Writing Peace in Emerging Democracies: A Handbook on Peace Journalism

About the Center for Media and Peace Initiatives

Center for Media and Peace Initiatives (CMPI) New York is a 501 (c) (3) independent, nonprofit media and policy think tank in special consultative status with the United Nations’ Economic and Social Council – ECOSOC and affiliated with the Rutgers University’s School of Public Affairs and Administration.

As an organization committed to communicating innovative and peaceful solutions to global challenges, CMPI is an established leader in intellectual development of individuals at all levels. With a great reliance on its extensive international network, the center operates as a facilitator and partner in a wide variety of training projects, publishes and disseminates significant public policy and communication scholarship and advances leadership development through meaningful research, teaching and service.

The Center brings people and ideas together in a variety of events and platforms to promote and celebrate interdisciplinary study and underline its importance. CMPI continues to engage in many cross-sectoral projects across the United States and Africa, including those engaging journalists, diplomats, business leaders, students, academics, scholars, and public policy experts. CMPI's unique platform facilitates discussion around specific subject areas, with the goal of generating new knowledge and understanding, forging, and expanding new international, intercultural, interdisciplinary research networks, and partnerships.

Founded in 2005 by a group of experienced professionals of diverse nationalities who share international and professional ideas, the center (a non-partisan, non-political organization) while operating in the United States, provides customized training in African countries such as its flagship program – Media Educational Development Initiative for Africa (M.E.D.I.A).

Preface

This handbook grows out of the Peace journalism and Consolidation of Democracy dialogue held in Nigeria to meet a dual necessity. First, it aims to meet the academic need for peace journalism for trainee journalists or students in colleges and universities in Nigeria and Africa in general. For that need, the book brings together theoretical debates, thereby expanding the intellectual inquiry into peace journalism and the sociology of news. The handbook reviews what is happening to peace journalism but also the current state of the scholarly understanding of journalism in emergingdemocraciessincethepasttwodecades characterizedbythefragmentation of the media ecology.

Secondly, the dialogue was designed to strengthen media institutions’ capacity to work towards sustainable, peaceful, and democratic solutions to the inherent ethnicbased and sectarian divisions in Nigeria and Africa. It is a contribution to the field of peace journalism within the framework of journalism as a social institution. It examines a variety of forces and factors - ethical, economic, technological, political, cultural, and organizational - that shape the news media and contemporary politics. The engagement of journalists in a credible peace process has the potential to consolidate the fragile democracy in Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa.

Descriptive, prescriptive, and provocative, the handbook approaches peace not with an ecclesiastical lens but from a practical perspective in which journalists evaluate probable causes of war and conflict, poverty, discrimination, identity politics, ethnic rivalry,violationofrights,andconsiderspeaceasaprerequisitefortheconsolidation of democracy. Thus, it expands the definition of peace journalism through an approach based on the redefinition of the routine journalism concept and practice becoming solution-based and peace-oriented.

The handbook redefines peace journalism as journalism based on ethics towards the resolution of social or inter-ethnic or sectarian tension or conflict issues through nonviolent methods. In other words, it enriches peace journalism with a unique African perspective. It recognizes the ethical dilemma inherent in the practice of peace journalism in Africa in which practitioners make important political choices particularly in places where the public space is fragmented through ethnic, cultural, and sectarian differences in the midst of increased political polarization and diminution of democracy around the world. Therefore, it aims to meet the need for a handy reference book for journalists who would have such an ethical and political choice as well as politicians and policy makers. We hope that the handbook will be a contribution to knowledge and wider public debate on sustainable peace in crisisprone regions of Africa.

Acknowledgements

This handbook is the brainchild of the collaboration between the Center for Media and Peace Initiatives and Hollings Center for International Dialogue, Washington DC - two US-based organizations committed to fostering international peace and understanding. It took a lot work and it would not exist without the invaluable contributionsofanumberofincredibly,thoughtful,andsupportivepeopleincluding:

SanemGüner-AssistantDirectoroftheHollingsCenterforInternationalDialogue. Sanem supported us at every step of the process from conception to publication offering insight, warning, and encouragement including guidance towards the application process of the Hollings Center Small Grant.

Edmund Janniger - Vice President, International Programs of the Center for Media and Peace Initiatives, New York played significant roles in inviting, coordinating, and confirming participants who attended the Peace Journalism and Consolidation of Democracy dialogue at Abuja and Enugu.

Tapio Varis, Ph.D. is professor emeritus at the University of Tampere, Finland and former Rector of the United Nations University of Peace, Costa Rica and the UNESCO Chair in Global E-Learning. In his keynote speech, Professor Varis showcased his unique expertise in e-learning solutions and peace building with emphasis on new humanism that prioritizes cultural diversity and media development with the goal of consolidating the new culture of peace.

Ayçe Bükülmeyen Özerdem - a veteran broadcast journalist and certified mediator based in Washington DC understood everything we were trying to accomplish from Day one. Ayce delivered insightful lectures at different locations on peace journalism and consolidation of democratic dialogue in Nigeria.

Sani Zoro - former President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs and Strategy, Office of the President of Nigeria brought many ideas to the table that made this handbook interesting and presentable to the public. Zoro’s activist voice was unmistakable and refreshing as he made insightful presentations and exchanges with colleagues during the dialogue.

EnyinnayaAbaribe -SenatoroftheFederalRepublicofNigeriarepresentingAbiaSouth Senatorial District of Abia State and one of two longest serving senators in Nigeria since the return of democratic rule in 1999. Distinguished Senator Abaribe shared his vast experiences in power, politics, and public policy to invigorate the

conversation on peace journalism and consolidation of democracy. He thinks ‘politicians need lectures on peace more than journalists.”

Emeka Ugboajah, Ph.D. - Deputy Director at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Emeka was the intellectual engine of this handbook because of his expertise and deep knowledge that minimized the stress of conducting additional research on peace journalism. To have accepted to be a part of the project immediately after a flawed general election conducted by the organization he represented spoke of his courage and bright intellectual mind.

Sirajo Yakubu, Ph.D. - is a member of the Faculty of Law and International Relations at Nile University, Abuja. He was a security and intelligence professional for many years and served several Nigerian presidents. He brought to the table the vexed debate related to the nexus of media, national security, and peace building in diverse countries like Nigeria.

Zainab Gobir, Ph.D. - Executive Director, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Regulatory Authority. Her eloquence and passion for peaceful coexistence of the diverse communities in Nigeria were palpable. Drawing parallels with the United States, Dr. Gobir who grew up in the US believes that Nigeria’s betters days are still ahead

Gregory Ibe, Ph.D. - Founder and Chancellor of Gregory University, Uturu, Abia State together with the Deputy Vice Chancellor of Gregory University, Professor Kalu Uche Uwaoma enriched the partnership between Gregory University and the Center for Media and Peace Initiatives. Meir Dagan, the Manager at the Innovation Hub, Abuja played a leading role in hosting the dialogue along with his staff who provided assistance from clerical, electrical, and technical.

EmekaEjim,Ph.D- istheDeputyRector,InstituteofManagement andTechnology (IMT), Enugu led the discussion on the development of curriculum on peace journalismatseveralinstitutionsofhighereducation along withothercolleagues Dr. Robert Madu, Dr. Chuddy Anyianuka, Dr. Maxwell Menkiti, Dr. Ikechukwu

Nnadiukwu, Kene Okafor, and Nnadozie Oshigbo.

We owe a debt of gratitude to Sumner Sambo - Director of News, Arise Television, Bayo Bodunrin- Director of News, Africa Independent Television (AIT), Malachy

Uzendu - Editor, The Authority Newspapers, Chuks Ohuegbe - Executive Director

of The Pilot Newspapers, Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye - Assistant News Editor and Chief State House Correspondent, The Sun Newspapers. Finally, we wish to acknowledge Nkiru Ekwo, Principal Producer at Radio Nigeria, Enugu who provided uncommon talent in facilitating the dialogue at Abuja and Enugu. Darlington Chude was also exceptional in his supportive roles and in pulling together his network to ensure our success.

