Role Of Media In Conflict Areas

Role of Media in Conflict Areas Elizabeth Rehan and Ellen Sirleaf in their book Women, War and Peace said," The power of media in [conflict and] warfare is formidable. It can be a mediator or an interpreter or even a facilitator of conflict. If only by editing away facts that do not fit the demands of air time or print space” (Emphasis added). 30/03/2009

Anurag Gangal, Professor, Political Science, Jammu Unuversity, Jammu

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Typology of Media and Conflicts - I








30/03/2009

Different Media and diverse type of conflicts are there Print, audio, audio-visual and cyberspace media are there As such Newspapers, Magazines, Telecommunication, Radio, TV, Internet are major means of information, Education, Entertainment, Communication and NEWS. This may be called dissemination of Knowledge. Anurag Gangal, Professor, Political Science, Jammu Unuversity, Jammu

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Typology of Media and Conflicts - II
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Variety of Conflicts: Personal and familial Local conflicts limited to a given area, locality, institution, place and locale specific Community specific Regional National Territorial Ethnic and Identity oriented Conflicts for protection of fundamental human rights and securing social justice Religion specific Crime and law and order oriented International (with unlimited range) Anurag Gangal, Professor, Political Science, Jammu Unuversity, Jammu

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Media and Conflicts











30/03/2009

Media is interested in what they call stories from North, East, West, South or NEWS News for Media is when, as it were, ‘man bites a dog’ and not vice versa. Media is primarily interested in what is not common and normal. Yet media is also interested in masses and whatever is massive in nature. Anurag Gangal, Professor, Political Science, Jammu Unuversity, Jammu

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Media’s Role and Conflicts











30/03/2009

Media is generally not engaged in conflict prevention Reporting by itself can lead to prevention of conflicts sometimes when an alarming piece of information is highlighted about a probability It is not just conflicts but also their management, resolution and transformation that concerns media Media’s role is also in fostering the building of mutual trust and projection of rightful image Anurag Gangal, Professor, Political Science, Jammu Unuversity, Jammu

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Major Representative Instances of Media’s Role in Conflict Areas










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International Media and Developing Countries: Biased Reporting Reporting terrorism Case of Jammu and Kashmir Anthony Smith, Geopolitics of Information highlights a system of tilted, biased, racially afflicted and exploitative media perspectives Limitations of media: Journalists write on the back of advertisements and Mediapersons air their stories in the advertisers’ leftover timeslots Anurag Gangal, Professor, Political Science, Jammu Unuversity, Jammu

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Media’s Real Life Role





30/03/2009

Mediapersons look for a scoop and, as such, when World Trade Centre collapsed, they all, in the first instance, jumped with happiness in their offices for having had this great opportunity and moment to cover. Yet, mediapersons and police both have to face real life threatening situations in their daily imparting of duties.

Anurag Gangal, Professor, Political Science, Jammu Unuversity, Jammu

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Media’s Role, Police and “Provention”








30/03/2009

John Burton’s sustained proactive efforts for prevention of conflicts of “Provention” is required for media and police to realise. Proper grasping of conflicts and conflict resolution methods needs wider people to people active participation and continued interaction. It must not remain nearly an exclusive domain of academic experts, political negotiators, and diplomatic officers only. Methods and technical profundity is required absolutely. This knowledge must, however, percolate down to every common person. That is how things have to be planned for future. Anurag Gangal, Professor, Political Science, Jammu Unuversity, Jammu

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Select Bibliography














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Bajraktari, Yll, and Christina Parajon, “The Role of the Media in Conflict”, http://www.usip.org/pubs/usipeace_briefings/200 7/0705_media_conflict.html Bondurant, Conquest of Violence: The Gandhian Philosophy of Conflict, Princeton University Press, New Jersey, 1988 Burton, John, Conflict: Resolution and Provention, New York: St. Martin's Press, 1990 Gangal, S.C., Gandhian Thought and Techniques in the Modern World, Criterion, New Delhi, 1988. Huntington, Samuel P., “The Clash of Civilisations?”, Foreign Affairs, 1993. Anurag Gangal, Professor, Political Science, Jammu Unuversity, Jammu

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