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Introduction
The media play a key role in today’s wars and conflicts. It can either take one of two basic roles in a war and conflict situation. The media can decide to become actively involved in the war which can be of help when finding a resolution to the conflict or it can lead to escalation of the conflict.
The media can also decide take the sidelines and let the conflicting parties battle it out till one of them emerges the winner or a resolution is reached. The type of role media takes depend on a number of factors ranging from the association with actors in the war to the amount of independence it has.
Whatever role the media take in war or conflict situation has its impacts on the war and conflict. In this paper, I’ll draw examples from the war in Darfur and its coverage in the news media, the war in Afghanistan and other major conflicts in the world today as cases in study.
Over one hundred thousand Sudanese lives have been lost in war and civil conflict and almost two million others displaced by the unrest. The survivors don’t escape the plight either; most of them have to suffer rape, hunger and assault as the war rages is in progress.
However, despite how severe the issue has become, there has been poor international response. Could the news coverage of the war in Darfur have had an effect on the world’s reaction? (Cari Skogberg, 2005: 2)
The role of the mass media in shaping our life
The news media shape what we see and hear about conflict. The views of the reporters of events frame the story being told. The journalist has his opinion belief and perspective. The media owners also have their own interests be it economical or political which also affects the framing of the stories they report.
It also depends with the skill level of the journalist in collecting good and newsworthy information. Therefore, what we see or read on the news media is determined by several factors. Media owners and professionals decide what they think the public or some target audience wants to see and hear.
“If it bleeds, it leads” is a common journalist principle. This means that most of the news we will receive like headlines will most likely be on violence.
The lots of other newsworthy issues that could make headlines like cross-cultural dialogue and understandings are disregarded. This journalism tendency leads many people to believe that peace is abnormal. It gives a distorted perception of conflict to be pervasive.
Role of media in conflict
The media perform several different roles in situations of conflict and war which are going to be analyzed exhaustively in this research. The chief-most is to provide and interpret information. The media provides people with political, cultural and issues, news and information that is beyond their physical realm and hence in times of war, it serves to pass information to the world.
For example, the war in Darfur, the media have continued to expose to the rest of the world massive cases of killings and displacement of local citizens. This already has drawn international attention to the conflict and so the pressure for action – arbitration between the two fighting parties; the government and the rebels.
The media have always been expected to take a role in ensuring the individual right to free expression has been observed. They provide a platform on which the public receives breaking news and information on an ongoing war and conflict and then discuss and debate it and other important issues that affect the society and conflicts.
This serves as a big role in resolving conflicts since it helps draw more attention to the situation and this will speed up the process of resolving the conflict and building peace.
Reference List
Eytan, G. (2002). “Media and conflict: Framing issues, making Policy, shaping Opinions.” Ardsley, NY, USA: Transnational Publishers Inc.
Goffman, E. (1974). Frame Analysis. New York: Harper & Row.
Puddephatt, A.(2006). “Voices of war: Conflict and the role of the media.” Denmark: International media support.
Young, C.(1991), “The Role of Media in International Conflict,” Canada: Canadian Institute for Peace and Security.
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