The Challenges of Reporting on Conflict

Anne Cadwallader

“Conflict Resolution Journalism and Professional Integrity and

Ethics”

14th Cleraun Media ConferenceDublin, Saturday October 20 2012

“The Troubles” – 1969-1998 (?)

Causes still hotly-contested

Unionists say terrorist conspiracy to destroy the state

Nationalists (SDLP) say legitimate civil rights campaign for equality hi-jacked by republicans (IRA)

Republicans (SF) say state oppression (Bloody Sunday etc) of civil rights movement made violence inevitable

British governments have tended to side with unionists

Irish governments have tended to side with nationalists

Proof Just This Week SDLP Press Release 16 October

Foyle MLA, Colum Eastwood complained to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland re RTE website contention that the Civil Rights Association in the North “inadvertently triggered the Troubles”.

Eastwood: “To suggest that the thousands involved in the Civil Rights Association were somehow integral to the source of conflict here, inadvertently or not, is an insult to history”.

“The NICRA were in fact the human wall which stood in the way of a tide of violence, a human wall of peaceful protest advocating democratic change.

IMAGES OF A CONFLICT LESS THAN 100 MILES AWAY

Human Suffering“Those endless, endless, funerals …”

Thomas McDonald (16)

Richard (11) Mark (9) and Jason (7) QuinnBobby Sands (27)

Mark Quinsey (23)

Attitudes in Republic to Northern “Troubles”

Young woman on RTÉ “Frontline” programme during October 2011 presidential campaign:

“As a young Irish person, I am curious as to why you (Martin McGuinness) have come down here to this country, with all your baggage, your history, your controversy?

“And how do you feel you can represent me, as a young Irish person, who knows nothing of the Troubles and who doesn’t want to know anything about it?”

Evidence of an abject failure by Irish press and broadcasting to explain the Northern conflict

Mirrored by a parallel failure of British media to do the same

Attitudes in Britain: “The Troubles”

Indifference “Wish Northern Ireland could be

towed out into the Atlantic and sunk” It was a religious conflict (Catholics

versus Protestants) That killings were mainly “tit-for-tat” That British role limited to impartial

arbiter, peace-keeping That IRA mainly to blame

Exceptions … British media campaigned for Birmingham

Six, Guildford Four Panorama/UTV revealed Pat Finucane

collusion Yorkshire TV on Dublin/Monaghan Many fine articles, and responsible and

dedicated journalists, did their best over 35 years

But overall, I contend, day-by-day, the mainstream British and Irish media failed to get the story across in a compelling way

Cost of the Troubles Over 3,700 dead - equivalent in US:

600,000 - Britain 150,000

Over 30,000 injured (1 in 50) - equivalent in US: 5,000,000, Britain 1,000,000+

Aged under 5: 23, Aged 6-11: 24, Aged 12-17: 210, Aged 18-23: 898

37% under 24, 53% under 29 and 74% under the age of 39

Who Killed and Was Killed? 91% were men Civilians (no affiliation to the security

forces/paramilitaries) - 53%. 48% of the dead killed in North and

West Belfast, Derry and South Armagh.

Republican groups killed almost 59% of the total

Loyalist groups killed almost 28% Police/British Army killed just over

11%

Personal Background - 1981

Came to work in NI for BBC as a young, inexperienced journalist

Intended to stay six months-a year Believed British justice was beyond

reproach Believed the police could, almost

invariably, be trusted First experience of (knowingly) being

lied-to was a year later, in November 1982

11 November 1982

Gervaise McKerr, Eugene Toman, Sean Burns

RUC said their car had broken through a roadblock

Officers had opened fire in fear of their lives

Over a hundred shots fired – all three killed

My Small and Ignoble Part in their Story

First solo overnight duty on BBC Northern Ireland news-desk

Phoned by RUC press office Told car had broken through a

roadblock Wrote story up for morning radio

news bulletins Later read Irish Times report Local people said no roadblock I had reported a lie

Aftermath … Three policemen charged with

murder Acquitted by Lord Justice Gibson, who

said he found them "absolutely blameless“ (June 1984)

John Stalker (former Deputy Chief Constable, Greater Manchester) integrity, wrongfully, questioned

Stalker/Sampson report never published

Inquest into deaths never opened – 30 years on – London will not disclose Stalker/Sampson

