PROSPECTS AND CHALLENGES OF THE ROLE OF THE MEDIA IN CONFLICT RESOLUTION IN CAMEROON

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 of 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 journalist 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 its justified as majority of respondents agreed; the media played an escalating role in the crisis, the public perceive the media as a tool in resolving the crisis, social media (internet) played the most negative role in spreading rumours and fake news and finally peace journalism and genuine dialogue is the way forward in resolving the crisis.

CHAPTER ONE
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
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 individual 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 medialisation of societies.

Globalisation in the sense that images, crisis, and threats tend to move faster through the global media landscape. And also, because increasing migrations and mobility explains crisis have to be communicated in 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, interest r concern. Many authors view conflicts as a disagreement and argument about something important hence said to be negative.

Meanwhile conflicts remains 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 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 conflicts 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 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 to be used as an important means of welfare used by government, military and leaders everywhere for propaganda or for great potential to promote peace building.

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 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:P, 67). 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 back drop of poverty, illiteracy and weak systems of governance, undermined by favourable terms of trade, ineptness’ and administrative failures (Zartman, 1995:P 39).  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 Libyan, Tunisia, Egyptians, and Yemeni Government 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 the 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 Kenyan 2007 general elections which resulted to electoral violence. This brings us to the question of what role should the media had played? Or failed to play in attributes to libertarian and social responsibility theory.

Conflict reporting is an important aspect of journalism as immersed interest to journalist/media professional who tend 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 journalist obey the norms of journalism in reporting conflicts (that is maintaining accuracy, objectivity, balance and fairness)?

1.2 Statement of the problem

A lot of research has been carried out on the media and conflict reporting but minimal has been done upon the role the media has played in fostering peace. 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.

John (2019:P32) says the media has been used by several government officials and journalists to promote violence. Everyone has access to the media in recent days. Statistics proves that in every 10 persons, 7 of them uses the media, or watches the news or have access to social media (Samuel 2009 : 59)

The media continues to poses a threat to national security. The media could be seen as a threat to national security instead and not a tool for conflict resolution (Adam 2015 : 41). . Some conflicts in the world has been spurred by the media. Examples of this is the Rwanda Genocide in which the media spread propaganda against the Tutsi population calling them outcast and mobilizing the population to pick up arms and fight them, also in recent times former President Donald Trump used the media to spread acts of violence and this lead to the Capitol Protest

Adma et al (2001:65) sees the media as a tool for propaganda and hate speech. The fact everyone has access to the media and social platforms is a call for concern. This caused fear and panic not just to its users but to the world. Several conflicts are escalating today because of the media.

This research tends to highlight the role of the media during crisis 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 remains 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 that powerful 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 Objectives of the Study