The evolving case for peace journalism

Abstract

This thesis evaluates the evolution of a strengthening case for a kind of news reporting defined as ‘Peace Journalism’. It explores the differences such journalism makes to television audiences. Additionally, by delving into the developing understanding of meaning-making and rationality, it combines interdisciplinary insights that add to the evolving case for Peace Journalism. It tests propositions that meaning is formed emotionally as well as cognitively, and that human nature is both cooperative and empathetic as well as competitive and violent. The mixed design study marks the first audience research, involving more than 450 participants from four countries, to indicate that television news framed as peace journalism prompts and enables viewers to consider and value nonviolent responses to conflict. Qualitative and quantitative data on audience responses were gathered in Australia, the Philippines, South Africa and Mexico. Two versions of a set of familiar stories from television news in each country were produced, coded as war journalism (WJ) and peace journalism (PJ) respectively. PJ was denoted by the presence of background and context; ideas for solutions; a broad range of views; challenges to propaganda, and images of peace. WJ was defined by the absence of such factors. Two news bulletins, a WJ and a PJ, were created with professional media partners in each country. The bulletins were shown to groups of students and professionals filling in questionnaires or joining focus groups after viewing, with no participant aware of the distinctions between the bulletins or that a second version existed. The predominant conclusion was PJ viewers tended to respond with less anger and fear, and more hope and empathy. They were more likely than those who watched WJ to perceive structural and/or systemic explanations for problems, and more likely to see opportunities for therapeutic and/or cooperative remedies to be applied.