Workshop on Peace Education for Young Journalists and Advocacy Actors

Organised by Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung

Venue: Dhulikhel, Kavre District, Nepal

Date: 26-28 January, 2005

Background

Although conflict reporting is relatively new for the Nepalese media, the subject has acquired considerable importance and emphasis in the recent years, particularly after the escalation of Maoist conflict which has claimed more than 11,000 lives apart from creating economic setbacks, hardships and instability across the country. Ever since 1996 when the Maoists went underground, the media began placing special attention to reporting events and developments concerning the conflict. This also led the media to realise the need to understand the sensitivities and complexities involved in conflict reporting. The role of the media in conflict situation is crucial in many ways. It can either play the role of a watchdog by taking a critical look at the combatants while analysing the causes and consequences of a war or it can play the role of a propagandist trying to promote only one side while demonising the other side.

The demand for training of journalists covering conflict-hit areas and related issues has increased. However, due to lack of resources and expertise most media people have not been able to enhance their knowledge and skills in conflict reporting. FES, since 2003, has been organising workshops for Nepalese journalists and NGO activists dealing with communication sections of their organisations. In November 2003 and August 2004, the workshops were on "Peace Journalism: On the Road to Conflict Communication." The participants represented some of the most prominent media organisations in the country.

In response to the excellent feedback from senior editors and recommendations by the participants themselves, FES organised a three-day workshop in January 2005 also. The main theme was basically modelled on the previous two workshops but there were some changes and variations in the course, based on earlier suggestions and experiences.

The main objectives of the workshop were to:

• Make a critical assessment of media coverage of conflict-related issues, and victims of conflict and violence.
  
• Discuss the constructive role media can play in de-escalating and even solving conflicts.
  
• Enable journalists to prepare themselves adequately when visiting conflict-affected areas for news reporting.
  
• Review and understand the role and responsibility of media in promoting peace through free, fair and impartial journalism.

Participants

A total of 20 participants, including five women, attended the workshop. They represented different institutions and FES partner organisations. The participants were nominated by heads of their organisations. Most of them in their early 30s, the journalists were exclusively from Nepali language media. This kind of initiative by FES focussing on vernacular media was the first of its type in Nepal.

Resource Persons

As in the previous two workshops, Mr. Joergen Klussmann, the German expert with considerable experience in conducting training on conflict reporting, was the principal trainer. Four local resource persons also made presentations. The local resource persons were Mr. Dev Raj Dahal, Head of FES Nepal Office; Mr. L.D. Rai, Associate Professor at Tribhuvan University's Central Department of Journalism and Mass Communication; Ms. Shova Gautam, President of Institute of Human Rights Communication; and Mr. Umesh Upadhyaya, a Tribhuvan University Lecturer of Economics and expert on labour and trade union.

Training Method

The workshop took an interactive approach, encouraging and enabling the participants to discuss, raise questions and express opinion on the issues put forth in the course of the deliberations. The result was a lively discussion during which various issues came up.

Systemic constellations approach introduced in some of the sessions created considerable interest among the participants adding to their involvement in the discussions. Lectures, group exercises and interactions were also a part of the workshop.

Presentation/discussion highlights

The topics covered included peace and war; basics of peace research; handling conflicts; background of conflict in Nepal; communication and conflict; how communication works in conflict situations; non-violent communication and reconciliation and peace journalism; media freedom, professional ethics and social responsibility; models of communication; analysing information; conflict transformation; religion and conflict; peace and religion; challenges involved in field reporting and preparations required; conflict and state of work opportunities and environment; and difficult decisions that conflict reporters have to make.

Other issues that figured were the importance of free, fair and independent reporting; professional capacity and impartially; objectivity and credibility

At the end of the programme, the participants found the exercise fruitful in enhancing their knowledge on peace process and media responsibility in addition to reviewing and sharpening their skills in conflict reporting. During their discussions, various suggestions were made, some of which were as follows:

1. Advanced training on conflict reporting to journalists within and outside Kathmandu Valley would improve the quality of conflict reporting.
   
2. A manual based on Nepalese context should be developed.
   
3. Interaction programmes on media, conflict and society should be organised for senior journalists, media academics, representatives of civil society and government institutions.