Peace Journalism Meeting Suggests Alternative Platforms for Peace

BİA education advisor and Kadir Has University, Faculty of Communication Dean Prof. Dr. Sevda Alankuş and Dr. Rukhsana Aslam from Auckland University of Technology (AUT), New Zealand debate over peace journalism, and its practical and theoretical reflection in the event moderated by Murat Çelikkan from Truth, Justice, Memory Center.

Dr. Aslam in response to question by journalist Banu Güven, “How can peace journalism be practice in authoritarian regimes?” said “Journalist to begin with shouldn’t be afraid.”

 Communicator Esra Arsan posed the question, “If we have to fight, how will journalist make news of it?”

Dr. Aslam stating “There is no such thing as legitimate violence” said, “In case both sides inflict violence, the most important thing is to form a platform to enable speaking with prudence. Journalists should do that if society cannot”.

Prof. Alankuş responded the same question as follows:

“Peace journalist is not a peace activist, he/she is not the one to wage war or establish peace. There is a path to war, then what matters is to create a platform to prevent violence”.

“Peace Journalism: A New Ethics, Practice and Education in Journalism” organized by IPS Communication Foundation and Truth, Justice, Memory Center under Peace Journalism Project undertaken with the financial support of Netherlands Consulate General Matra-Human Rights Program.

Dr. Aslam: “Peace is not a subject, but a value”

Dr. Aslam saying “Peace is not a subject, but a value” emphasizing everyone’s reality is different from each other which effects the objectivity told “I am from Pakistan, I can’t think independent from Pakistan”.

Aslam continued as follows:

“There are many issues as to today’s journalism at both structural and conceptual level. Journalists need to become a part of the solution. It is not a subject like finance journalism, it is a value, which gives opportunities to journalists to change their own approaches. In addition to Five Ws and One H, we should have S for solution. We don’t suggest to impose peace in peace journalism, let us say ‘peace is possible’ to the parties”.

Zorlu: Is peace journalism being done in Turkey?

Peace Journalism Project Coordinator, Begüm Zorlu publicized the Project. Zorlu saying “This Project has begun with the question of how much peace journalism is being done in Turkey” carried on as follows:

“There are three main output among many other goals of this project; bianet’s Peace Journalism Webpage, a peace journalism manual to be used by journalists, and this very conference”.

“Peace Journalism: A New Ethics, Practice and Education in Journalism” organized by IPS Communication Foundation and Truth, Justice, Memory Center under Peace Journalism Project undertaken with the financial support of Netherlands Consulate General Matra-Human Rights Program. (EA/TK)

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