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Training Institution..... : ..Peace and Conflict Journalism Network (PECOJON)
Institution In Charge.. : ..International Institute for Journalism (IIJ) of InWent, Berlin
Language.................... : ..English
This program is directed towards reporters and media practitioners, especially those who handle the coverage of war and conflict situations. The demand for training programs in peace journalism as well as the enthusiastic feedback of participants are on the rise. In response to this, the Peace and Conflict Journalism Network (PECOJON) in cooperation with the International Institute for Journalism of InWEnt is expanding this program to include Indonesia, Philippines, and Thailand.
One of the biggest challenges journalists face is the reporting of war and conflict situations. Media plays a key role in creating the battlefield of modern conflicts. The journalists' voice decides how conflict parties are seen: as victims or perpetrators, as suffering human beings or as the incarnate evil. By "just reporting the facts" media strongly influences the course of events.
Today journalists cannot be seen anymore as independent and impartial observers of conflict. The journalist himself has to be recognized as an actor in the conflict scenario. It has become obvious that media reporting actively influences the course of events. This new awareness about the role of journalists in conflict situations demands for a new responsibility of reporters and media practitioners and for increased skills and knowledge.
But skills in handling and reporting conflict in an adequate and deescalating way are rare. Only few journalists have at least basic knowledge about conflict and its systematic. Instead of reporting in an independent and deescalating way, journalistic intervention frequently adds to the violence and further escalates the situation.
Since 2004 PECOJON has been conducting trainings on conflict sensitive journalism (Peace Journalism) in the Philippines , in cooperation with the regional office of InWent in Manila . The enthusiastic feedback from participants and the growing demand for trainings neces-sitate an expansion of the program in the Philippines and beyond into the wider region.
Project Goals. In a three (3) year period PECOJON aims to train Southeast Asian journalists in a three modules training program on methods, strategies and skills of conflict sensitive journalism (Peace Journalism). The program aims to create capacities and build up a pool of trainers so that later on local media organizations are able to continue the training program independently from external funding.
PECOJON offers a three modules training program, where in each country involved the program is designed as follows. How often each training is offered will depend on the special geographical and sociological setting of each country.
A first training creates a working basis. The second module builds up on the first while the third course offers strategies for teaching and creating an adjusted training design for the local work environment. Participants of PJ1 are invited to join the PECOJON network. In the PECOJON website, online based trainings, exercises and discussions are provided and accompany the further two modules conducted. Participants of PJ1 and 2 are invited to join the third module to become trainers. After PJ3, they start a second set of PJ1 trainings in their respective countries, this time funded and organized by local media organizations.
Training Modules
Module 1. Peace and Conflict Journalism 1 (PJ1)
3 day training, 30-40 participants from one region of one country
The focus during the first module lies on deepening the understanding of the participants on conflict by introducing the basic concepts and practical tools on how to report conflict in a professional and conflict sensitive way.
To adjust the training to the specific needs of the participants, it starts with assessing the actual work environment of participating journalists and the challenges and hindrances they face in their daily reporting. The course then introduces concepts of conflict analysis and conflict transformation for journalists and gives an overview on concepts of war and peace.
To give the participants applicable strategies and methods for their daily work, the course discusses the role and influence of media in conflict situations and the problems of objectivity. It finally introduces concepts and techniques of a constructive conflict reporting covering topics as
• How to report violence
• Framing of conflict stories
• Dos and don'ts for peace journalists
• Propaganda
• Etc.
Module 2. Peace and Conflict Journalism 2 (PJ2)
3 day training, 30-40 participants mixed from different regions of one country
Follow up for PJ1, 6 to 12 months after the first training
The focus during the second module lies on deepening the knowledge of participants on strategies and techniques of conflict reporting and embedding the learning from the first course into the broader framework of journalism and its role in society.
To step by step improve the peace journalism concept and review its applicability, the course starts with an evaluation of the experiences the participants made when applying the learning from the first training. A review of the basic peace journalism principles then deepens the knowledge and answers questions brought up by the participants.
In the next phase, the training embeds the practical tools and principles into the broader framework of journalism theory and practice and the role and responsibility of journalism. Furthermore, it introduces strategies on how to improve journalism quality.
Intense practical exercises round up the training.
Module 3. Peace and Conflict Journalism – Educators Training (PJ3)
6 day training, max 20 participants from one country
In this intensive course, participants who have finished the first two courses and want to become trainers review the existing concepts of peace journalism and conflict sensitive reporting and are guided in creating their own training modules for the specific context and based on materials of their own country. Training and teaching methods are introduced and practical exercises developed.
Through team building exercises the participants are encouraged to support each other and build a trainers' pool to increase the impact of their activities.
Trainers, Team and Facilitators. The trainers are provided by PECOJON. The main facilitator is Antonia Koop, German consultant of PECOJON Philippines and international coordinator of the network. Co-facilitators will change from training to training to give alumni of PJ3 the chance to practice under guidance and create exchange and communication among the journalists on an international level.
A documenter covers and records the trainings and documents the findings, evaluations, discussion as well as creates a report of each course. This serves as basis for continuous improvement and further development of the peace journalism concept.
Monitoring and Evaluation. Each training is evaluated through results gathered from a questionnaire distributed to the participants for accomplishment by the end of the event.
PJ 2 opens with an evaluation of how the learning from PJ1 could be applied and where open questions remain.
Participants are encouraged to join the PECOJON network and thereby maintain their participation in the discussion on peace journalism.
Furthermore, the members of the network publish regularly, which is also used as another evaluation instrument by the organizers.
This training course is financed by Germany 's Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.
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