Exploring Peace Journalism Practices for Conflict Prevention in Rwanda the Case Study of Pax Press Initiative
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COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES THE CENTRE FOR CONFLICT MANAGEMENT Exploring peace journalism practices for conflict prevention in Rwanda The case study of Pax Press initiative A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the degree of Master of Arts in Peace Studies and Conflict Transformation Presented by Gratien HAKORIMANA (Reg. No. 219014948) Supervised by Dr Aggée MUGABE SHYAKA Kigali, December 2020 DECLARATION I, Gratien HAKORIMANA, declare that this thesis on “Exploring Peace Journalism practices for conflict prevention in Rwanda: The case study of Pax Press initiative” is my own work and has not been presented in any other university for academic award. Signature: ………………………. Date: …./.…/2021 i CENTER FOR CONFLICT MANAGEMENT AUTHORISATION TO SUBMIT THE CORRECTED DISSERTATION I, undersigned, Professor François MASABO, member of the panel of examiners of the dissertation done by Gratien HAKORIMANA, entitled: EXPLORING PEACE JOURNALISM PRACTICES FOR CONFLICT PREVENTION IN RWANDA: THE CASE STUDY OF PAX PRESS INITIATIVE Hereby testify that, s/he successfully entered the suggested corrections by the panel of examiners and stands with authorization to submit required copies to the administration of CCM for administrative purpose. Done at Kigali Date:…../….…./2021 Signature of the examiner: ............................. For Administration of the CCM MA Program: Name, Signature Email: [email protected] P.O Box 4285 Kigali, Rwanda www.ur.ac.rw ii DEDICATION To my parents Mukagakwisi Donathile and Late Karekezi Sylvand To my beloved wife Cecile Mukandutiye To my sons and the entire family I dedicate this work iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I’d like to extend my gratitude to all people who contributed to the completion of this academic step. I am especially indebted to the whole staff of the Centre for Conflict Management and the College of Arts and Social Sciences, for their assistance during our academic activities, though it seemed to be their usual duties. My unprecedented thanks go to the entire team of our lecturers in MA class who showed a high level of devotion to help us embark on this academic journey. My most acknowledgements are also addressed to my workmates who stood in my place when I was on academic duties; to the Pax Press management, the members and partners, for their fully commitment to sacrifice their time in order to contribute to this work. I then acknowledge the excellent supervision of Dr Aggée Mugabe Shyaka. His outstanding guidance has been for me the source of strength to carry on such project, from even the initial stage. I’d also like to express my appreciation to those who morally contributed to the success of this work, namely my wife and children who accepted to stay alone in times I was supposed to be at home. Lastly, my heartfelt gratitude goes to each and everyone who contributed to my success in this MA studies journey. Please find here my appreciation and acknowledgement. May the Almighty God bless you abundantly! Gratien HAKORIMANA iv ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS AUO: African Unity Organization BBC: British Broadcasting Corporation CDR: Coalition pour la Défense de la République CNN: Cable News Network DRC: Democratic Republic of Congo FGD: Focus Group Discussion GMO: Gender Monitoring Office GBV: Gender Based Violence ICTR: International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda MAJ: Maison d’Accès à la Justice MDR-Parmehutu: Mouvement Démocratique Républicain-Parti du mouvement de l'émancipation hutu MRND: Mouvement Révolutionnaire National pour le Développement NGO: Non-Governmental Organization ORINFOR: Office Rwandais d’Information RBA: Rwanda Broadcasting Agency RMC: Rwanda Media Commission RGB: Rwanda Governance Board RFI: Radio France Internationale RPF: Rwanda Patriotic Front RTLM: Radio-Télévision Libre des Mille Collines TV: Television UNAMIR: United Nations Mission to Rwanda UNESCO: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization USA: United States of America VOA: Voice Of America v ABSTRACT This research focuses on media practices related to Peace Journalism in preventing and transforming conflict in post-genocide Rwanda. It has as a case study the Pax Press, a local organization that provides practical and professional skills in regards to Peace Journalism promotion. Its two specific objectives are to assess how the media professionals in Rwanda comply with peace journalism practices and to identify the challenges that hinder the media sector to improve in order to contribute to conflict prevention and transformation. The researcher uses the qualitative approach to conduct this study, notably collecting data using interview guides and interpreting the data that are categorized by themes. The research sample consists of 15 journalists from all types of media outlets and who have the work experience at national and international levels. The findings reveal that by complying with peace journalism practices, the journalists who are members or partners of Pax Press contribute to conflict prevention and transformation through community debates, news reporting and talk shows. At the same time they work more professionally than before. They have their own guiding principles they abide to in dealing with conflict situations in rural areas where they are encouraged to cover stories from. The research has also identified three types of challenges that affect the profession of journalism in Rwanda and constitute a danger to the future of Peace Journalism. They are related to financial resources, to the regulation of the media sector where there is a lack of clear media law that protects the profession from being open to non trained people, and violation of the media code of ethics, expressed through behaviors that lead them into what has been labeled in this research as confrontational and suicidal journalisms. However there are some other media journalists who practice what peace journalism scholars call accidental peace journalism and this is actually dictated by the editorial line of their media houses, or the general political line of the country which promotes unity and reconciliation among Rwandans. Keywords: peace journalism, conflict prevention, conflict transformation, Pax Press vi Table of Contents DECLARATION ............................................................................................................................. i DEDICATION ................................................................................................................................ ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ............................................................................................................. iv ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS ....................................................................................... v ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................... vi CHAPTER I: GENERAL INTRODUCTION ........................................................................... 1 1.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background to the research ....................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Statement of the research problem ............................................................................................ 6 1.3. Research questions ................................................................................................................... 7 1.4 Purpose of the research ............................................................................................................. 8 1.5 Objectives of the research ......................................................................................................... 9 1.5.1 General Objective .................................................................................................................. 9 1.5.2 Specific objectives ................................................................................................................. 9 1.6 Significance of the research ...................................................................................................... 9 1.7 Scope of the study ................................................................................................................... 10 1.8 Research organization ............................................................................................................. 11 CHAPTER II: LITERATURE REVIEW, CONCEPTUAL AND THEORETICAL FRAMEWORKS......................................................................................................................... 12 2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 12 2.2 Clarification of key concepts .................................................................................................. 12 2.2.1. Peace Journalism ................................................................................................................. 12 2.2.2. Conflict prevention ............................................................................................................. 13 2.2.3 Conflict transformation ........................................................................................................ 14 2.3 Literature review ....................................................................................................................