Introduction

In countries with long-established democracies such as the United States and the United Kingdom, internal forces have exploited the shortcomings in their systems, distorting national politics to promote hatred, violence, and unbridled power. Unfortunately, less developed democracies like Nigeria copies the trends in greater democracies often with negative consequences. The flurry of activity since 2016 afterBrexitandtheelectionofDonaldTrump helpedshineaspotlightonthe general quality and structure of contemporary media environments with functioning democracies. While the spread of mis-/disinformation has resulted in the mobilization of wider society around the real dangers arising from unverified and inaccurate reporting around elections, pandemics, or political conflicts, the apathy towards peace journalism, solutions journalism, and media freedom present real threats even to the so called functioning or partial democracies. The Peace Journalism and Consolidation of Democracy dialogue in Nigeria provided descriptive and causal evidence on the scope of peace journalism, freedom of expression, and possible interventions among professional journalists that cover ethnic divisions, corruption, and political violence in a diverse country of 216 million people.

Although it has yet to gain prominence in practical terms in Nigeria, Peace Journalism is a bold attempt to redefine and reconstruct the role of journalists who cover conflicts. As a new arena of knowledge, Peace Journalism draws upon several theories and disciplines to enrich its validity and applicability.

A major source which peace journalism can rely on to bolster its analytical as well as its normative rigor is conflict theory. The Peace Journalism and Consolidation of Democracy dialogue held in Nigeria after the country’s general election explored through discussion and debates how several insights from conflict theory can advance the lucidityof peace journalismand render it as a powerful tool in the hands of Nigerian reporters and their readers to realize the futility of conflict and to bring about its resolution. More specifically, the participants at the dialogue examined the notion of the media as a third party to a conflict. The third party is the facilitator of communication, the mediator, or the arbitrator between two rivals. Peace Journalism as a third side can best enhance prospects for resolution and reconciliation by

changingthenorms andhabitsofreportingconflicts.Theforumreviewedthemediapolitical complex, especially the relationship between journalists and politicians in emerging democracies as well as the working conditions of journalists in Africa.

Conflict is a human interaction, which involves parties with incompatible interests. The awareness of the unsuitability and the ensuing choice of confrontation renders such incongruity an overt and explicit strife. Awareness is raised by communication, either with the environment or with the rivaling party. Communication, either with the environment or the rivaling party, raises awareness.

Communication produces information, which affects each side’s decision whether to hash out the differences or shun them. Thus, communication becomes a crucial determinant in conflict and conflict resolution: it creates a consciousness of, and attentiveness to, the other. Destructive and debilitating communication, which promotes noises, distortions, interruptions, deceptions, ploys, and false clues, promotes and expedites conflict. In contrast, constructive or beneficial communication relies on honesty, open channels and the effort to align the sent message with the received one. Such a pattern of interaction strives for accommodation and the relaxation of tensions and hostilities (Tillett, 1999; Lederach and Jenner, 2002; Pruitt and Kim, 2004). Peace Journalism (henceforth- PJ) has the characteristics and capabilities of encouraging constructive communication. This handbook illustrates how the introduction of PJ into conflict theory can advance the theoretical understanding and actual practice of conflict transformation. Peace journalism, as a motivator of peace and as a promoter of depolarization and de-escalation, (Galtung, in Hackett and Zhao, 2005) can accomplish a significant role by inspiring journalists to portray disputes in a different manner than that to which they usually ascribe. A successful conflict resolution process must be based on genuine and honest interaction between antagonists, whereby unmet human needs are frankly discussed and interests and motivations rather than positions are candidly aired.

The Role of the Media in Conflict

What is the role of the media in conflict, conflict resolution, the culture of conciliation, peacebuilding processes, settlement of sustainable peace, and consolidation of democracy? What is the journalists’ approach to Peace Journalism, and could it be used in today’s mainstream media?

Is peace only the absence of conflict or war? Norwegian sociologist Johan Galtung who is the principal founder of the discipline of peace and conflict studies conceptualizes negative peace as the absence of conflict. In contrast, positive peace consists ofconditions such as justice,equity, and harmony, which arecrucial aspects of building and consolidating democracy. Arguably, the communication media has great influence over the masses and has the power to affect or change the individual’s behavior, tendencies, and attitudes. Therefore it has a significant role in forming public opinion, continuity of democracy, shaping of conflicts, construction, and sustainability of positive peace.

We need to focus on the power of the media in building and sustaining peace and a culture of conciliation in the society. We also need to analyze what motivates the media during times of conflict and sustainable peace to understand the extent to which media practitioners are aware of their effects on the designation of a community’s future and to set the tone for conflicts.

American political commentator and academic, Cedric Robinson argues that today's 24-hour news broadcasts and technology-promoted media affect governments’ development and decision-making processes. In “The Comedy of Terror” written two years after the 9/11 attacks in the US, Robinson argues that it took almost no time for the media to develop a strategy that translated fear into consent for dangerous foreign policy. “So the experts tell us that force is necessary, but the history leading up to that moment is minimized, reimagined to fit a narrative of American goodness. The media bears no responsibility for educating us about the US history of state terrorism?”

We need to consider the media as a third party during times of conflict and has a crucial role in peacebuilding and, accordingly, for a strong democracy. - Reports whichinvolvehatred,anddiscriminatoryrhetoriccouldinfluence publicopinionand public policy decision making.

Instances whereby news items are presented with a high-level nationalist or ethnicity-oriented perspective could be harmful to the sustainability of democracy. ArecentstudybyAyceBukulmeyen Ozerdem,a Washington D.C.-based journalist and certified mediator confirms that the war journalism framework was more assertive than peace journalism within the lens of ‘us and them’ approach. The language used in the media during crises tended to have racial undertones and heavily condescending to the other side. There are only a few positive news examples or feeble voices which are more peace journalism oriented. In the qualitative research, journalists who have been working in the media sector for more than five years were asked six questions including whether journalists take responsibility for news outcomes, as well as the priorities they set when reporting, editing or presenting the news, how they perceive the conceptual difference between being objective and fair, and as journalists if they were aware of their role in shaping the social structure? The analysis of the responses showed that there is a wide range of approaches to the media's role in conflict resolution and peacebuilding processes.

ThestrongestargumentagainstPeaceJournalismwastheconcernofriskingthetruth by adhering to peace journalism for peace. There is an overall consensus over the necessity of incorporating the values in journalism, such as being impartial and fair, but there are different opinions about the conceptual relationship between the fair and balanced mantra in journalismpractice. Although journalists are quite sensitive tosocialbalances,theresponsesindicatedacleardemand forbigheadlines,andhigh ratings in the media. Peace journalism is also accused of trying to create peace artificially or from nothing, which is again something that peace journalism never aims for or even could possibly do. The respondents underline the fact that media organizationsareoftenresponsiblefortheirfinances andprofits,and becauseofthat, they need to bear in mind the particular interests of their readers and preferences in what types of news they seem to pay more attention.

On the question of what role the media plays in peace and conflict environments, journalists can play an essential role in shaping the prospects of peace, conditions of war or consolidating democracy in society with their constructive or destructive approaches. On the question of journalists’ approach to peace journalism, the results of the survey with journalists showed that some of the respondents did not believe in the concept of Peace Journalism and its necessity, and they were not aware of the domino impact that their news reports tend to create.

In the practice of peace journalism, journalists should provide in-depth analysis with their reports, not only reports of events. Galtung claims that Peace Journalism gives a more realistic image of what goes on in the world. So, with the insight provided by journalists, public awareness will increase and this helps to build a stronger civil society. In practice, journalists should always remember that peace starts to become meaningful when it involves ordinary people in its implementation, which is one of the most critical requirements of successful peacebuilding. In that sense, all stakeholders insocietyshould beinvited toconsider and make suggestions on peace, positive peacebuilding, and building a stable democracy rather than relying only on the opinion of the political class.

