"The world has seen increasing media coverage of migrants and refugees, especially following the conflicts in Syria and Ukraine, but also in response to economic migration in Central America during the Trump administration,” he said. “Studies have shown (including those carried out by WACC) that news stories are often biased or misleading, with little attention given to the voices and concerns of the migrants themselves or to local host communities.”

Recent natural disasters—such as the devastating dam break and flooding in Nigeria—have also shown how difficult communications can be when it comes to providing aid and relief. 

“The human-made conflict in Gaza has underlined in dramatic and heartrending ways the consequences of depriving Palestinians of communication and how important independent media are to public awareness of misinformation and lies in mass and social media,” said Lee.
 

Rapidly changing

The biggest changes in communication are tied to technologies, the domination of unregulated social media, and the deliberate targeting of journalists. 

"Cell phones and the internet have facilitated social action and humanitarian aid,” said Lee. “At the same time, they are used for surveillance as well as information blackouts at crucial times by authoritarian regimes.”

Unregulated social media have encouraged misinformation, lies, and hate speech to a point where there is widespread mistrust in political and social decision-making, he added. 

“Independent journalism has been maligned and journalists killed (129 media professionals, including 14 women, in 2023 alone) implying a total devaluation of the profession and its practitioners,” Lee said. “The situation is at its worst in conflict situations, especially those in which armed forces are involved.”

At times, communicators need to set aside who they are and the job they are expected to do in order to focus on "the other" and to try to discover alternative approaches to resolving an immediate problem or to bringing about more long-term solutions. “Building a bridge is useless if you can't persuade someone to cross it to look at the view from the other side,” said Lee. “At times of political and social upheaval and uncertainty, and especially when lives are at risk, it is vital to share consistent, accurate, and helpful information by every means possible.”

Access to trustworthy information allows people to make informed decisions to protect themselves and their families. “Unfortunately, that task has been made all the more difficult by the current disdain for media institutions – even those with enviable reputations for fair and balanced reporting,” Lee said. “And yet, as the Deutsche Welle piece in the 3/2024 issue of Media Development points out, ‘Cooperation with journalists and the media is … a key prerequisite for constructive conflict transformation. As intermediary social actors, they are a crucial element in sustainable peacebuilding at the local level.’ ”

At its heart, the issue underscores that there can be no long-term peace without communication justice.

In his article, Peter Prove, director of the World Council of Churches Commission of the Churches in International Affairs, addresses “Freedom of expression, and the protection of journalists in conflict situations.”

Prove opens with the reflection that, during a conflict, those who seek the truth often become victims themselves. 

“The protection of civilians (including journalists) persists under international law so long as they do not take any direct part in the hostilities,” Prove writes. “Journalists and media professionals who face mounting threats for reporting and communicating the awful truth of conflict and its impacts are defending against an attack on human solidarity and human dignity itself.”

Media Development is issued in advance to World Association for Christian Communication members Join here

The current issue is now available here