Abstract

 This project’’ the role of the mass media in conflict management case study Anglophone crisis’’ objectively seeks to find and explain the role played by the media amidst the crisis, bringing to spotlight which media organ plays the most negative role in escalating the conflicts, investigating the power of the media to resolve the crisis through peace journalism.

The paper further employs a quantitative research approach as a method of data collection whereby questionnaires were administered to journalists of both the private and public media institutions in Buea in order to get their views on the roles they play amidst the conflicts, the challenges they face, and the what actually can be done based on media power and influence to foster peace and unity back to the Anglophones and the country as a whole.

As per the research, it’s justified as the majority of respondents agreed; the media played an escalating role in the crisis, the public perceives the media as a tool in resolving the crisis, social media (internet) played the most negative role in spreading rumors and fake news and finally peace journalism and genuine dialogue is the way forward in resolving the crisis.

CHAPTER ONE

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

1.0 Introduction

Being inspired as a journalist and wish to proposed solutions to some of the challenges faced by journalists when covering (reporting) the crisis in other to reduce abuse, harassment, kidnapping, and detention from both separatist fighters and the government and furthermore research on how the media can act as mediators in enhancing sustainable peace in the Anglophone community.

Chapter one gives a detailed review of the background of the study, statement of the problem, highlighting six research question that focuses on the role of the media in conflict management. The chapter further explains the objectives of the study, stating facts to the significance of this study as well as the definition of terms.

1.1 Background Of The Study

Whenever the word ‘’conflicts’’ Is mentioned, one’s mind quickly rushes to wars, or an armed clash that has to do with weapons, images of physical destruction runs through our minds.

We live in an era of crisis, it doesn’t mean community, society, organisation, and individuals directly experience more physical crisis as mentioned above in cases of destruction, rather the statement stipulates we can also experience it indirectly due to globalisation and medicalization of societies.

Globalisation in the sense that images, crises, and threats tend to move faster through the global media landscape. And also because increasing migrations and mobility explains crisis has to be communicated in a multi-cultural context.

Conflict is a perpetual giving of life; it is a disagreement between two parties in which one party feels cheated either through their feelings, needs, interests r concerns. Many authors view conflicts as a disagreement and argument about something important hence said to be negative.

Meanwhile, conflicts remain undoubtedly inevitable as it can be traced since the beginning of man and it can be seen positively as it can be resolved and it leads to the sustenance of peace and stimulation of sustainable development in society.

There is always a thin line drawn between media and conflicts, history stipulates the media can incite (fuel) violence from people. Hitler used the media to create an entire world view of hatred for Jews. The impact of the media in times of conflict has been evident in so many ways.

Millions of global news network that broadcast live from all corners of the world and through the internet, providing immediate access to unfolding events and under certain conditions, hence influencing the way such events develop end. This has prompted the idea that broadcast media (TV) has increased violence in conflicts management.

Awareness has increased with regards to the role local civilians population play a role in armed conflicts, hence they are no longer considered a passive factor but instead their needs and perception have an explicit influence upon the success of a mission. Triggered by rapid technological change in the media, information no longer simple describe on scene development but increasingly shape dynamics by influencing perceptions, opinion, and loyalties (Jakosben, 2000; Galtung, 2004). This has made information be used as an important means of welfare used by government, military, and leaders everywhere for propaganda or for great potential to promote peacebuilding.

The policies of the military and the attitude of the press and the public towards media coverage of wars were influenced enormously by the experiences of the Vietnam War. We can see how the power of the media influenced was a witness in the war during to US intervention in the war due to the significant growth in information posed by the discovery of Television (Praeger, 1994). Where Colonel Harry G. a battalion and corps operations officer in the Vietnam War ‘’ there is a tendency to blame our problems with public support on the media ……… it was this horror, not the reporting, that influenced the American people’’. Hence the military after the Vietnam experience discovered that in order to wage was they needed to control the power of the media.

The African continent has also suffered numerous armed conflicts, most of which have been blamed on the media. The societal conflicts of Africa have played out against the backdrop of poverty, illiteracy, and weak systems of governance, undermined by favourable terms of trade, ineptness’ and administrative failures (Zartman, 1995).  Countries such as Rwanda, Congo, Somalia, Sudan, Liberia, and Kenya have also suffered experienced ethnic conflicts whose impact extends beyond borders.

The most recent role of media in conflicts escalation is the Arab Spring in North America and the Middle East. This uprising saw the overthrow of Libyan, Tunisia, Egyptians, and the Yemeni Governments through mass actions engineered by social media.

In Kenya, the hand of media in electoral conflict cannot be assumed. Kenyan media scene is highly robust, competitive and free compared to most African countries. According to the libertarian theory of media reporting, can hardly be exploited for selfish gain by states and individuals who strive to protect their images in society. Therefore the media in such an environment should encourage a competitive political system that should promote democracy, peace, and stability. However, this was not the case in the Kenyan 2007 general elections which resulted in electoral violence. This brings us to the question of what role should the media have played? Or failed to play in attributes to libertarian and social responsibility theory.

Conflict reporting is an important aspect of journalism as an immersed interest to journalist/media professionals who tends to report events from conflicts as top stories/breaking news.

Looking at the case study of the ongoing Anglophone crisis since October 2016, it puzzles one to ask the question of does the media actually play a role in the resolution of the crisis?  Do they escalate or de-escalate violence? And do most of the journalists obey the norms of journalism in reporting conflicts (that is maintaining accuracy, objectivity, balance, and fairness)?

1.2 Statement of the problem

Scholars have extensively studied the relationship between conflicts and the media. Most of these researchers have highlighted the use of the media as a powerful instrument for fuelling crisis as well as war propaganda. Examples entails studies describing the early use of communication channels by Allies in the First World War, the extensive propaganda machinery in Germany, and the abuse of mass media in Uganda.

The media is known not just for its two-sided face of both escalating and de-escalating violence, rather it also acts as a mirror in conflict situations. The media plays the role of escalation agents when it initiates tension, sensationalized events, and indulges in false propaganda. On the other hand, the media is said to be a de-escalating agent when it pursuits’ the conflicting parties, government, and society in which they operate to resolve issues and also shaping public opinion. The third action is the media been a mirror by transmitting actual facts to society without taking positions.

The media thrives in conflicts/periods of crisis. ‘’Thomas and lee‘’ (1996) are right in their observation that conflicts is the bread and butter of journalism. On daily basis, tune to any radio, television, grab a newspaper and you would realize conflicts.

The view of the ubiquity of conflict in the media can also be seen in Tehranian’s (1996:3) statement ‘’conflicts attract the media as powerfully as flies gather around sweets’’. In explaining this, Tehranian refers to the old journalism stating ‘’the news media concentrates particularly on bad news’’

This research tends to highlight the role of the media during crises and the ways they are employed in the resolution of these crises. Despite the numerous coverage, debates, proposed solutions, and highlighting the ongoing Anglophone crisis by both local and international media, the conflicts still remain unsolved which brings us to a very important question(s). Is the media using the right approach to the resolution of the conflict? Is the Cameroon media the power to influence change? Do journalists actually report on the crisis maintaining accuracy, objectivity, balance, and fairness? Or as a result of fake news? And lastly, which organ of the media tends to greatly incite (fuel) violence amongst individuals.

1.3 Research Questions

1. Do the media play a role in conflicts management?
2. What role do the mass media play in the Anglophone crisis?
3. What are some of the techniques the media play in conflict management?
4. Which organ of the media (TV, radio, prints, and social media) play a key role in the escalating crisis?
5. Does the public perceive the mass media as a tool in conflict resolution?