The role of media and information and communication technologies in building a peaceful world
(Original)

Tara Yvonne Finglas
(Age 23, Ireland)
Trinity College Dublin

"Let them see how we live," he said. I nodded and held my digital camera close as I tried to capture his shoddy wooden house in a pool of water. I had been in South Africa for over a month, I had played with AIDS orphans and dished out pots of soup to hungry hands. But, the picture of this man's house still stayed in my mind and shocked everyone who saw it; the picture had fulfilled its task.

Journalists come under fire for fabricating and over simplifying events. As one of the four pillars of society and as watch dog of the state, the media is instrumental in getting information to the public. During the 1980s, the media sparked a global response to the famine in Ethiopia. Media reports about bloated babies and starving men and women horrified people, and resulted in action.

This kind of journalism, 'peace journalism,' is the way forward to a peaceful world. Peace journalism is also known as 'journalism with a cause,' and it not only focuses on situations but also examines possible solutions. Journalist John Pilger is notorious for his reports about the arms trade. He examines the arms trade industry and also the anti-arms trade activism that runs parallel.

However, peace journalism needs guidance and instruction. Media training on how to cover conflict, humanitarian disasters and emergencies needs to be given to journalists. This training would be useful to discount stereotypical reporting and misinformation. Media reports need to be catchy and alluring, thus journalists may be tempted to deal with stories superficially instead of getting to the root of the situation.

The new communications technologies of today have given each and every one of us a virtual passport to the rest of the world. Sitting in our comfortable homes we drink tea as pictures of atrocities and human rights abuses fleet across our television screens. Voices of men, women and children reverberate with stories of true heartache and unimaginable courage. We are watching and we are listening.

The world witnessed first hand in 2003 as the war in Iraq erupted. Iraqis living in Iraq started writing blogs as a way of letting the outside world know what was happening. As bomb after bomb fell on Baghdad, Iraqis shared their fears and experiences on their blogs. The blogs were an online diary somewhat similar to the Diary of Anne Frank. Anne Frank wrote about her life in hiding during World War Two, and the Iraqi blogs were very much reminiscent of the same adolescent thoughts of 'when will I see my friends again?' and 'why can't I go out?'

Blogs can be used to encourage a deeper understanding of diverse people. Writing a blog or reading someone else's blog gives an insight into what it is to be that person. Blogs should be encouraged as a way of cultivating intercultural exchange. A couple of words about your daily life can be therapeutic in dealing with unresolved issues. Many conflicts happen because of fear or a lack of knowledge of the unknown; blogs allow an access point to get to know people who we would call strangers today but perhaps friends tomorrow.

The Iraq War also saw the advent of the satellite telephone. Due to the extensive bombing and fighting, much of the communications infrastructure in Iraq was destroyed. Thus, television cameras, radio transmitters and the internet were inadequate. The satellite telephone allowed journalists to report from the front line.

'Give the people food and they will not starve today. But give them the tools to produce food and they will never starve.' There are many talented young people among us who feel that they are unheard and unseen by the media. This can change with the creation of 'Youth News,' a youth news service.

This would take the form of a press packer organisation where UNESCO and The Goi Peace Foundation would set up a 'Youth News' section on their websites for young people to publish articles. Also UNESCO and The Goi Peace Foundation could send young people to cover events for 'Youth News,' and offer young people the chance to produce short video and radio reports. These reports would be five minutes or less in length. 

Finally, technology can play an important part in building a better world. E-forums for instance can offer a safe and intermediary place for people to meet and discuss issues. There are many divisions between people around the world, Catholics and Protestants, Black and White, and East and West. Thus, moderated e-forums can specify topics to discuss. People can post their thoughts and engage in discussions even if they would not say hello to each other on the street.