Peace building
Meaning? The development of media-led responses to violent conflict through facilitating contacts between opposing parties, or engaging with disaffected and excluded sections of society.
How? Media and peace building is an area where MSS has a lot of practical experience and is continually refining ideas to different situations and in the light of new technologies. But some basic principles apply:
Guidance on the reporting of war in a “conflict-sensitive” way so that the reporting does not exacerbate the situation
Using complementary media (eg local radio and mobile phones) to provide opportunities for dialogue on sensitive issues in comparative safety
Create trust amongst the target population by ensuring that the media source is perceived by all sides as independent
Ensure high standards of programme making, and an appropriate mix of information, education and entertainment, bearing in mind that people in war zones need escapism more than most
Make the intervention sustained and long term
Faced with a worsening security situation in southern Afghanistan, DFID’s Conflict Adviser requested MSS to come up with recommendations on how the media could best be developed to engage with people in the conflict areas. The six month study involving four organisations mapped media preferences and key influencers of public opinion in the border areas of Pakistan and southern Afghanistan, and took a detailed look at what media was reaching the conflict areas along with content analyses. A picture emerged of an isolated population, largely missing out on the media revolution of Afghanistan’s cities over the past five years. Detailed recommendations included participatory radio and TV programming to take account of the great growth of mobile phone ownership, along with improved transmitters, and a challenge fund for local broadcasters to make programmes on peace-building activities. Much of this was included in an £8 million DFID/FCO initiative announced in September 2008 aimed at winning “hearts and minds” in Afghanistan.
Case Study: Advice to DFID on Media Strategy in DR Congo
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, MSS recommended DFID funding for Radio Okapi and other media projects following an in-country assessment in2001. Radio Okapi continues to broadcast with editorial control devolved largely to the Swiss NGO Fondation Hirondelle, while the UN provides protection to radio staff and transmitter facilities. It has become an essential point of reference for Congolese listeners in understanding the confusing and often dangerous environment in which they live. Until 2008, MSS continued to provide specialist consultants to monitor DFID funded media projects in terms of professionalism and self-regulation, reform of the media regulatory framework, and the provision of unbiased news and high quality, relevant (mostly radio) programming for the poor. This support responds to the critical importance of the media in maintaining peace and strengthening DRC’s fragile democracy. MSS consultants regularly assessed project deliverables, advised on media policy and on project management.
Somalia: Strengthening conflict sensitive journalism and information freedom
Between 2005 and 2008 in Somalia, MSS provided technical assistance and an evaluation framework for a local partner, HornAfrik Media, in training and monitoring a structured training in conflict-sensitive journalism involving training workshops, mentored job placements and internships. The project was particularly important in a country where the media and civil society are the only effective opposition to often chaotic government. The impact of their work has been recorded and lessons learned for the future. A follow-up project aimed at protecting the media against state censorship involvescreating an agreed voluntary media code of conduct amongst media organisations and civil society groups, negotiating the agreement ofgovernment, and disseminating it widely to journalists and civil society.
