Counter hate speech, promote ethical and independent media, say media experts
KATHMANDU/September 27: Media experts from various backgrounds and organizations shared their observations and insights on countering hate speech, promoting media ethics and safety of journalists on September 27, during the inaugural session of the conflict sensitive reporting and safety of journalists in South Asia workshop.
A part of the PMA/IPDC/MAN virtual workshop for 31 media professionals from Bangladesh, Nepal, India and Sri Lanka, the session featured Sally-Ann Wilson, CEO of Public Media Alliance (PMA); Hezekiel Dlamini, Advisor for Communication and Information for South Asia for UNESCO’s New Delhi office; Bal Krishna Basnet, Chairperson of Press Council Nepal (PCN); Dr. Sadia Jamil, AMIC Country Representative of UAE and Laxman Datt Pant, Chairperson of Media Action Nepal (MAN).
The session was moderated by Priyanka Jha, Vice-Chairperson of MAN.
Wilson spoke about the vital, often life-saving role public media played in conflict by creating a shared space for facts and balance and cutting through the mis- and disinformation that pop up during conflict situations. She also stressed the need for the media to maintain independence to establish credibility among the public.
Wilson also shared that the objective for organizing the workshop was to develop a conflict-sensitive code of ethics for journalists of South Asia and reward good journalism in the region.
Wilson also shared that the objective for organizing the workshop was to develop a conflict-sensitive code of ethics for journalists of South Asia and reward good journalism in the region.
Dlamini praised the dedication journalists in South Asia showed over the past year in being on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic and exposing themselves to infection to bring true and accurate stories. He also said that the present workshop was extremely relevant because it would help teach the participating reporters the causes of conflict and hate and how to diffuse the situation. He also expected the participants to use the training and standards learned here to deliver stories in their respective countries.
Dlamini praised the dedication journalists in South Asia showed over the past year in being on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic and exposing themselves to infection to bring true and accurate stories
Basnet hoped that the workshop would help address the latest dimensions of media including the challenges posed by social media and expressed PCN’s commitment to support it in any necessary way.
Dr. Jamil shed light on how digital technologies are impacting peace and conflict reporting and said that such technologies could either mitigate or escalate conflict. Online spaces have become a haven for mistruths and it is the responsibility of journalists to break through the noise of misinformation and deliver news to foster peace-building. She said that the present workshop, which is part of a fellowship, will help reporters do it by teaching them a normative framework and informing them about what actually constitutes conflict.
Online spaces have become a haven for mistruths and it is the responsibility of journalists to break through the noise of misinformation and deliver news to foster peace-building.
Pant expressed concern that the media in Nepal and across South Asia was losing credibility because media institutions are putting business interests before journalism and journalists are aligning themselves with political interests. He also emphasized the need to draft up-to-date codes of conduct to support freedom of expression and journalists’ safety during conflicts.
Pant expressed concern that the media in Nepal and across South Asia was losing credibility because media institutions are putting business interests before journalism and journalists are aligning themselves with political interests.
This inaugural session will be followed by a three-day closed workshop from 28-30 September, covering conflict sensitive journalism, journalist safety, and self-regulation. The workshop forms part of “Code of Ethics to Improve Conflict Sensitive Reporting and Safety of Journalists in South Asia” project, implemented by the Public Media Alliance (PMA) and Media Action Nepal (MAN), with support of the UNESCO New Delhi Office & the UNESCO International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC).