Peace journalism is a positive and progressive approach to reporting conflict, but is it a misnomer? Vocalising solutions and rejecting the sterotypical model of event-driven, zero-sum engagement is to be commended, but there are many ways to tell a story, many ways to tell the truth.
There is an element of self-censorship inherent in peace journalism, of the author potentially refusing to aknowledge that their stance is enabled by unrest, instability, violence.
Op-eds and analysis seem to fit the peace journalism model (Maslow et al offer a succint breakdown of categories in their March 2006 paper, below) but can embedded reporters really tell the true story from the frontline and conform to a model lexicon, overriding the truth of what they see to avoid negative semiotic associations?
Some of the most emotive, moving and inspiring journalism is born from the pen of the embed, for example Sebastian Jungers’ ‘Into the Valley of the Shadow of Death’. The feature tells the story of an American platoon in the Korengal Valley, Afghanistan, as they attempt to establish an outpost and secure one of the most dangerous and contested areas on the planet.
Junger inspires pathos towards all parties involved, fighters on both sides and civillians, through skillful prose and well-observed anecdotes. It is a reminder that armies are comprised of people and that during conflict, sadly, accidents do happen.
What this type of narration cannot offer, however, is solution-based journalism: It contributes to the wider discourse of understanding conflict rather than a reductive role as an advocate of peace.
Editorial may chose to frame writing such as this in lose and selective historical context, but this kind of experience-based prose is crucial in changing public perception of conflict and paving the way for the complementary discipline of journalism for peace.
Target Aquired | Mission Aborted 