Abstract
Journalism in Conflict and Post-Conflict Conditions: Worldwide Perspectives discusses the place and role of journalism in conflict and post-conflict situation. The 11 authors that contributed to this collection narrate the realities of journalism in different countries that have suffered from conflicts and war in the recent past. Special focus is given to the plight of women journalists, and to the struggles and achievements of indigenous peoples.
The book presents some interesting concepts on present day journalism such as framing, indexing, peace journalism, equality feminism, difference journalism and war journalism. The book also reveals the shocking truths and realities in some of the countries where journalists are murdered and female journalists are raped. The idea that news frames are often structured upon the view point of official sources resonates with indexing where official government voices dominate the news while other ‘social voices’ are suppressed, in both news and editorials.
Some significant themes taken up for discussion include, the threatened female today, online gender harassment, the subordination of women and the challenges that women journalists face while covering conflict and war situations.
This book also invites journalists to promote hope, joy and optimism. The successes of indigenous people in communicating, through media, their stories of struggle and determination are commendable. Images, in particular, help people to keep alive the agony they have undergone during conflicts and horrific accidents; images speak louder than many articles, editorials and newspapers.
Journalism in Conflict and Post-Conflict Conditions really broadens one’s views on journalism and the noble work of journalists. Though the book uses a language that is simple and lucid, the thoughts and insights are profound. I am particularly impressed by the discussion on gender bias in journalism. In this context, equality feminism focuses on basic similarities between men and women or, rather, considers the individual differences to be larger within the gender groups than between them.
Finally, this book invites journalists working in conflict conditions to provide space for communication flows, which facilitates peace building by promoting participation, dialogue and increased understanding. This collection of essays is a must read for those in journalism and helps all people at large to understand the dynamics operative in journalism.