Solidarity journalism is key to supporting victims during war
KATHMANDU/ July 11: Media scholars from the U.S., Caucasus region and South Asia have called on media and other stakeholders to exercise solidarity journalism and to maintain the morale of the civilian population during the war. They were speaking in a webinar titled ‘Role of Media in Conflict Resolution and War Communications’ organized on June 29 by Media Action Nepal in collaboration with Tbilisi State University and Media and Communication Educational and Research Center (MCERC).
Stating that self-censorship is everywhere, especially during elections in Georgia, Mariam Gersamia, Professor at Tbilisi State University said, “Threats become visible, polarization increases and politicians try to stigmatize journalists as politically inclined. How safe journalists feel in the country is one of the indicators of democracy.” Media has the role to face these negative information and show more pro-social side of it – solidarity, empathy, and help. Media outlets in Georgia showed solidarity towards Ukrainian people and country, she added.
Highlighting that journalists should follow ethical standards to protect themselves firstly and then guarantee trustful dissemination of information, Laxman Datt Pant, Chairperson of Media Action Nepal and an Adjunct Faculty at Tbilisi State University suggested, “Journalists can minimize the risk during war and conflict reporting by less inclining themselves towards power centers.”
Journalists can minimize the risk during war and conflict reporting by less inclining themselves towards power centers.
Will Cathcart, a former media advisor to the president of Georgia and an American journalist covering geopolitics for CNN observed that that the Russian aggression story began beyond 2008 and has reached its pinnacle point in 2022 with full blown war. “It is hard not to become biased during Russia-Ukraine war. There is clear distinction between good and evil”, he added.
Elena Shevchenko, Associate professor at Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv stated that the Russian tactics have not changed for 100 years and they do the same thing during years. Their aim is to organize information isolation and to feel this gap by their biased news. They are trying to take over media outlets in Ukraine, they attacked TV center in Ukraine, but after several hours Ukrainians renewed broadcasting. So their aim is to take over the information and disseminate disinformation and misleading information – this causes panic in public and unsettling behaviors, she added.
Speakers concluded during war communications what happens in the news room is quite similar to pandemic. There is impression that it is impossible for journalists to be tired and they should deal with stress, but it is wrong and media managers should give journalists opportunity to rest. This will be more helpful for journalists to take their mind of news and recover their mental health.
The webinar was moderated by Ekaterine Gigauri and Gvantsa Bziava, students of Tbilisi State University, Faculty of Media Psychology and Communications.
The recording of the webinar is available in the link.