Curbing Incitement – Strategies and Lessons Learned

1. Curbing Incitement – Strategies and Lessons Learned

2. Presentation overview 1. Media in conflict throughhistory 2. Media: possibilities andlimitations 3. Peacebuilding media 4. Case Studies

3. Media in violent conflict Providing Pictures Direct effects Spanish American war Propaganda WWI WWII Vietnam era “Watchdog” media Inter-ethnic conflicts Propaganda revisited Media embedding IRAQ I & II Media work in concord with social institutions/policy

4. Media effects during conflict Audience Messages Environment a) messages in support of own cause and b) messages against opponent’s cause Selectively chooses media based on their demographics and needs Uncertainty, insecurity, time of stress – media consumption increases “RTLM did not independently cause the violence, but rather served as one of many instruments which this [MRND and government] elite used to facilitate the killing once it was underway. RTLM engaged in incitement to genocide during this period, however, there is no compelling evidence to suggest that its broadcasts caused a significant number of random individuals to partake in the killing.” Kirschke Inclined to listen to information corresponding to their beliefs Considerable message effects – not as direct as “hypodermic needle” Conflict environment increases dependency and the impact of media Acquired information does not automatically change behavior Messages increase cognitive knowledge, influence attitudes, shape perceptions of reality, provide models for behavior Homogenous media environment silences minority opinion Increased need for information – makes audience more susceptible to the media impact Environment with homogenous media content cultivates beliefs more consistently Media message set agenda: conflict messages – conflict agenda Audiences are impacted by other people – opinion leaders

5. Limitations: What media cannot do • During violence media is a casualty of conflict like other social institution and processes • More likely to perpetuate conflict than peace • The evidence for media impact countering dominant policy (conflict) is dubious • Forces fueling the conflict better organized and utilize media for their goals • Unlikely to deliver significant change unless a wider policy accompanies it in the same direction

6. Peacebuilding media Peacebuilding Entertainment Social marketing in support of peace Regulation of media inciting conflict Peace/Conflict Sensitive Journalism and information programming

7. Peacebuilding media Peacebuilding Entertainment Social marketing in support of peace Soft media intervention Regulation of media inciting conflict Peace/Conflict Sensitive Journalism and information programming Hard media intervention

8. Regulation of Conflict media: Case Studies Regulative Guidelines & Monitoring: Cambodia Iraq Bosnia & Kosovo Avoiding inflammatory language – “which encourages discrimination, prejudice, or hatred, or which encourages violence, or contributes to the creation of a climate in violence can occur”

9. Regulation of Conflict media: Case Studies Suppressing hate speech: Kosovo Rwanda Columbia Restrictive Prescriptive Sanctioning

10. Regulation of Conflict media: Case Studies Regulation by proxy: USA Northern Ireland

11. Regulation of Conflict media: Case Studies Enforcing the regulation: Bosnia: Capturing the transmitter Iraq: Closing Al-Hawza newspaper Kosovo: Closing Dita newspaper

12. Lessons Learned • Violent conflict more conducive to hate speech & propaganda than peacebuilding messages • Peacebuilding media - multilayered approach: - information, entertainment, marketing … • Curbing hate speech: regulation, monitoring & enforcement

13. Example: Conflict sensitive Journalism Traditional reporting • Skopje, UPI — Peace talks aimed at ending the conflict in Macedonia lay in ruins last night after the massacre of eight policemen by Albanian rebels who mutilated the bodies. The atrocity took place at the mountain village of Vecje, where a police patrol was attacked with machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades, said a spokesman. Six other men were wounded and three vehicles destroyed. The bodies were cut with knives after they died, he said, and one man’s head had been smashed in. The attack was believed to be the work of the National Liberal Army terrorists from the hills near Tetevo. Ali Ahmeti, a political leader of the NLA, said that his men may have fired “in self-defence.”… Conflict sensitive reporting • Skopje, UPI — There was condemnation across the political spectrum in Macedonia after a police patrol suffered the loss of eight men. Both the main parties representing the country’s minority Albanians distanced themselves from the killings, believed to be the work of the self-styled National Liberation Army. Ali Ahmeti, a political leader of the NLA, denied that his men had attacked the patrol, saying they may have fired “in self-defence”. But the Macedonian government said it had done nothing to provoke the machine-gun fire and rocket-propelled grenades which destroyed three trucks. A spokesman added that the bodies appeared to have been cut with knives and one man’s skull caved in …

14. Example: peacebuilding entertainment • Layalina video

15. Example: Social Marketing for Peace