Covering Sexual and Gender Minorities & Religion in Sub-Saharan Africa
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COVERING SEXUAL AND GENDER MINORITIES & RELIGION A REPORTING GUIDE FOR JOURNALISTS COVERING SEXUAL AND GENDER MINORITIES & RELIGION IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA A Reporting Guide for Journalists Written and Edited by Brian Pellot Published by Religion News Foundation and Heinrich Böll Stiftung Southern Africa with additional support from the Arcus Foundation 2017 Writer and Editor: Religion News Foundation Brian Pellot, Director of Global Strategy at Columbia, Mo, U.S.A. Religion News Foundation Heinrich Böll Stiftung Southern Africa Cape Town, South Africa Contributing Editor: This work is published under a Paula Assubuji, Human Rights Creative Commons Attribution-Share Programme Manager at Heinrich Böll Alike 3.0 License Stiftung Southern Africa Contributor: Publication was made possible with Debra L. Mason, Professor at the funding from the Heinrich Böll Foundation University of Missouri School of Journalism and the Arcus Foundation. The contents of the publication are the sole responsi- bility of its authors and do not necessarily Design: represent the views of the Foundations. Tamzyn La Gorc’e To view or download a digital version of this guide, please visit: www.ReligionLink.com www.za.boell.org (cc) 2017 Contents Acknowledgements.................................................................................. 01 Introduction............................................................................................. 03 Reporting Resolution................................................................................ 07 Ethical Human Rights Reporting Principles.................................................. 11 Key SOGIE Terminology............................................................................ 19 Sorting SOGIE Myths from Facts............................................................... 29 Religion Reporting Tips............................................................................ 35 Source Safety and Sensitivity..................................................................... 39 Tips for Reporting on Taboo Topics............................................................. 45 How to Report on SOGIE Issues................................................................ 49 How NOT to Report on SOGIE Issues ........................................................ 53 Faith Leaders’ Perspectives........................................................................ 59 Trainee Stories.......................................................................................... 65 Additional Resources and Readings............................................................ 113 Sub-Saharan Source Guide....................................................................... 117 Trainer and Speaker Biographies................................................................ 133 Acknowledgements This publication stems from Religion News Foundation’s November 2016 training in Cape Town, South Africa. The “Covering Sexual and Gender Minorities & Religion in Sub-Saharan Africa” workshop and this reporting guide would not have been possible without the support, participation, contribution and insight of numerous individuals and organizations in South Africa and around the world. Religion News Foundation wishes to thank the Arcus Foundation and the Heinrich Böll Foundation for their financial support. We also thank the office team of the Heinrich Böll Foundation Southern Africa for use of their boardroom as training space and for on-site logistical assistance. Thanks goes to the University of Missouri School of Journalism’s Center on Religion & the Professions and to Gay and Lesbian Memory in Action (GALA) at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg for their contributions to the training curriculum, along with Religion News Ser- vice for hosting the trainees’ final stories. We are also grateful to GLAAD, the Ethical Journalism Network, Church World Service, and the Gay and Lesbian Coalition of Kenya (GALCK) for contributing excerpts of their work to this guide. Regional trainers Brian Pellot, Debra Mason, and Selly Thiam brought the workshop to fruition, and guest speakers Layla Al-Zubaidi, Muhsin Hen- dricks, Zachary Akani Shimange, Liberty Matthyse Glenton, Ecclesia de Lange, Bulelwa Panda, Teboho Klaas, Azila Reisenberger, Pharie Sefali, and Zethu Matebini added valuable insight. We thank individuals at St. George’s Cathedral, Gardens Shul, and Auwal Masjid for welcoming us into their houses of worship. Finally, we thank the 24 journalists who traveled from across Sub-Saha- ran Africa to join us in Cape Town for this intensive workshop. Their will- ingness to learn and share was inspiring, and we hope their final stories, some of which appear in this reporting guide, encourage fellow journal- ists to cover sexual and gender minorities & religion with honesty, fair- ness, accuracy, transparency, sensitivity and thoroughness. 