A Hard Lesson …“A lie gets halfway around the world before truth

gets its pants on”: Winston Churchill

Rosemary Nelson Tribunal found: RUC officers had legitimised her as a target by abusing and assaulting her in public Could not rule out the possibility that “rogue” members of the security forces had been involved BUT – British government had report before

others and put story out first That tribunal had “cleared members of the security forces of collusion” in her murder

Civil Conflicts – Telling/Selling The Story

Usually more than two sides to every conflict

Each side sees media as another arena of war and “hearts and minds” are key

ALL sides prepared to lie, manipulate facts and “spin”

Journalists must be wary

How do you tell if a politician is lying?

“Hearts and Minds” 21st century conflict has moved from

battlefield/’No Man’s Land’ into villages, homes, streets

Phrase believed based on John Adams, 2nd president of the US (in a letter dated 13 February 1818): "The Revolution was in the minds and hearts of the people …”.

US President Lyndon B. Johnson (of the Vietnam War): “The ultimate victory will depend on the hearts and minds of the people who actually live out there.“

“Hearts and Minds” then became known as “WHAM” (Win Hearts and Minds): US policy to win over the Vietnamese people.

Journalism Therefore Even More Central

Journalists reporting back to where armies come from

Can influence whether a war is “popular” or not

Battle over “WMD” prior to invasion of Iraq

Journalism lost that battle? Lesson: Governments can still control

the news agenda Governments tell lies – untruths – spin –

just like political parties, companies etc

Role of JournalismTo give the audience an impartial summary of “both

sides of the story so they can make their own minds up”

Does this make journalists mere paid technicians?

To listen to both sides, analyse, decide who is good/bad or speaking the truth and convey that to the audience?

A mixture of both?

If you have 5,000 words of facts and can only use 200 how do you choose?

Does this “choosing” make the theory of “objective journalism” a myth?

“Alternative” Journalism Non-mainstream – have to search Eg: Robert Fisk/John Pilger (best known)

Nick Davies: “Flat Earth News” ( and phone hacking/Leveson)

Others: Jonathan Cook on Middle-East: “Disappearing Palestine”

Mark Curtis: “Unpeople – Britain’s Secret Human Rights Abuses” and “Web of Deceit – Britain’s Real Role in the World”

The Internet Effect

Internet challenging traditional journalism

24 rolling news – no time to analyse or write considered pieces

Citizen journalism – can be positive/immediate – prevents journalists being the only gate-keepers to news

But who moderates? Who are the alternative gate-

keepers? Not entirely negative …

Who Watches the Watchers? Media Lens: “News and commentary are ‘filtered’ by the

media’s profit-orientation, by its dependence on advertisers, parent companies, wealthy owners and official news sources”

The Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom: “To challenge the myth that press freedom is best served by current forms of ownership and control, and by 'self-regulation' on the part of the Press Complaints Commission”

Glasgow University Media Group

Spinwatch: “Monitors the role of public relations and spin … promotes greater understanding of the role of PR, propaganda and lobbying”

Journalists As “Participants” “Under Fire” and “The Year of Living

Dangerously” …

Should journalists even vote?

In NI – a long-standing TV presenter during the Troubles is now leader of the Ulster Unionists

Another TV journalist is now SDLP Westminster candidate for Fermanagh/South Tyrone

I am now a “human rights activist” – some would say I have declared a position

Change of Tack Those are the big issues of the future Here are some factors as I have

experienced them in the North Now seen from my new role as a

Case Worker with “The Pat Finucane Centre”

Now able to investigate human rights abuses

Realise now how suspicious both officialdom and ordinary people are of journalists!

Covering Violent Events Inevitably means witnessing pain and

death Intruding into the most personal moments

of victims’ lives Only justification is the public interest Most journalists ambitious – but should

retain an ethical focus Guard against allowing your humanity

being compromised In the end, you’ll still need to be able to

live with yourself …

Questions to Ask Does my story portray victims of violence with

accuracy, insight and sensitivity?

Does it inform readers about more than the individual story?

Is it representative of the wider conflict?

Does it avoid sensationalism and melodrama?

Does it portrays victims as more than just tragic or pathetic?