The promotion of peace journalism could be done in three main areas:

* journalism profession and journalists, adding Peace Journalism to the curriculum of schools of journalism , and regularly organizing short seminars for media practitioners to provide further training opportunities in peace journalism

* to informpeople and society, especially young people about peace journalismwith training programs in high schools. Media Literacy programs for readers and audiences to promote peace; peace journalism and constructive broadcasting concepts with competitions and scholarships programs

* civil society organizations should monitor the media, create awareness, and ensure direct engagement in peace issues and peace journalism.

Peace Journalism and Mediatization of Conflicts

Let me say how happy and very excited I am to be part of this dialogue. As former servants of Nigeria Union of Journalists in the 1990’s some of us were the symbols and flag bearers of the movement that believed that journalism should have a heavy dose of social responsibility content. Our movement or group of concerned journalists across media organizations all over the country while looking to come to power, I emerged as the national president of the Nigeria Union of Journalists. Our slogan during the campaign was for “socially relevant Nigerian journalism.” What did we mean? We’re of the opinion that journalism and journalism actors should not remain neutral in so many aspects of life including poverty and issues that affect the lives and livelihoods of the citizens of Nigeria. You would agree with me that's why journalism is a universal profession. Every country has its own journalism that is based on its history, its preferences, its priorities, its psyche and so on.

I have tried to find out any traces of peace journalism in Nigeria and I'm afraid I cannot lay my hands on anything. Is there any journalism in the context of the Nigerian media, whether traditional or new media (digital, print, and electronic media) that is peace oriented? What do I mean by peace journalismor traces of news coverage that would portray this concept of journalism?

Almost all media platforms or most of the media platforms especially now that we are in the digital era convey messages and images of the happenings so that you can see what is happening in real life including civil conflicts or wars. For example, Sudan erupted last week (April 2023) and there is now an ongoing civil war between two factions of the military - the Rapid Response Force and the main military. What is supposed to be the role of journalists as well as the media in Sudan? The role of themediaistoconveywhatisemergingastragicasitisbutasobjectivelyaspossible and we have seen how the bombs have lighted up the skies of Khartoum. We have seen military planes cycling and dropping bombs. The activities of the media in conveying these images; this news of what is happening to the society as well as commentariesbyactors,partisans,andothercitizensanywherewithsimilarconflicts

is whatis referredto as the media translation of conflictsin political communication. The mediatization of conflicts is how the media is unconsciously brought into the conflict itself. The media becomes part of the conflict in a partisan and professional manner as it discharges its work. A typical example was during the Gulf War in 1990.Forthefirsttime,CNNwasinvitedtocoverthestoryandwehadthedefinition of embeds - that is journalists that were embedded with troops and these journalists were on board the military ships, helicopters, and so on that went to cover the war. WouldanyoneexpectjournaliststhatwereembeddedwithAmericantroopstoreport against American troops? It’s impossible because they were aided and facilitated by these troops, and the embedded reporters depended on the information the American troops provided because they could not cross over to Iraq to hear the perspectives of Iraqis and so on and so forth. This was what happened or is happening everywhere dragging journalists and the media into conflicts.

Legal Framework for Peace Journalism

In discussing peace journalism, are there any legal frameworks that provide for, give power or support the substance of this aspect of journalism? Let me attempt to give you the ones that I can remember and I'm sure you will update me because I'm sure some of you are tempted to say oh this is an ancient practitioner. Let me refresh our minds about the mandates of one of the agencies of the United Nations – the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) that formed thebuilding blocks ofthecurriculumfor mass communication studies in universities and colleges. So, all members of the United Nations are supposed to share universal perspectives on education, science, and culture. Journalism as a body of knowledge has communication, sociology, and all sorts of things as well as education is under the universe for oversight.

In1983UNESCOprovidedaplatformforregionalorganizationsofjournalistsfrom Latin America, Arab countries, the Russian Federation, and from all over the world in Prague to draft what they called the International Principles of Ethical Practice of Journalism. These are guidelines on how journalism should be practiced as a matter of philosophy and social responsibility. One of those principles says journalists and their media should not support or should not lend support to conflicts or wars

because conflicts lead to human tragedy and destruction. So, this is a legal framework. This is the first that I can remember because it is either a convention or protocol or an agreement between journalistic bodies or a consensus that journalists and their media should not lend support to conflicts or wars because they lead to human tragedies and destruction." Ironically, media organizations are not spared by conflicts and wars. During the #EndSARS protest in Lagos and other parts of the country, you can remember that protesters attacked some media organizations. So, the media is not insulated from circumstances of conflicts as well as wars. In fact, even for the purpose of self-preservation, journalists probably need to be aware of the consequences of supporting policies that could lead to conflicts. One of my great editors, Mr. Lewis Obi once theorized that the media is supposed to mediate in situationsofconflict,andIthinkasanobleprofessionthis is averygood postulation.

Beyond the existing set of regulatory frameworks developed by journalists who wanted to regulate themselves to put standards and values for the practice of the profession towards upholdingthesocial responsibilityrole to the society, there is the Rome Statutes that emerged in the 90’s which established the International Criminal Court (ICC) - an intergovernmental organization and international tribunal seated at The Hague, Netherlands. Founded in July 2002 to prosecute those accused of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide, ICC specifically punishes three offenses:

1. Incitement to genocide

2. Act of genocide

3. State Aggression

The first one is probably targeted at the media and politicians. To that extent, it is a legal mechanismthatsupports peace journalism. The court punishes offenses related togenocide and state aggression. In my view, genocide is probablytargeted at media actors and politicians. Consequently, many wonderful journalists in Ugandan, Kenya,andtheDemocraticRepublicofCongo faced various jail terms at TheHague for incitement to genocide. I recall that a Kenyan radio host, Joshua Sang was indicted by the International Criminal Court at The Hague. He was accused of hate speech and organizing killings during the clashes that marred the 2007 presidential elections. Another Kenyan journalist - Walter Barasa was arraigned before ICC in October2013forallegedlytryingtopayoffwitnessesin thecrime-against-humanity case against the country’s then deputy president, William Ruto at the time.

This means that a journalist has legal exposure if he/she used the media to incite conflict in a manner that would be interpreted to mean genocide in which many people would be killed. A journalist could be dragged to the International Criminal Court at the Hague because of what he/she said either as a commentator or as a purveyor of information, an interpreter through radio broadcasts or comment through the newspapers, all the careless postings of your own opinion on digital media because you are a popular Blogger in your country.

Specifically, we must recognize that the Law of Armed Conflicts (LOC) marks a major shift from the past. The law is a universal body of law that regulates the conduct of war (jus in bello meaning justice in war) notably the protection of individuals who are not involved in the conflict. According to the law, if, in the conduct of war, if a commander asked his juniors to go and destroy this or that; go and take prisoners of war who have already surrendered; go and shoot; use these bombs to kill two people and all these kinds of illegalities, the commander would be responsible. But now the new law of armed conflict, if the commander asked you to engage in illegality in the conduct of war, you should use your sense. For instance, if your commander asked you to use a missile to attack this building, youshouldknowthatitiscontrarytowhatiscalledtheuseofdisproportionateforce. I'm sorry; you can no longer be a zombie to say “oh the commander asked me to do this.” It’s an act ofgenocidesimplybecause the commandersaid go and attack these people because they are harmless. Remember always that some of these instances of conflict are more prevalent in Africa because of the continent’s multiethnic, multi religious society where almost everything is based on identity.

