IJNet - Covering riots: Should journalists attempt to quell the violence?

IJNet Discussions

Covering riots: Should journalists attempt to quell the violence?

Posted on: 20/11/2009 Conflict Region: Worldwide

When riots among the fans of the Algerian and Egyptian football teams arose last week during a World Cup qualifying match, news organizations sped to cover the turmoil. And journalists, politicians and even religious clerics intervened to quell the tension by calling on Algerians and Egyptians to stick to their “Arab brotherhood” and to stop attacking each other.

But reportedly, the matches ended up "bloody" and “causing diplomatic tensions” between the two Arab countries.

In an essay published on Aljazeera Talk, Egyptian writer Imad Aldin Alsayyed criticized the fighting and expressed disappointment in "failing" to calm the tension through his writing. "I feel there is no use for the pens in our lives anymore," he wrote.

What do you think? What is your role as a journalist when reporting on riots in or involving your country?

Comments

Submitted on: 23/11/2009 — Mahroo

به نظر من اینکه روزنامه نگاران با نوشته هایشان نتوانند آرامش را در شرایط بحرانی ایجاد کنند چیز عجیبی نیست چون وظیفه ی اصلی آنها اطلاع رسانی صحیح است واینکه شرایط را همانگونه که هست بازگو کنند. اگر واقعیات را بیان نکنند و به هردلیلی نتوانند رسالت اصلی خود را که اطلاع رسانی شفاف ومنطبق با واقعیات است را انجام دهند شاید بتوان گفت در به وجود آوردن آرامش درشرایط بحرانی نتوانسته اند نقش داشته باشند.

Submitted on: 23/11/2009 — IJNet User

journalists have a role to play in helping to stop violence among people. though we may not be in the violence ourselves, but in one way or another our brothers and sisters are, so i believe we just have to write on, don't give up, there is power in pen remember. Howver we must strike a balance between reporting and promoting violence, we must not be judgemental on who we think is right or wrong and we must not be seen to be against a certain group of people.

Nomsa

Submitted on: 23/11/2009 — Berenice

The obvious lifting of the weapons embargo from Uzbekistan by EU foreign ministers at a meeting on 26-27 October – the last sanctions imposed four years ago for crushing a rally in Andijan on 13 May 2005, journalists believe, should not be unconditional and Germany can and should achieve at least one concession from the Uzbek government. Cops clubbing protesters with bats outside the Hyatt Hotel in Vancouver. Homeless people kicking Joe Clark in the shin on Parliament Hill. Are riots and near-riots becoming part of the Canadian cultural psyche? A close examination of historical fact reveals that these events are not just part of our present; Canada has always been a nation of window smashers and car flippers. She's vying to represent the volatile and religiously conservative Pashtun-dominated border province of Paktia in the country's lower house of Parliament. They should have secured loans for emergency use of this violent action against journalist.

Submitted on: 24/11/2009 — IJNet User

It’s not our duty. Property and even human beings were randomly set on fire, and shops looted during the violence. It’s ideal to cover riots along with the police force deployed at the spot. Let the cops quell the mob.

C.O.T Azeez
Jeddah KSa

Submitted on: 24/11/2009 — IJNet User

اعتقد جازما أن المشكلة ليست في مساهمة الصحفي في اطفاء نار الفتنة ،بل المشكلة تكمن في كون الصحفيين هم انفسهم من اوقدوا نار الفتنة .
عندي دراسة متواضعة سارسلها لموقعنا المحترم عن الفضيحة بجلاجل التي وقعت فيها طيابات الحمام - والمعذرة على هذه التسمية- في كلا البلدين.
الضحفي الجزائري محمد الطيبي
moh_tad@yahoo.fr

Submitted on: 25/11/2009 — IJNet User

Que la sociedad está poco interesada en lo que sucese a su alrededor, solo cuando le afecta en lo particular pone mayor atención y los gobierenos iguelamente valoran poco los comentarios, los analizan según el medio donde se vierten, si tiene mucho o poco reiting. jjesusvah@hotmail.com

Submitted on: 26/11/2009 — Cherif Ismail

في رايي الشخصي علي الصحفي ان يلتزم بالحياد التام في مواجهه تلك القضايا الشائكه اثناء التغطيه الصحفيه لها وان ينظر بموضوعيه واستقلاليه تامه بعيدا عن الانحياز الاعمي للجنسيه المنتمي اليها

Submitted on: 10/12/2009 — IJNet User

I don't really think it comes down to the question of journalists in particular having a role, but more so humans, human instincts and individual morals playing a role. I know that I naturally would try to intervene despite being a journalist or not. Personal beliefs and "obligations" come first to me before my role as a journalist does and I think that in a roundabout way is the test of a journalist.
It just comes down to morals and instincts

Submitted on: 12/12/2009 — IJNet User

When the 2007/08 post election violence broke out in Kenya, there was the urge to call for peace form our platform as journalists. But that was quickly criticized as taking sides. The explanation was the one side (Mwai Kibaki - current president) was calling for peace while the other (Raila Odinga - current PM) wanted justice for a stolen election. Demonstrators for the Raila side had a clear message: no Justice no Peace. In such a situation where two sides are clearly divided I think journalists risk the risk of appearing biased. At the end of the day it is through objective reporting that we shape (or should shape) public opinion. The other danger I forsee in 'taking a role in a fallout' is that of being sucked into the disagreement and losing credibility. In short, I think journalists ought not to express opinion unless they're doing editorial/commentary and clearly state so.

Submitted on: 04/01/2010 — IJNet User

من هم با نظر ماهرو موافقم. وظیفه روزنامه نگار اطلاع رسانی صحیح است. اما در این حال به یک نکته توجه کنیم، یکی از اصول اخلاقی در روزنامه نگاری در نظر گرفتن صلاح جامعه است و البته این با صلاح نظام فرق دارد.

Submitted on: 04/01/2010 — IJNet User

روزنامه نامه نگار نباید هیزم کش آتش سیاستمداران باشند.

Submitted on: 05/01/2010 — عقيل صالح

في رأي المتواضع ان الصحفي او المصور الصحفي يجب عليه نقل الحقيقة برمتها دون تسيس لاحد، وعليه ايضاً ان يكون محايداً واعتقد في حياديته سوف يكون قد ساعد في اخماد نار الفتنة
عقيل صالح
مصور صحفي عراقي مقيم بالمغرب

Submitted on: 05/01/2010 — IJNet User

نعم ينبغى على الصحفى المشاركة فى الحد من اعمال الشغب لانه فى حد ذاته ليس وسيلة لحل المشاكل مع معاة عدم التخلى عن واجبه فى نقل الحقيقة

Submitted on: 06/01/2010 — Sipho

I covered the xenophobic violence in Atteridgeville and Mamelodi townships, South Africa in 2008/9 and journalist worked under constant threat of being attacked. The mob did not want us near the occurances fearing that we would expose them to be punished. I imagine what would have happened if we tried to quell the violence. Journalists should not be involved in stories that they cover. Our responsibility is to let our readers know what is happening and not about our heroic deeds.
Sipho Masombuka-Reporter
Pretora, South Africa

Submitted on: 02/03/2010 — IJNet User

Журналист - представитель определенной культуры, за ним стоит тоже какая-то культура, религия и т.д. Его полное право - высказать мнение. В этом и смысл журналистики, а иначе посылайте туда пятиклассников, они Вам просто напишут новости.