In the NI conflict, this meant getting MORE than writing/filming dramatic scenes of riots or the aftermath of shootings/bombings

Interviewing the Recently Bereaved

Standard practice in NI Witnesses/bereaved often too

shocked to say “no” Difficult for reporters also Justified on grounds that death was

part of a continuing civil conflict Better to cover the death than ignore

it Bereaved/witnesses often (usually)

were grateful in retrospect for speaking

Should Journalists Ever “Hide” Stories

Does the public good ever justify not reporting news?

Admit to this twice: 1. Loyalists tipping maggots into the

deep-freezes at Dunnes Stores, Portadown, Drumcree 1998

2. Cross-Community meetings involving lay people and priests/ministers Falls/Shankill early 1990’s

Protecting Sources Should journalists’ sources be legally

protected? Eibhlin Glenholmes 1984

This woman was once “Britain’s Most Wanted”. She was chased through the streets of Dublin by armed Gardai.

She was said to have bombed London. Metropolitan Police sought her extradition.

Nine extradition warrants accused her of murder and other crimes.

Should a journalist who interviewed her be protected from giving evidence?

Journalists: “The Pack Instinct”

Pressure to come up with a story Example: Holiday Inn, Gibraltar, 1988,

after the shooting of three unarmed IRA members

Speculation about a fourth gang member who had escaped

Journalists talking, one asked where the theory of the “fourth man” came from?

“Oh, it's a woman and we are saying it's Evelyn Glenholmes …we have a nice picture of her and she won't sue' "

Amongst her other soubriquets: “Blonde Bomber”, “Angel of Death”, “Terror Blonde in Jeans”

Eibhlin Glenholmes Now

Shot and wounded by loyalists in Short Strand, aged 16.“Strong advocate” within republicanism for the Peace Process.

Member of the Northern Ireland Victims’ Forum.“We didn’t go to war. War came to us.”

My Part in Her Story … Invited to come to an interview by man I

knew to be IRA Taken by car with Irish Times reporter,

Andy Pollak Interviewed her in, we believe, Tallaght Interview ran Page 1, Irish Times Lead “BBC 9 O’Clock News” Pressure to co-operate with Scotland Yard Offered any job within BBC if agreed to

testify

Patsy Kelly – Murdered July 1974

Anonymous contact Two anonymous

witnesses – evidence of a named witness to murder

Account of UDR and current MLA involvement

Witness to murder now dead

Refused PSNI demand for names

Was I correct?

The “Worthy But Dull” Story

SF documents: “Scenario For Peace” 1987 “Towards a Lasting Peace in Ireland” 1992 Only three journalists at Dundalk ard fheis

for discussions in 1992 The press missed the story of growth in

support for ending the IRA campaign More interested in covering day-to-day

killings Did this prolong the violence?

Compare to Lawyers Lawyers had to decide their

relationships with an emerging civil rights movement

Answer ethical questions on taking part in the courts under emergency/repressive laws

Respond when other lawyers became victims of paramilitary and state inspired violence

Whether to challenge long-held views on what constituted a ‘neutral’ legal system.

Lawyers and JournalistsWider Responsibilities?

Are both “neutral professionals”?

Responsibilities restricted to competence?

Or should both lawyers and journalists face, head on, broader social, political

and moral responsibilities in a society in conflict?

What Role Should Journalists Play in Civil Conflict

Adapted from Kieran McEvoy “What Did Lawyers Do During the War? Neutrality, Conflict and the Culture of Quietism”, Modern Law Review, 2011

Did journalists “do their jobs in very difficult circumstances”? Is doing a competent job enough?

Were public stances beyond their remit? What exactly are our expectations from

journalists in conflicted societies? Should we view journalists simply as apolitical

people who make necessary accommodations to sustain their own status/income?

Is it fair to burden them with more pressing responsibilities?

Human Nature … Do people want to hear distressing news

stories from far-flung places?

Especially if they feel they can do little to help?

Do they prefer travelogues (Michael Palin etc) to complex and difficult questions?

Are human beings, in short, ostriches?

CONCLUSION Can Irish journalists consider their coverage of

the North was “a job well done”?

Can the British media do the same?

Do newspapers, television and radio provide a global audience with enough information about current conflicts in, for example, Iraq and Afghanistan?

Is it human nature to avoid “distressing” news stories?

Is it possible to provide responsible, accurate, news reporting on foreign conflicts in a commercial context?