this article and discuss the lessons they hold for PJ training in conflict-affected countries. In sections 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, I provide some important theoretical, contextual and methodological background. In section 6, I discuss three professional adversities faced by Afghan photojournalists and evaluate the obstacles that implementation of PJ faces as a result of them. In section 7, I describe one professional motivator for Afghan photojournalists and discuss the opportunity it presents for PJ adoption. In section 8, I describe two other constraints faced by Afghan photojournalists related specifically to donor-funded media development in post-2001 Afghanistan and discuss their implications for PJ training. Finally in section 9, while noting the limitations of the current study, I offer two ways forward for PJ training in conflict-affected countries like Afghanistan." (Abstract)
more
"International Humanitarian Law (IHL) has long-claimed that recognition as a civilian is critical to a journalist's safety during war, but the new US Manual blurs that line and says journalists must better understand the distinction between civilians and combatants. Given the fact that journalists m
...
ight not be familiar with these legal concepts, this article proposes the use of critical pedagogy to engage them in the consideration of those issues (Freire, 2000). To start the conversation, and following a legal methodology, the article analyzes protections established under IHL, provides legal definitions for combatants, spies, and civilians and explains how each should be treated. Then to promote the inclusion on this topic in academic curriculums, it present teaching experiences and recommendations to engage media personnel in the study of this topic." (Abstract)
more