Peace Journalism and National Security

Thisiswhypeacejournalismmustbeofinterest tous.Wehavethatrightas Nigerian journalists, the power, and the obligation to reflect on these matters. I think it is important to enrich the curriculum content of journalism and media studies to include conflict resolution, mediation, andprevention. We need this much more than anything because if you did a content analysis of the media, we are not there at all. Ournewsmediajust likethemediain otherpartsoftheworldhavebecome weapons of war. Just take a look at the content of newspapers in Nigeria, from beginning to the end and those of television and radio stations. Just do a dispassionate analysis,

remove yourself; just be a journalist; just be a reporter and say let me watch what my colleagues are saying, and you will see there are parading politicians who keep threatening us and the country. Keep in mind that so many of these politicians are liars and criminals and you know that the relationship between journalists and politicians all over the world has always been that of friendly enemies (frenemies). Yes, politicians don't like us, we don't like them, but we must coexist. It is just like a marriage of convenience and yet journalists give politicians the platform to threaten society.

I believe journalists can influence a review of the curriculum for studies in mass communication. The academia should take this up starting with the International Institute of Journalism, Abuja, Nigeria that teaches national security, peace journalism, and related subjects. About two years ago at a lecture organized by the Nigerian Union of journalists, I provoked the participants by asking them for the definition of national interest. What is a national interest? What is national security interest? It is embarrassing that many journalists do not know the definition of their national interest or national security interest. Is national security the protection of the state interests or a mechanism to protect politicians? There’s a need for journalists to know a bit about everything to avoid conflicts with security agencies. Journalists need to understand how security agencies and law enforcement agents think because everything is controlled by the state everywhere in the world. Everywhere, the state is superior to everything. For instance, in the conduct of war, the state will pull all the editors of the major media organizations and say: hey editors and publishers, we are going to operate militarily and there is goingtobelossoflives andsoonbecausewearegoing to chasecriminals,terrorists, insurgents. We are telling you so that you will not publish. If you publish, the information would leak and our operations would be sabotaged. So, if the enemy got to know that you are going after them tomorrow, they will run away, and we will hold you responsible. There are such understandings between journalists, security, and intelligence professionals.

I do not blame Nigerian journalists entirely for lackluster peace journalism content. Of course, you also need peace actors who will talk about the peace before your office people could preach or wage peace. There are so many people waging war but who are those waging peace? The only people I know as a group that does something like that at every election cycle is General Abdusalam Abubakar, former

Head of State and Chairman of the National Peace Committee and his team. Why are all the social cultural organizations – Ohaneze, Afenifere, and Arewa etc. not campaigning for peace on a regular basis? These social cultural groups should be independent and work to protect the people based on their culture, priorities, and aspirations instead of dabbling into politics.

I recommend that training institutions should entrench studies such as peace journalism and security studies because from the agenda of world leaders now, the priority is peace and security. At the 2022 UN General Assembly in New York, the office of Nigeria’s first lady focused on what they called the WPS (Women, Peace, and Security). The role of women in peace and security is a global priority. Consequently, the highest organ of the United Nations says that women are first responders, the victims of rape or kidnapping. In fact, it is their children that will go to war or their husbands that they would lose because they are the ones that will go and fight and get killed; they are the ones that will inhabit the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps; they are the ones that become refugees. So, the UN Security Council says women must be part of the solution. Women have certain skill sets that are distinct to them and they can do better when it comes to intelligence gathering and care.

Insufficient Education on Dangers of War

All States of the Federal Republic of Nigeria should be encouraged to establish a State Framework for Software Engineering to ensure the democratization of tools and knowledge to enable everyone to have easy access and right to knowledge and expertise needed. Despite numerous UN Declarations (of which African countries are always first signatories) for states to encourage the use of information media to educate the populace about thedangers of allforms ofwars, including the cold and nuclear wars, racism and hatred among nations, not very much in this regard has been accomplished in Africa.”The standard of coverage of nuclear issues in the Nigerian media is high although the volume is low.”

“General media attitudes have been intense; direct to the point with no punches pulled. This shows a sense of maturity, a high degree of sincerity and presence of commitment to the non-aligned posture of Nigeria” (Ugboajah 1986)

Instead of a grand theory with a sociological approach to war and violence, it is advisableto focuson peace-oriented mediato give voice to allparties of the conflict, make explicit the intellectual frame of reference, avoid over-emphasis on elite, and not underestimate the public (Galtung 1986). The concept of new humanism in the global society must prioritize a new sense of respect for multiplicity and cultural diversity and must support media development with the goal of consolidating the new culture of peace.

Nigeria has more than 250 ethnic groups, with varying languages and customs, creating a country of rich ethnic diversity. Nigeria is home to a variety of religions which tend to vary regionally. Nigeria is apparently divided equally between Islam and Christianity and the news media must reflect the strength in diversity.

Journalism, Peacebuilding, and Political Conflicts

Being a major player in the area of democratic consolidation in Nigeria through the media for over two decades, I have the apptitude, passion, and professional competence to discuss peace journalism to support democratic consolidation in young democracies like Nigeria. Peace must be handled with a lot of care and professional competence, otherwise it can lead to the collapse of all investments in democracy’s growth. Let’s preface this conversation with a brief historical overview of the Nigerian press to understand the sociology of the country’s media in relation to supporting democratic governance. The Nigerian media is arguably one of the most vociferous on the African continent. Its visibly active nature cannot be dissociated from its role in securing independence for Nigeria from colonial British rule. It was indeed at the forefront of the struggle for the attainment of independence. Nigerian Newspapers championed the push for the socio-political emancipation of Nigeria. It is not a coincidence that most of the nation’s founders were journalists and newspaper owners – Herbert Macaulay, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Ernest Ikoli, Obafemi Awolowo, Anthony Enahoro, Dutse Mohammed Ali, Mokwugo Okoye and a host of others were newspaper publishers or seasoned journalists and or editors. The newspapers owned and edited by these founding fathers became the major drivers through which the push for independence was articulated. At the peak of the struggle for independence, the Nigerian media played an active role in mobilizing and sensitizing the people on the need to end colonial rule. Through strongly worded editorials and features, they sold the idea of a utopian society which would be free from colonial rule. The picture they painted was one where Nigerians would fully govern and control their human and natural resources for the benefit of all. Sadly, however, shortly after the attainment of independence, the media became a toolforethnicbigotryinthehandsoftheirowners.Abati (2006,22)posits that rather than fostering peace and national integration, the Nigerian media expanded the already existing national fault lines through sectional and sensational reportage, which is still bedeviling us as a nation even with our little strides in our democratic journey.

Abati (2006) argued that ‘the media cannot be completely absolved of blame for the failure of the first and second republics. A very sad example was the 1983 gubernatorial election in Ondo State in which the media was a bystanderin the entire process. The election, which was keenly contested between Akin Omoboriowo and Chief Adekunle Ajasin, became a violent tug of war, with the media acting as a platform. Two radio stations in the capital, Akure - the Ondo State Broadcasting Corporation (OSBC) and the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) became overtly partisan and stood on contrasting political divides, thereby “instigating public violence through insensitive inflammatory broadcasting” (Babarinsa, 2003).

Understanding Peace Journalism: A Conceptual Perspective

Jake Lynch and Annabel McGoldrick conceptualize peace journalism as a form of journalism committed to exploring the root causes of conflict to create opportunities for society at large to consider and value non-violent responses to conflict. In other words, peace journalism uses the insights of conflict analyses and transformation to update the concepts of balance, fairness, and accuracy in reporting. It also provides a new road map for tracing the connections between journalists, their sources, the storiestheycover,andtheconsequencesoftheirjournalism,andbuildsanawareness of non-violence and creativity into the practical job of every day editing and reporting.

Steven Youngblood, the founder of Center for Global Peace Journalism, notes that Peace Journalism is when editors and reporters make choices that improve the prospects for peace in whatever story they are working on. These choices, including how to frame stories, choose which words are used, and create an atmosphere conducive to peace and supportive of peace initiatives and peacemakers without compromising the principles of good journalism. He states that ‘when reporting about peace, journalists must stick to news values. They must avoid morphing, distorting photos or altering a scene. Journalists must secure alternative voices in their reportage and fact check all the facts. They must be impartial and capture a variety of perspectives.’

