Workshops on Conflict Coverage and Peace Journalism for Israeli Journalists
11-10-2007 (Jerusalem)
The Israeli Palestinian Media Forum (IPMF) completed the first of a series of three workshops for journalists on the questions and dilemmas in conflict coverage and on alternative strategies, such as Peace Journalism, on 2 September 2007 in Netanya, Israel.
The workshop took place on September 2, at the Netanya Academic College campus, near Tel Aviv and was attended by some 40 Israeli print and electronic media journalists; peace activists; journalism researchers, and students. The general objective was to look at conflict and war coverage dilemmas, in order to improve professional skills, to enhance the awareness of “all sides”; and to review professional constraints and expectations. An initial address and the screening of a professional video alternated with discussions on ways to improve conflict and war coverage.
In his opening address, Norwegian senior peace researcher Professor Johan Galtung analyzed the distinction between perceptions of the “actors conflicts” versus the “goals conflicts” in war coverage. Where the former consists of simplistic and dramatic descriptions, a dichotomy of “us” versus “them” and the victory of one side; the latter focuses on mapping the conflict; and on its goals, the contrasting interests, motivations, and possible solutions.
The discussion, moderated by IBA’s political commentator Yaron Dekel, focused on dilemmas such as tensions between the personality, values, background, and organizational identity of journalists versus their professionalism and integrity; patriotism versus professionalism; and economic aspects like how not to lose your job; how much and how far should one agree with one’s editor’s requests? How to deal with constraints such as hierarchy, official sources, and ratings.
Following the screening of Danny Schechter’s film on the US coverage of the war in Iraq, a discussion on professional problems of coverage was conducted by Professor Dov Shinar, indicating that journalists working in the field have very few ways out of professional “traps” even when they are aware of them; and that there is a general consensus about the detrimental effect of embedding techniques on free coverage.
The workshop, which was highly praised by the participants also revealed that journalists are eager to express themselves in inter-organizational environments; that they are open to new ideas and that they enjoy the occasions to access independent views and research findings; furthermore that the “freedom of coverage” is a central concept and a source of professional dilemmas that must be addressed.
The next workshop is scheduled to take place on October 15. It will focus on the tension between objectivity and patriotism and on the professional strategies and techniques for the improvement of war and conflict coverage.
The Israeli Palestinian Media Forum (IPMF) is a UNESCO funded project in Jerusalem. IPMF organizes these three workshops in partnership with FAIR MEDIA: Center for the Study of Conflict, War and Peace Coverage, at Netanya Academic College (NAC).
In his opening address, Norwegian senior peace researcher Professor Johan Galtung analyzed the distinction between perceptions of the “actors conflicts” versus the “goals conflicts” in war coverage. Where the former consists of simplistic and dramatic descriptions, a dichotomy of “us” versus “them” and the victory of one side; the latter focuses on mapping the conflict; and on its goals, the contrasting interests, motivations, and possible solutions.
The discussion, moderated by IBA’s political commentator Yaron Dekel, focused on dilemmas such as tensions between the personality, values, background, and organizational identity of journalists versus their professionalism and integrity; patriotism versus professionalism; and economic aspects like how not to lose your job; how much and how far should one agree with one’s editor’s requests? How to deal with constraints such as hierarchy, official sources, and ratings.
Following the screening of Danny Schechter’s film on the US coverage of the war in Iraq, a discussion on professional problems of coverage was conducted by Professor Dov Shinar, indicating that journalists working in the field have very few ways out of professional “traps” even when they are aware of them; and that there is a general consensus about the detrimental effect of embedding techniques on free coverage.
The workshop, which was highly praised by the participants also revealed that journalists are eager to express themselves in inter-organizational environments; that they are open to new ideas and that they enjoy the occasions to access independent views and research findings; furthermore that the “freedom of coverage” is a central concept and a source of professional dilemmas that must be addressed.
The next workshop is scheduled to take place on October 15. It will focus on the tension between objectivity and patriotism and on the professional strategies and techniques for the improvement of war and conflict coverage.
The Israeli Palestinian Media Forum (IPMF) is a UNESCO funded project in Jerusalem. IPMF organizes these three workshops in partnership with FAIR MEDIA: Center for the Study of Conflict, War and Peace Coverage, at Netanya Academic College (NAC).
Related themes/countries
· Israel
· Media in Conflict and Post-Conflict Situations
· Palestinian Authority
· Freedom of Expression: News Archives 2007
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- UNESCO
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