Writing the peace:
Covering conflict and what comes next
The annual press freedom roundtable organised by
WAN-IFRA, ahead of its flagship event the 68th World News Media Congress, alongside the
23rd World Editors Forum and the 26th World Advertising Forum in Cartagena, Colombia, from
12 to 14 June was a learning experience for the participants. The conference, moderated by professor Alvaro Sierra, examined how media cover conflict, transition and the process to peace.
The panel of speakers was drawn from some of the most influential media outlets in the world such as Verashni Pillay, editor-in chief of the Mail & Guardian in South Africa; Stephen Rae, editor-in-chief of Independent News & Media in Ireland; Sergei Sokolov, deputy editor-in-chief at Novaya Gazeta in Russia; Gabriela Minjares, investigative editor with Diario de Juarez in Mexico and Phil Chetwynd, global editor-in-chief at Agence France-Presse (AFP).
The Colombian experience of peace negotiations with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) served as an anchor to start the discussions. All panellists agreed that journalists have a responsibility to support peace processes regardless of narrative angles.
Many of the speakers spoke at length about the importance of a change of narrative in reporting while transitioning from war to peace. They all agreed that if war creates undesirable narratives, such as demonising the enemy, then there ought to be a counter narrative to build and sustain peace. Journalists must become, they believe, the counter balance to such forces. However, few speakers flagged the challenges in controlling such narratives, too.
Five principles of next-level journalism
At another sister event of WAN-IFRA, Marcelo Rech, president of World Editors Forum and vice president, Editorial, Groupo RBS in Brazil, asked editors around the world to embrace five principles of the next-level journalism as a way to take journalism to the next level.
“Given the current reality where false and distorted information is easily shared, we need to distinguish professional journalism and secure greater public recognition of its relevance. At this next level, the search for truth, a concept that lies at the genesis of journalism, is now more necessary than ever,” said Marcelo.
The five principles are:
- In a world of hyper-information, credibility, independence, accuracy, professional ethics, transparency and pluralism are the values that will confirm a relationship of trust with the public.
- Next-level journalism is distinguished from other content by the vigilant and diligent questioning and verification of material circulating on social media. It acknowledges social media as a source of information for further fact-checking and as a platform for leveraging professional content.
- The mission of journalism at this next level is to positively serve society by providing high-quality verified information and to establish news brands as a trusted certificate of origin for content.
- A requirement of next-level journalism is that it goes beyond basic facts and enables and encourages analysis, contextual and investigative reporting, and informed expression of opinion, moving from the provision of news to knowledge that empowers.
- Next-level journalism should be driven by trust and the guiding principles of social relevance, legitimate interest and truthfulness.