01 INTRODUCTION 02 A Reporting Guide for Journalists Introduction In Sub-Saharan Africa, as in much of the and debated issues around news value world, reporting on sexual orientation, gen- and public interest. We started the week der identity and gender expression (SOGIE) as strangers and ended it as friends, com- can be tricky. Cultural taboos, entrenched mitted to helping one another improve stereotypes, social hostilities, legal prohibi- coverage of sexual and gender minorities tions and editorial censorship often distort & religion in Sub-Saharan Africa. coverage of these sensitive topics. Add reli- gion to the mix and producing responsible This guide summarizes the key topics dis- journalism on sexual and gender minorities cussed at the Cape Town workshop and can seem impossible. provides readers a trove of resources and sources to enhance their own coverage of In November 2016, Religion News these issues. It also includes final versions Foundation set out to show that ethical and of trainees’ stories, which originated sensitive coverage of marginalized individ- during the workshop and evolved in the uals and communities is not only possible weeks that followed under Religion News but necessary. To this end, we assembled Foundation’s editorial guidance and 24 professional journalists and editors rep- support. To read more of the trainees’ resenting 15 countries across Sub-Saharan stories, visit: http://religionnews.com/ Africa for a four-day reporting workshop in tag/lgbtqi-religion-africa/. Cape Town, South Africa. During the week, we discussed our motivations and professional obligations as journalists; reviewed key concepts and terms around SOGIE issues and religion; shared regional media freedom chal- lenges and opportunities from our own communities; analyzed structural roots of inequality; brainstormed story ideas, angles and sources; strategized how best Trainees hear from Imam Muhsin Hendricks. to protect source safety and sensitivity; Photo by Brian Pellot. A Reporting Guide for Journalists 03 02 REPORTING RESOLUTION 04 A Reporting Guide for Journalists Reporting Resolution In Sub-Saharan Africa, sexual and gender put biases aside and to embrace the core minorities remain disadvantaged, stigma- teachings of our profession. tized and excluded from many aspects of economic, political and social life. Alarm- The following reporting resolution, ing levels of discrimination, prejudice and drafted as a group exercise at the end of violence make these often marginalized the Cape Town training, reflects some of and misunderstood individuals and com- the best practices journalists identified to munities particularly vulnerable to human improve coverage of sexual and gender rights violations. minorities & religion. It serves as a useful starting point and summary of what’s to As journalists, we have the power to come in this reporting guide. replace dehumanizing stereotypes with nuanced and accurate portrayals of perse- cuted minorities. Doing so requires us to Trainees visit Auwal Masjid in Bo-Kaap, Cape Town. Photo by Brian Pellot. A Reporting Guide for Journalists 05 06. Seek out knowledgeable sources Religion News capable of providing accurate Foundation Resolution information and analysis. Covering Sexual and Gender Minorities & Religion 07. Always consider the motivations in Sub-Saharan Africa and potential biases of our sources. November 6 - 10, 2016 Cape Town, South Africa 08. Be especially diligent in verifying all details when covering sensi- As journalists from across Sub-Saharan tive news and ask for clarification Africa, we adhere to our profession’s when needed. principles of honesty, fairness, accuracy, transparency, sensitivity and thorough- 09. Avoid including dangerous hate ness. When reporting and editing on speech in our stories. sexual and gender minorities & religion, we resolve to: 10. Avoid sensationalizing or capital- izing on marginalized identities. 01. Independently develop our knowl- edge of different belief systems 11. Avoid using imagery that depicts and SOGIE (Sexual Orientation, religious or sexual and gender Gender Identity and Expression) minorities in stereotypical or issues. dehumanizing ways. 02. Avoid mentioning faith affiliation 12. Take all measures possible to pro- or SOGIE status when such infor- vide anonymity when necessary to mation is not directly relevant to protect the safety and security of a story. individuals and communities. 03. Carefully consider word choice 13. Practice the qualities of responsi- and framing around sexual and ble, ethical journalism by mini- gender minorities and followers mizing harm and avoiding