Since the Rwanda genocide of 1994, the potential of local media to play a powerful role, in either perpetuating or mitigating conflict, has been increasingly recognised. In the worst case scenarios, such as Rwanda and more recently the post-election violence in Kenya in 2007/8, the media has been found guilty of playing an incendiary role. Partisan editorial policies and, at worst, deliberate manipulation and hate speech can push localised conflicts to the brink of civil war.
Meanwhile, the events of the Arab spring in 2011, have again underscored the pivotal role that media and information have in civil unrest that has, in many cases, led to entire revolutions. Digital and social media have played a part in toppling dictators and independent media outlets have been launched to act as propaganda machines for various revolutions.
Whether dealing with transnational military conflicts, guerrilla warfare or large scale civil unrest, the role of local media cannot be ignored. The media is a de facto mediator and avenue for the search for solutions if given the right opportunities. When the conflict is over, the media has an essential role to play in the stabilisation and transition process; the reporting of peace negotiations and/or political settlements, the creation of dialogue around subsisting conflicts and the pursuit of justice for innocent victims of conflict.
In the wake of such turmoil, societies need to come to terms with frequently traumatic memories before they can establish lasting peace, recover stability and engage in long-term development.
Internews Europe trains and mentors media professionals in conflict-affected countries in the methodology of Conflict Sensitive Journalism; such capacity building allows media to regain credibility where it may have been lost, to open up and maintain channels of dialogue and to give a voice to the least powerful in society; often the worst affected by conflict.
In many cases, Internews supports or commissions media productions to promote conflict reconciliation and transitional justice. In the wake of long-running wars or revolutions, Internews works to develop new media policy and regulatory frameworks and to support the long term development of local training capacity for the next generation of media professionals. Where the national media infrastructure itself has been severely damaged in the course of conflict, Internews supports the process of rebuilding and stabilisation of the media sector through institutional support to key media outlets.
