Conflict sensitive journalism in Palestine a challenge
A few wary looks were exchanged as Canadian journalist and trainer in conflict sensitive journalism, John Keating, conducted a two-week training course for Palestinian journalists in the West Bank and Gaza. After more than 60 years of conflict, some journalists are unsure their words can make much of a difference, says Keating
By: Lena Odgaard
“How much do average Palestinians know about average Israelis?”, John Keating asks the dozen young Palestinian journalists and journalism students attending a training course in conflict sensitive journalism hosted by the Media Development Center at Birzeit University on the West Bank.
Not much, the crowd admits and Keating elaborates: “It’s difficult to resolve a conflict if the one side doesn’t know what the other is thinking.”
Having conducted similar trainings all over the world, including an IMS-supported mission to Kenya in 2008, Keating usually finds that journalists are relieved to be introduced to conflict sensitive journalistic tools. In Palestine however, he found a different mindset among some participants.
“It was very interesting and challenging here because there was not already an acceptance that something has to be done like in Kenya and Nepal”, says Keating.
A deeply rooted conflict
According to Keating, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been woven into the fabric of life of some Palestinian journalists because it has been going on for so long.
“Journalists are taught about the ethics of journalism, accuracy and so on, but when it comes to the occupation, those things sometimes take a bit of a back seat, says Keating and explains that some readers and viewers in Palestine seem to expect journalists to stand up for the Palestinian cause. But that makes conflict sensitive journalism even more important”, Keating emphasises – also on the Israeli side.
A different set of dynamics
Assessing why for instance some Kenyan journalists seemed more open to ideas of conflict sensitive journalism than some of their Palestinian counterparts, Keating refers to the Israeli occupation. He explains that conflict sensitive journalism seems to be typically geared towards a rebel insurgency situation, or a sudden flare-up of violence between tribes, religious groups and so on.
“But here it’s one group taking over another group and keeping them under occupation – it’s really not the same dynamics”, says Keating, as he clarifies the increased relevance for journalists to be conflict sensitive:
“If there is any place in the world that needs sensitive journalism I think it’s here.”
And this goes for both sides, says Keating who finds conflict sensitive training on the Israeli side equally important.
New approaches to conflict sensitive journalism
Looking back on his recent experiences, Keating explains that he sees them as fruitful for a discussion on new approaches to conflict sensitive journalism, which could be more appropriate for the Palestinian case. And though he was met with some doubt and hesitation during the course, he ended up feeling optimistic.
“The final assignments were actually encouraging. One student even wrote two articles showing the right way and the wrong way. It was brilliant”, says Keating.