According to Youngblood, peace journalists should also be mindful of the language they use in their reporting and how it can contribute to pre-emption, containment, and de-escalation of conflict. Using appropriate language, avoiding bias and

pandering of partisan interests and caring about the welfare of people are important ingredients of journalism that value peace and nonviolence. Journalists must avoid profanity as human beings deserving of respect and never treat sources as a means to an end.

According to a Norwegian Sociologist, Peace Researcher and Practitioner, Johan Galtung (1970) Peace Journalism is a style and theory of reporting that aims to treat stories about war and conflict with balance in contrast to war journalismwhile peace journalism advocates bias toward violence. The theory proposes practical methods for correcting biases in stories appearing in mainstream and alternative media and suggests ways for journalists to work with other media professionals, audiences and organizations in conflict.

Principles of Peace Journalism

A. TRUTH AND ACCURACY: Peace Journalism can only be successfully achieved if it is solely based on the truth and accuracy. Media Practitioners must not mix accuracy with propaganda, deliberate misinformation, disinformation and distortion of facts. It must not get involved in promoting ethnic and religious politicking.

B. INDEPENDENCE: Editorial independence is key to peace journalism. It must act independentlyand avoid associations that maycompromise its independent-mindedness. Not even undue influence from advertisers, sponsors, politicians and religious institutions.

C. FAIRNESS AND IMPARTIALITY: Peace Journalism must be built around fairness and impartiality. Peace Journalism tells all sides of a story and complies with ethical codes of the profession no matter whose ox is gored.

D. HUMANITY: It must wear a human face as sources and subjects deserve some respect. Human dignity must be observed in pursuit of professionalism and excellence.

E. ACCOUNTABILITY: Peace Journalism must of course be accountable for every story pushed out to the public domain. Errors committed in the course of duty when discovered must be admitted and corrected with all sense of sincerity.

Journalism and Coverage of Conflicts

It is common knowledge in different societies that the media could contribute to exacerbating intergroup tensions and violent conflict as well as promoting national

unity and stability. Many third world countries that are highly ethnically and religiously diverse, have experienced severe and recurrent violent conflict and political instability at different times. In Nigeria, cases of ethno-religious conflicts that occurred at Kafanchan in Kaduna State in the 1980s, the Sharia riots of 2000, and the Jos crisis in the year 2010 that led to the loss of lives and destruction of properties in the affected communities were clear examples. Other communal clashes in Nigeria include the Tiv and Jukun clashes in Taraba and Benue states, Ife and Modakeke communal clashes, clashes between communities inCrossRiverandEbonyiStates,boundarydisputesbetween Enugu and KogiStates which resulted in the loss of lives as well as destruction of property worth millions of dollars. Efforts by stakeholders like the government, opinion leaders, traditional rulers, civil society organizations, and faith-based organizations in resolving incessant cases of conflicts over the years for peaceful co-existence have not been effective. In the face of all the crises, many observers believe that the media has the capacity to intervene and prevent conflicts either from the latent or escalating stage. This means the media has the potential to resolve conflicts in the society to enhance peaceful co-existence as well as play a crucial role in integrating members of the society. Thus, in times of conflict, be it religious or political conflict the media can de-escalate or escalate the conflict by preaching peace for the parties involved in the conflict to embrace peace or otherwise to escalate the situation.

Lynch and McGoldrick in their study concluded that Peace Journalism explores root causes of conflict in order to consider and value non-violent responses to conflict. While many violent conflicts in Nigeria had an ethno-religious dimension, cultural differences were not the main causes of the conflicts. Most conflicts appear to have been caused by the presence of severe political and economic ‘horizontal inequalities’, corruption and elite competition for economic resources and power. Illustratively, these factors were not only at the heart of the secessionist Biafra conflict in the late 60’s but are also crucial for explaining the lingering ‘secessionist’ tensionsintheSouth-East,theinsurgencyin theNigerDeltaregion,theBokoHaram crisis in the North-East and Herder-Pastoralist violence in Nigeria’s Middle Belt.

In Africa, the most relatable example of journalism’s potential negative role in fuelling violence is arguably the case of Rwanda, where a broadcast news organization spread fake news designed to generate fear, distrust, and ethnic profiling of the Tutsi people which the station referred to as cockroaches. Without

doubt, the Radio Télévision Libre des Mille Collines (RTLM), played a significant role in inciting the Rwandan genocide that took place from April to July 1994, and has been described by some scholars as having been a de facto arm of the Hutu government at the time.

In Kenya, however, Onyebaji and Oyedeji (2011) found that in contrast to what they phrased as the ‘Rwandan Model’, newspapers propagated messages of peace and unity in the wake of the 2007/2008 post-election crisis. Whether a country’s media contribute to fuelling or mitigating inter-group divisions can depend, for example, on the media's level of independence from political interference or media outlets’ levelofprofessionalismandtraining. Given thediversityof media landscapes across countries, the actual impact of the media on the political situation and conflict dynamics may differ sharply from case to case. Interestingly, while the study of foreign conflict reporting in Western news media is documented, less attention has been devoted to the representation of domestic conflict in developing societies. Importantly, when the underlying economic political causes of these conflicts are ignored by the political class and media, and conversely cultural differences are simply propagated as the main causes of conflict, this no doubt gives rise to ‘primordial’ views on ethnicity and religion among the general population. Clearly, the dissemination of primordial views of conflict by the media and politicians alike may have serious consequences for people’s perception of the feasibility of peace, conflict resolution, and mutual coexistence.

New Media, Consolidation of Democracy and Nation Building

The media is a critical stakeholder in consolidating democracy in emerging countries. Therefore, all efforts must be made to ensure that the media is not left behind in any genuine democratic process. Consequently, promoting peace journalism is directly related to the consolidation of democracy in emerging countries.

Journalism bears very weighty responsibilities to the extent that the society looks up to the profession for direction on societal issues. It therefore becomes absolutely difficult for democracy and the democratic process to thrive without an effective and efficient flow of information because the society is constantly craving for news and

information on what’s going on. And it is only through effective and efficient dissemination of information and voter education that citizens can perform their roles in the democratic process. Stressing the importance of the media in the sustenance and consolidation of democracy, the 3rd President of the United States of America, Thomas Jefferson in 1787 stated that if he had to choose between ‘a government without newspapers or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.’Jefferson’s view demonstrates the importance of journalism in the development and consolidation of democracy and democratic ideals in the society.

Elements of Peace Journalism

The development and consolidation of democracy in an emerging country like Nigeria depends on certain fundamental elements.

1. Peace journalism is proactive, it examines the causes of conflicts and leads discussions about the solution(s) to them. The media must be nosy and be at the vanguard of fishing out those issues that are capable of causing disaffection among the contending groups with a view to proffering solution(s) before it escalates.

2. The Media must avail the critical stakeholders with timely and relevant information and education with regard to the democratic process. The people must not be allowed to wallow in ignorance about the democratic process as they are expected to be participants in the process and not spectators.

3. Peace journalism must work to unite contending parties rather than divide them. Using words like ‘us vs them’ and ‘good people and bad people’ while reporting must be avoided at all cost. Democracy cannot thrive in a society where the people are led to be against each other.

4. Peace Reporter must reject official propaganda but instead seek facts from all sources for a balanced report. Peace journalism must not engage in what I call ‘cut and paste’ journalism. Stories must not be picked from the gutters; rather all available sources must be explored to ensure that only facts and balanced stories are told no matter whose ox is gored.

5. Pease journalism must give voice to the voiceless instead of just reporting for and about elites and only those in power. The ultimate goal and target here must be the common man and the voiceless.

6. The Peace Journalist must give developmental journalism a pride of place in his/her reportage. Every report must provide depth and context geared towards societal change and development, rather than just superficial and ‘blow by blow’ accounts of issues and conflict. The breaking news syndrome must be avoided.

