What is conflict sensitive journalism?

Conflict sensitive journalism is the practice that enables journalists to be aware of and sensitive to the implications of reporting in/on conflict-affected areas. This involves considering the safety of sources, the potential for influencing the course of the conflict, and potential for any bias in reporting.

Conflict sensitive journalism sits in the broader field of peace journalism, where reporters are encouraged to practise their work in line with the following five main principles: 

1. Explore the backgrounds and contexts of conflict formation of all sides involved in the conflict, instead of just two sides as the mainstream media are usually prone to do; 
2. Give voice to the views of all rival parties from all levels.
3. Offer creative ideas for conflict resolution, development, peacemaking and peacekeeping.
4. Expose lies, cover-up attempts and violence committed by culprits on all sides, and highlight the suffering inflicted on peoples of all parties.
5. Pay attention to peace stories and post-war developments.

Why is conflict sensitive journalism important?

Conflict sensitive journalism can help to provide accurate, unbiased and comprehensive information about ongoing conflict, which can help inform decision-making by all the parties involved.

Conflict sensitivity not only allows journalists to report in a manner that helps the general public better understand the situation, but can often also raise awareness about the human cost of the conflict and the need for a peaceful resolution.

Conflict sensitive journalism is crucial in reporting conflicts because it helps promote constructive dialogue amongst all parties to the conflict, while providing a platform for those affected to share their stories. In addition, it can aid in preventing further escalation of the conflict and protect vulnerable populations.

Conflict sensitive journalism guidelines and training

By following conflict sensitive journalism guidelines, journalists can help to reduce the violence and promote peaceful resolutions.

Training in conflict sensitive journalism allows reporters to understand: 

• The nature of conflict
• The implications for reporting
• The impact of media on the various interested groups
• The importance of impartiality and accuracy
• The need to maintain ethical standards
• The importance of self-regulation in this field.
  

Audiences benefit doubly from conflict sensitive journalism because it helps them to better understand the complexities of conflict and engage with the issues in a more informed way.

Practical tips for conflict reporting:

• Interview people affected by conflict.
• prioritise personal security
• profile peace-makers and broaden the search for solutions
• Cover peace processes and agreements
• Help people understand one another’s values
• Ask the same questions of all parties
• Conduct joint interviews where people from opposing groups are interviewed together
• Swap questions in cases where a journalist asks members of conflicting groups to think of questions they would like to put to members of the other group
• Bear in mind the importance of cooperation between newsrooms in conflict coverage
• Avoid sensational or imprecise language
• Avoid simple labels such as “black-on-black violence”, a term frequently used in apartheid South Africa, “the Hutu-Tutsi” conflict in Rwanda, “Christian-Muslim” wars in Indonesia, “SAF-RSF” war in Sudan, and so on
• Question approaches to conflict 
• Go beyond the usual suspects – “Part of being a reliable provider of information is not to advocate what should happen but to reveal what can happen, including peace.” (UNESCO)
  

The challenges of conflict sensitive journalism in Sudan

Sudan is facing a number of internal conflicts, including civil wars and political unrest, so journalists have a more significant role to play in helping to de-escalate conflicts and provide balanced coverage. That said, Sudanese journalists must struggle with challenges, such as: 

• Limited access to conflict zones to report accurately 
• Difficulty in accessing different regions to balance reporting from different sides of the conflict or to evaluate the potential impact of their reporting on the conflict itself
• Limited resources and technical capacities
• Difficulty in finding reliable sources to properly identify sources of conflict
• No legal protection
• The possibility of reprisals.

With regard to resource constraints, many news outlets in Sudan are under extreme pressure due to the conflict and do not have the resources to adequately research the topics they are covering, with the result that they are often unable to provide a comprehensive overview of the conflict. Furthermore, many Sudanese journalists have been forced into exile, thereby creating another set of challenges and placing them in a vulnerable situation of a wholly different nature. Lastly, many journalists are incentivised to cover the ongoing conflict as “war journalists”, focusing on the war through the lens of tracking and describing victory or defeat narratives. 

Key takeaways

1. Conflict sensitive journalism is the practice that enables journalists to be aware of, and sensitive to the implications of reporting in/on conflict-affected areas 
2. Conflict sensitive journalism can help by:
   • Providing accurate, unbiased and comprehensive information about ongoing conflicts 
   • Promoting constructive dialogue amongst all the parties involved 
   • Raising awareness about the human cost of the conflict and the need for a peaceful resolution.
3. Training in conflict sensitive journalism allows journalists to understand:
   • The nature of conflict
   • The implications for reporting
   • The impact of media on the various interested groups;
   • The importance of impartiality and accuracy
   • The need to maintain ethical standards
   • The importance of self-regulation in this field.
4. Sudanese journalists and media organisations face multiple challenges which render reporting in Sudan and in exile both difficult and dangerous.

Further reading materials

• Institute for War and Peace Reporting: Handbook on conflict sensitive journalism (AR)  
  The handbook, developed with Syrian journalists in mind, is accompanied by five videos, on the following themes: hate speech; facts and accuracy; objectivity and freedom of expression; resources in conflict sensitive journalism; and, war and feminist journalism. The videos are subtitled in English and are presented in an entertaining, sometimes satirical, manner
• The Media Diversity Institute: Conflict sensitive journalism handbook (EN and AR)
  Since the handbook was written in  2009, it is missing online components. Even so, the materials are detailed and offer concrete examples.
• Internews: A conflict sensitive approach to reporting on conflict and violent extremism (EN)
  The handbook, written in 2020,  includes sections on covering border conflicts, radicalisation leading to violent extremism and terrorism, reporting on radicalisation, extremism and terrorism, reporting on terrorism, promoting justice in terrorism cases and violent extremism online.
• UNESCO: Conflict-sensitive reporting: state of the art; a course for journalists and journalism educators (EN and AR)
  The 2009 course presents  a  model  curriculum  for a training programme aimed at strengthening the skills of professional journalists in reporting on violent conflict. It is intended for small groups of relatively inexperienced to mid-career reporters, editors and producers working  in environments such as conflict-stressed states and emerging democracies.