BY JUN ENRIQUEZ
(President, MMM - Manggagawang Media ng Mindanaw)
I attended war reporting summit in an online capacity scheduled August 2, 2022 sponsored by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Many thanks for the invitation. It is always in my mind how peaceful communities become unpeace, worst, turns into a violent one that people will be placed into a dilemma. What I am emphasizing here is that people should understand the works of the media and journalists. However, sensitivity on media reports must be properly done in a balance manner. During the summit on war reporting, there were five major topics discussed that encouraged my intellect to listen and learn, and how to apply them in media practice. The theme of the summit was “War Reporting: Navigating an Ethical Minefield, ” and this was explained in five topics.
Topic no. 1: “War Time Realities: Ethical Reporting on Humanitarian Crises,” to strike the balance and ethical reporting concerning the safety in covering war realities. In a question on how do terrorists acts when you were around them? Experienced to tell terrorists think they were doing right. They behave when there are media around with them. Protect yourself with a strong heart. Decisions to report the incidents of children and women who were victims of war will not be a good choice.
Topic no. 2: “Talking Trauma: The Impact of Reporting on Humanitarian Crises,” this will most often, war reporting affects the emotions and mindset of a reporter. There must be stress debriefing or psychosocial activities after war coverage to neutralize the psychological stages, associated with physical and mental trauma.
In topic no. 3: “Media As Aid During Humanitarian Crises,” this will relate the role of the local media during the humanitarian crises because local dialects use in the community is very important to understand the real situation reach-out the community. This cannot be done by the foreign journalist. This will also prevent disinformation because there are people wanted to be journalist but they are not journalist mostly in the social media. The Humanitarian organizations should establish relations links with the local media for easy access in delivering basic services effectively to the people, especially the victims of war.
Topic no. 4: “Hope: What is good for?” - Journalism is having an important role to tell to the world. Unfortunately, algorithms need to know what was happening on the ground. Covering stories transforming the community positively and creates competition as an independent media. Journalists reflections of the community is to get the message and learn.
Topic no. 5: “Fake News: Weaponization of Mis/Disinformation and Hate Speech.” It was said that fake news was use as a weapon on misinformation, disinformation and propaganda, are widely found in social media without fact checking. Propaganda is part of the conflict. Media must stay balance and neutral on their reports. Collaboration engagements to better improve the information on the ground. Story clearly, balance and unbiased shall be maintained. Working against fake news is very challenging. It’s dangerous for journalist working on the ground that’s why media must be concerned their safety a priority. Journalist as gatekeeper of information will distinguish properly what is right or wrong.
Lastly, looking at the concept of sensitivity is the key on media practice to keep balance, fact checking, neutral, clear message and unbias, grounded, collaborative, positivity, listen and learn. Working against fake news is a big challenge. These are the few issues that I learned from the summit on war reporting. In summary, my learning in the Conflict sensitive journalism (CSJ) and Peace journalism (Peacejourn) reportage is a big help in covering war and conflict situation.
In another development, the month of August in the Philippines is a month of celebrating the International Humanitarian law (IHL). The ICRC is spearheading the IHL celebration in partnership with the Embassy of Switzerland in the Philippines and the Intramuros Administration in Manila, The “War in Cities” exhibit, showing the concept of the current global war situation. IHL is also known as the law of armed conflict, the rules of war. Since time immemorial, people have fought against each other, for myriad reasons—over resources, borders, and beliefs, among others. The history of many nations is marked by war. The Philippines is one of the signatories ratified the Geneva conventions on October 6, 1952, that the country still on its recovery from world war II.
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