7. Peace Journalism must also be patriotic hence it must consider the consequences of every news story pushed out to the public knowing fully well that some members of the public could be gullible. Consideration must be given to the after effect of every news story published or aired hence poorly edited stories could jeopardize the consolidation of democracy.

8. ThePeacejournalistmustcarefullychooseand analyzehis/herwords,phrases andsentences tobeusedinastorywiththeunderstandingthatcarelessly usedwords, phrases and sentences can easily inflame passion. Words, phrases and sentences that can be interpreted differentlyshould beavoided. The saying that the “pen is mightier than the sword" comes to mind.

9. The use of images must be thoughtfully and carefully made no matter how factual such images may represent because it can exacerbate dire situations and promote reprisals. Bayo Bodunrin, the Director of News at Africa Independent Television told a story to illustrate this point. Reporting from Shagamu, a city near Lagos two decades ago where about 300 lives were lost following killings perpetrated by one ethnic group against the other. According to Bayo “I managed the images of the carnage and did not disclose the ethnic background of those killed to avoid a reprisal attack against fellow Nigerians living in the other parts of the country.”

10. Peace Journalism must offer counter narratives that debunk created or perpetuated stereotypes, myths, and misperceptions that will never allow for the consolidation of democracy.

Dr. Emeka Ugboaja contributed this section

Journalists, Politicians, and Identity Crises

So let me say that since the advent of the current democratic experience in 1999 I've beenaround.Istartedas deputygovernorand laterbecamealegislatorin2007.After the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly on the 13th of June 2023, Senators Abaribe and Lawan became the longest serving senators in the Nigerian Senate. I've been in and around and have seen most of the politics and policies of the current democratic dispensation.

I have an issue with some schools of thought that argue that journalism and peace cannot go together. Journalists, some contend, must do their job and sometimes doingthe jobis disruptive.Journalismpractice requires lateralthinking orhorizontal thinking - a form of ideation and problem solving approach using reasoning that is disruptive. The approach involves the using indirect and creative methods to think outside the box and see problems from radically new angles, gaining insights to help find innovative solutions. From this perspective, are journalists the best professionals to consult when you seek peace or do you need to go through clergymen?

MalachyUzendu,veteran journalist and Editorof The Authority Newspapers, argues that the notion of peace journalism assumes wrongly that journalists are seminarians. The media is not a monastery, he told his fellow participants at the Peace Journalism and Consolidation of Democracy dialogue.

“I like all the pontifications, but I want us to know that the media is not a monastery. The media is a business without monetary subsidy from government, corporate organizations or anywhere. The media is the only independent organ that is given the constitutional role of being the mirror of society. So, the media reflects society as it is. Therefore, all the theories, postulations, and advice on peace journalism by the resource persons are trying to portray journalists as monks or people in the monastery who aspire to go to heaven. What you guys preach is for journalists to engage in self-censorship in the guise of peace journalism.”

Whereas people make laws, draft the constitution, define what’s crime and all that. The emphasis is not to punish those who make laws and are violating them. Instead, people attack the media. “As ugly as my face looks, anytime I look in the mirror, I will see an ugly face and should not expect to see a handsome man” The mirror reflects what it sees. Anything to the contrary is absurd. What do you want the media to report about election malpractices caused by politicians? If the media reported corrupt practices of politicians, people would accuse the media of stoking violence. The entire society needs complete reforms, ethicalreorientation,anddisciplineamongtheleaders and themediawill reportsuch endeavors and may not have a magic wand to change society in which the top echelon is rotten. People should be charitable to media professionals.

All politicians want to win elections. Sometimes they want to win arguments as well andwhatthatmeansisthattheywilldoanythingandwhenIsayanythingit'sliterally that area that you think nobody will want to investigate, they will investigate it.

The very first time I came into the political space, one of the cliches that they tell you is that you don't want anybody to know what your mother did before your father got married. In politics, what that means essentially is that if you enter politics, they're going to uncover everything that is hidden about you and because of that what it means is that between the journalists and the politicians you have a relationship in which the politician uses the journalist, and the journalist uses the politician. So, if I am in competition with my friend here and we're running for the same office, I will go to any length to discredit him to win. For it to be disseminated, you must go through a journalist. That is the basis on which I want to focus this conversation.

But, I ask who is a journalist? I know all of you are journalists but really, we need to be very careful. This is a profession that has easy access to a whole lot of the people who claim to be journalists and without professional training. The situation has been compounded by the rapid explosion in information technology which makes anybody who can have a blog or Facebook page ultimately calls himself a journalist and can upload, download, and put anything out there with little consideration to what it costs the nation. As for consolidation of democracy, let me just say this about democracy. What I have seen and what we see that happens every

day is not democratic in any way. Some of us fought so much to get to this point but we got disappointed at the outcome.

Can journalism stop politicians from cheating?

Some politicians engage in falsification of election results in a brazen fashion thereby denying citizens of their rights to choose their leaders. Under such circumstances of manipulation of votes, there's no amount of journalism that will make up for such a charade. However, there's a little sliver of comfort. For example, as someone who ran against a governor in his state, I've benefited from the BVAS machine that made it difficult to manufacture results. I also benefited from the scarcity of Naira. The Federal Government inadvertently through the Central Bank made it difficult for anybody to have cash and what that meant was that whoever was my opponent, the governor of the state, and all the monies that were marked out for elections couldn't reach those people they could use it to buy votes.

In the areas where they got some funds, all the people transferred funds in their pocket so it's their own you know so they walked away with that money. Those who were given dollars to change also walked away with the dollars and doing so on the day of election all of us were on the same page.

Of course we always knew what was going to happen on Election Day. What normally happens is that people come with tons of cash and stand there and people are voting. of course now what happened was that by the time we got to the governorship election three weeks later the cash crunch had eased and some people were able to get access and so we started seeing the vote buying actually happening.

What we're seeingnow is that the technologyis right but needs to go one step further to eliminate human interference. It means that electronic voting should be the way to go.

On the matter of peace journalism, I still think that politicians need these seminars onpeacebuildingmorethanthejournalists. Youcan'ttell journalistsnottochronicle history especially in this era of breaking news of intense competition in the news business whereby news organization’s profile determines the rating, audience, and

advertising revenues. It's difficult for people to restrain themselves when they see something that looks like a big scoop. For politicians, it starts from the recruitment mechanism or who will run for an election or not. If my opponent got too many negatives. I will exploit that negative; that's just what happens.

5

Peace Journalism, Alternative Voices, and Conflict Entrepreneurs

The thinking among journalists is that they are isolated from or not members of the political class but the way an average Nigerian sees the journalist as part of those who contribute to whatever challenges or problems that they are going through. So, we must learn that the superstructure must be there for all of us including the politicians.

It's very important for us to build an equitable society and promote peace journalism in the sense that when we are doing our reporting, we see everybody from the same perspective. Let journalism be a leveler of some sort for everyone. The thing is that journalists are products of the same society as other citizens and many people ignore this fact.

One of the major problems of journalism is that because of the nature of the elitist ownership of the media, there is a tendency for us to always follow that narrative and to promote official sources more than normal or ordinary sources. In Nigeria, when most things happen, the first thing that comes to journalists’ mind is to look for a government official to interview. Sometimes, the journalist pursues official sources to the extent that the reporter doesn’t even interview those people who are supposed to provide solutions because there's a relationship between peace journalism and solutions Journalism in the sense that who are those journalists who go to first when something happens to get information.

Over time, journalists by training tend to go to official sources, notably the government. But, if reporters can be patient enough to be able to explore other sources, those other sources may be able to provide better solutions than the official sources before we eventually come to the official sources. For example, when there is killing in a community, most journalists will go to the police first to source information and often ignoring residents, thought leaders, and traditional rulers who are the custodians of culture who may provide information that could be used to cross check the information from government sources.

Sometimes, journalists tend to go to official sources of information because of the transactional nature of information sharing between government and the media. For example, if the government information, they want to sell it to you and make it look like it’s a privilege they are giving the reporter an exclusive scoop. So, when things happen, that reporter returns to the same source. Over time, the journalist and the government source develop a transactional relation often at the expense of good reporting and greater public good. It is important for the reporter not to be too dependent on government sources but to explore other sources and voices that could provide solutions to problems.

The jaded public view of the media is corrosive. The media needs to diversify sources of information in its coverage to include newer voices rather than depending on a set of the elite who claimto be solution providers but they are problemcreators. People are tired of hearing from the same sources all the time, regrettably even the official sources do not trust the media becausethey manipulate journalists to achieve their goal of misleading the public. The credibility of the media among the people is linked to the promotion of peace in the society.

It is ironic thatsome governmentofficials engagein peddling fake news. Theydump some information on social media because they know journalists will recycle the information without verification. Sometimes some journalists are so close to government sources that they don’t challenge their version of events and issues. Citing the currencydesign policy, the contributor believed journalists did not ask the critical questions that led to the failed policy that subjected citizens to untold hardship including loss of lives in some instances. The media are not asking questions as to what’s the difference between the pre-currency design and postdesign era because after all the noise the old currency is still in use.

I think that if reporters were able to promote new sources of information instead of the traditional sources, journalists would be able to hold government and vested interests accountable. This is what peace journalism or solutions journalism is all about.

Peace journalism should also interrogate what is phrased as conflict entrepreneurs. For example, when the Fulani cattle herdsmen conflict started, some reporters framed it from an ethno-religious angle with such labels as terrorist activities, Islamic Jihadists, Boko Haram, and so on. Over time, as the stories developed reporters discovered that Boko Haram was a huge conflict enterprise involving Christians, Muslims, and all sorts of people.

Peace journalism does not promote inequality, cowardice, it does not promote injustice It promotes courage and specifies that you do not use your journalistic activismorworktocausewarorunsettlepeaceinthesociety. When youdeliberately publish falsehood, you are causing trouble in society. When you do not fact check your report, you are promoting chaos in the society. PJ preaches the basic canons of journalism – fairness, accuracy, objectivity, and don’t glamorize violence

Journalists are not a special breed. They are part of the society and so most times if what you're reporting is overheating the society, once there's a breakdown of law and order like you see happening in Sudan, the ensuing conflict will consume everyone. In fact, journalists become targets of violence in some cases even when journalists might claim not to be part of the elite class.

Yes reporters may try to isolate themselves fromsome crazy policies or that they are not part of the political class but the truth is that a significant part of the population views journalists as part of the elite class. Once you go on air or you are seen on television writing or reporting on violence you become a target. This makes it imperative for journalists and society at large to learn how to manage and maintain that superstructure for all of us in the society that works by ensuring that we do not contribute to chaos in our society.

Inthelastgeneralelectionswithapopulationofabout200millionpeople,howmany people came out to vote? Only about 24 million people out of the entire population. What's the population of the political class within that 24 million people? Assuming they are 500,000 and they don't those people that were eventually elected All in all, they are not more than all the political office holders are not going to be more than between 5,000 to 10,000 people right and then those who contested including all those who bought forms; those who lost out in the primaries and everything let's just say about 50,000 people. So, if you minus 24 million people including those involved in electoral processes whether as contestants, voters or those who lost out from 200 million people what does that tell you? It means that there’s a silent majority who don't care about whoever becomes president. They just to go to their farms, businesses, and don’t care whether the government even works because the government has not always been there for them. So, journalists must be circumspect and understand the issues when politicians come to them crying about this process not working and so on. Finally, the time is right for solutions-based journalism in which peace journalism hinges on because unless we provide solutions to the problems that are confronting us there can't be peace in the country.

I like all the pontifications, but I want us to know that the media is not a monastery. The media is a business and does not get monetary subsidy from government, corporate organizations or anywhere. The media is the only independent organ that is giving a constitutional role of being the mirror of society. So, the media reflects society as it is. Therefore, all the theories, postulations, and advice on peace journalism by the resource persons are trying to portray journalists as monks or people in the monastery who aspire to go to heaven. What you guys are preaching is for journalists to engage in self-censorship in the guise of peace journalism.

Whereas people make laws, draft the constitution, define what’s crime and all that. The emphasis is not to punish those who make laws and are violating them. Instead, people attack the media. “As ugly as my face looks, anytime I look in the mirror, I will see an ugly face and should not expect to see a handsome man” The mirror reflects what it sees.Anythingtothe contraryis absurd. What do you want the media to report about election malpractices caused by politicians? If the media reported corrupt practices of politicians, people would accuse the media of stoking violence. The entire society needs complete reforms, ethical reorientation, and discipline

among the leaders and the media will report such endeavors and may not have a magic wand to change society in which the top echelon is rotten. People should be charitable to media professionals.

“An average Nigerian sees the journalist as part of those who contribute to whatever challenges and problems that they are going through. So, journalists must learn that the superstructure has to be there for all of us including the politicians”

For example in southern Kaduna the first thing we say is that we are going to the police, the army, and all of that but we ignore the traditional rulers for example who are the custodians of tradition and who have certain privileged information or even those who are opinion holders with information that we can use to cross check some of the opinions or some of the information that we get from government sources. Over time, journalists have been working within that triangular news sourcing formula. In fact, many journalists sometimes get into trouble when they tend to go towards official sources of information because of the transactional nature of information over time. Government officials, for example, have information they wanttosellto journalistsexclusively.Thegovernmentofficialcouldsay“I'mgiving you this information and it's a privilege.” With this kind of arrangement, the journalist relies on the sources when things happen. Over time, the transactional nature of sharing information puts the journalist in a tough spot to the extent of not beingabletogettoothersourcesofinformation that couldhelpto provideasolution. Under such circumstances, it is very difficult for journalists to be able to explore and that's I want us to see if we can open our minds a little bit so that when something happened let's not try to think how we can go to the official sources force are there other people who can see this thing from a different perspective because The thing is that if you look at our audiences our readership people are beginning to distrust the media.

Wanted: Ombudsman desk

The problem with the Nigerian media is that those who are supposed to make it easy for the practice are not making it easy. The facilities to do the work are not there. In other countries, for example, following the COVID-19 public health crisis, some businesses got some kind of economic bailouts just to assist them to get back into the system. The Nigerian government never provided such a relief to media organizations. A ream of newsprints is expensive and that’s why many newspapers publish online and print editions for one or two days in a week. So, it is becoming very difficult to get by but that is taking us out of the theme of why we are here which is how journalists can help to build and sustain peace. As an editor, I can only rely on stories my reporters sent to me but can I fund my reporters going to Zamfara to see what the Chinese are doing there? Can an Assignment Editor, in good conscience send reporters to go and face the bullets in crisis prone regions of the country in the face of an already difficult life and no insurance covering him or her? Faced with the challenge that no one would provide for the family, such a reporter will likely compromise some ethical values.

The country is at a crossroads: the economy is shrinking, the media managers and the media owners can no longer fund the industry and it is becoming very difficult by the day. But, if some news organizations can set up the ombudsman desk to help To check the accuracy of published or broadcast stories to ensure that the inflammatory ones are expunged, it can go a long way in remedying the situation. But, again you cannot remedy the situation when those who are in charge and whose responsibility it is to make sure there is peace are instead making unguarded utterances thereby pouring petrol into an already burning fire. Don't forget that as we speak today, the occupied spaces in Nigeria are widening by the day. We were toldnot to mention the names or the background of those who arebehind the killings when these things started because disclosing them would cause some problems but here we are. When a government comes on stream and adopts a posture of “We vs. Them” then, it's difficult to talk about peace under that situation. I don't know whether you followed what happened in Nigeria, the speed of light with which the organization called Indigenous Peopleof Biafra (IPoB) was proscribed and Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malani gazetted it within 24 hours. The government also banned Boko Haram. Nobody is even sure

whether what is happening in the north warrants similar actions. The point is that when you come to a system here and you are talking about peace and there are different parameters for different persons on how to regard them it does not make sense for anybody in good conscience to begin to talk about peace. Nonetheless, we don't have any other country except Nigeria. We all carry these passports wherever we go therefore it behooves us to make sure that we continue to preach peace and hoping that the younger ones will continue from wherever we're going to drop the baton. The thing is that hope is winning. A national conversation on peace doesn't mean that you will gloss over the injustice.

Citizen Journalism and Peace Journalism: A Complicated Nexus

Apparently, the media in Nigeria are doing their best about peace journalismand the consolidation of democracy. So, it becomes very necessary that we should be more conversant with this topic. Peace journalism is based on fairness, equity,and justice. Without these things, it would be difficult to talk about peace journalism. Journalists are first of all Nigerians and that is where national development comes in. I had discovered that most of us that practiced before and went into government management have done better than those that just got into it and see it as a civil service work. I have such experience and practice. From being a reporter, I became a press secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1999 to 2003 and I think we really need the media to make any progress in all aspects of our development. I associate myself with the organizers of this programand I feel this should just be the starting point. There are too many things we can do around peacebuilding. Speaking from the lens of the Nigeria Police Commission where I manage public affairs, the police, like every Nigerian, have its shortcomings. I think for now the police have been trying to cooperate with the media. A lot of recent developments were derived directly fromreporters and their news reports fromthe media. Some policemen have been arrested and dismissed following adverse reports from the media.

Another challenge to peace journalism is that social media poses whereby anybody whereby anybody with a phone is a reporter. Most times, because they are not trained, they are carried away and they keep dishing out information. For instance, they would send pictures that were taken in Somalia as if the incident happened in Nigeria and I don't know how the media will handle citizen journalism.

Today, if anyone has a smartphone or laptop that person can go ahead and share information each day and people follow on social media. The police are very sensitive to what the media reports and there are still areas of improvement but journalists operate in the same environment as everyone else where of course things are difficult. Some of them don't even have the tools to do their work, they still owe them some money, and they're human beings who can occasionally get worked up and just do stupid things. However, the Police Service Commission had tried some cases related to unethical conduct and made decisions and recommendations about police discipline.

Media practitioners want access to information. As such peace journalism should not impede investigative journalism. So, to what extent does the police play a role in providing vital information to journalists to aid their reporting? At least, Nigeria is among the 11 African countries that have enacted Freedom of Information (FOI) laws. To what extent are FOI laws implemented and what's the role of the police in the system?

With the rise of misinformation emanating from citizen journalists that peddle unverified information on social media, perhaps what is critical is the need for news literacy. Not so many people are able to distinguish between news and views; accurate information and propaganda.

How many people are information literate enough to know when people engage in misinformation?

So, how do we strengthen citizen journalism? How to strengthen online publications and also the mainstream media to avoid the misinformation trap is crucial as well. This is because most times the mainstream media rely on ubiquitous social media to source information to publish often with little or no scrutiny. So, how to handle this idea of using social media to promote content in the mainstream media is the challenge and how to verify information are critical issues. Perhaps, there has to be a mechanism to regulate citizen journalism because the arbitrary collection and sharing of inaccurate information doesn't help the profession. Accordingly, media organizations could generate blueprints and strategies to support organizational reforms on such issues as news literacy and the use of verify apps that help to confirmorverifytheauthenticityofaparticularstoryandthat'sanotherstepforward. “If you're in doubt you try to find out if you can't find it you leave out.”

Peace Journalism Curriculum Development in Colleges

Itisimportanttothinkofdevelopingacurriculumforuniversitystudents orcolleges to learn peace journalism. The process of developing a curriculum of study is not easy. For example, the Institute of Management and Technology, Enugu is developing about 30% of the curricula of w taught locally will be developed by the institution. So the school promises to send this course with the Director’s consent. The Head of the Department will send this as a proposal as part of the curriculum that we want to integrate peace journalism courses into the Mass Communication Department at IMT. First of all, we must look at our culture on how we interpret or how we conceptualize peace in our culture. We need to avoid mutating peace. We cannot begin to define peace the way it is defined in Western nations. We must understand what peace is to us and how we see peace. As far as culture is concerned, the definition of peace is not the absence of war or the absence of conflict but it is the presence of justice, fairness, and equity. We operate in a multi-plural society even though there has been some kind of bastardization of culture.

“Stomach Infrastructure”

We need to start looking at what can be done to improve the welfare of journalists to ensure their independence from potential paymasters. Journalists must be independent to properly cover the government that they criticize. How do you think that people perceive journalists when they don't report accurately about the last election? How do we make journalists independent to embrace sustainable strategies and resist the constant pressure in society to acquire material things such as flashy cars, houses, and other things? It all boils down to “stomach infrastructure” - a phrase to connote the quest by everyone who seeks to be comfortable by any means possible. It's just a general societal problem and journalists are not insulated from the challenges of economic survival and the

societal expectation in the village that requires them to keep contributing money towards community development. As journalists we must bring this kind of thing to the forefront in the context of remuneration packages for journalists. These issues must beconsidered intheprocessofdeveloping thecurriculumforpeacejournalism. Additionally, there is a need to emphasize that there's no place in the world where total freedom of the press exists even in the United States with a good record on media freedom. Freedom comes with some responsibilities; that means we have to be responsible as professional journalists as we report on issues and try to balance the story by getting both sides of the story. The Nigerian journalist is handicapped and lacks the motivational stimulation to engage fully in peace journalism. Almost allthesectorsinNigeriahaveauniquesalarystructurebutthere's nosalarystructure yet for journalists and other media professionals.

The reinvigoration of the African Communication Council Education (ACCE) will expand the conversation on developing appropriate curricula for the teaching of peace journalism at colleges and universities.

Conclusion

Conflict is inevitable in human affairs. As such, all forms of conflict including political, religious, ethnic, and communal are a global phenomenon. The emergence of Peace Journalism in the global scene amid the growing diminution of democracy around the world is therefore timely. The cycle of violence, bigotry, intolerance, and gridlock in established and emerging democracy remains a huge threat to the consolidation of democracy around the world. The news media continues to play a significant role in building democracy in Africa and other countries even in the face of difficult circumstances. But one thing is clear, media practitioners must embrace peace journalism to sustain the democratic project. Writing Peace in Emerging Democracies is a contribution to available training tools and resources. The handbook could be useful to schools, students, teachers, journalists, and facilitators around the world in planning and implementing several approaches to discover contemporary journalism and political systems to better understand and actually practice intercultural dialogue and a culture of peace.

References

Abati R. (2006) “The Supreme Court and Ladoja’s case. The Nigerian Village Square”. Nigeriavillagesquare.com/forum

Adebayo. J. (2017) The Role of Peace Journalism in the deconstruction of elections and the “National question” in Nigeria. International Journal of African Renaissance Studies. Multi-inter and Transdisciplinarity. faudfonline.com

Babarinsa. D (2023) House of war, Lagos. Spectrum Books Limited.

Hackett .R. (2010) Journalism for Peace and Justice Towards a Comparative Analysis of Media Paradigms Studies in Social Justice 414:179-198

Hackett .T. (2007) “Situate Peace Journalism in Studies Practice. a Critical Appraisal” conflict & communication online.

Lynch J. and McGoldrick A. (2000) Peace Journalism Stroud: Hawthorn Press faudfonline.com

Okacha and James (2022) Assessment or peace Journalism in the quest for harmony in Nigeria’s pluralistic society https:www.researchgate.net.

Onyebadi U. and Oyedeji (2012) Newspaper Coverage of Post Political Election Violence – Africa: an Assessment of the Kenyan Example https:www.script.org

Youngblood (2017) Centre for Global Peace Journalism at Park University Packville , Missoun USA.

https://mediapeaceproject.smpa.gwu.edu/2017/12114/what-is-peace-journalism/.