| Anyone with access to
mass media from outside his or her own country can easily notice differences
in the reporting about world affairs which are not only differences of
opinion, but seem to be part of a wider framework of perspectives. In international
radio, the BBC has acquired fame for her standards of reporting, and audience
research shows that BBC London and the Voice
of America are the international voices most listened to. Nonetheless,
in the Cold War era many knew that they ought to also listen to the opposing
voice. Indeed, the Voice of Russia still at
times differs from the Western reporting as has always been the case with
China
Radio International Beijing. But one should even think of voices
like All India Radio and Channel
Africa Johannesburg and will even more notice that the world really
looks different from different angles. |
 The
Power of the Media
Radio
Research
Hate
vs. Peace Radio
PESC
Promoting the Awareness of Peace Radio in the Context of National and International
Radio
Current
articles on the Peace Radio Web Site
Freedom
of Information as a Factor of Peace
Subversive
Broadcasting still very much ahead
Conclusion |
The
Power of the Media
In countries where much
of the population is illiterate and poor the power of radio is particularly
obvious. Radio broadcasting is the main medium for mass information and
education but can also be used for misinformation and propaganda. In civil
war and crisis situations, survival will depend as much on getting reliable
information as it does on getting food, water and medicine. The need for
information makes civilians vulnerable for misinformation. But: Communication
facilities are almost always the first targets of assault. In any coup
control of the national radio centre is of prime importance to proclaim
victory, and regional rebels seize regional stations to proclaim that they
are a force to be reckoned with. Especially in countries like Liberia,
Somalia and Congo (Kinshasa) where state order has collapsed faction leaders
and warlords have used their own radio stations for more than information
or propaganda. |
Radio
Research
Sometimes one might wonder
why people enjoying a life without a daily struggle for survival seem to
be interested in the reporting about conflicts and catastrophes rather
than on societal improvement and scientific and cultural achievements.
Even peace researchers tend to focus more on the factors of conflict and
conflict resolution rather than on the factors that keep peaceful relations
running.
Similarly, hate radio received
more attention in the media than peace radio efforts. One might remember
that content analysis as a scientific method started with a special interest
in the techniques of radio propaganda exhibited both in the US and in Europe
since the 1930s. Some of the early propaganda also had religious motivations,
and still today some religious broadcasts leave the terrain of competing
convictions and propagate hatred. |
Hate
vs. Peace Radio
Obviously, media can contribute
to the rule of law, provide a means of participating in the society as
well as influence manners and mentalities. Radio broadcasting seems to
be the medium best suited to conflict or post-conflict situations, because
it combines relatively low costs, high flexibility and high impact among
people hungry for information, but lacking access to leaflets or newspapers.
In hate radio those responsible
for the contents use media power not only to present one-sided views or
to deceive the public, but to deny others the right of living or at least
living where “I” live. The “reasons” cited may be ethnic origin, religion,
political conviction, sexual orientation or whatever. On the other hand,
in several regions hate radio faced the opposition of radio stations for
peace, democracy and human rights. Their efforts are routinely documented
on the Peace Radio Web site of PESC. With many sites on international and
national radio already on the internet and even the existence of sites
concentrating on the documentation of clandestine and hate radio stations,
the Peace Education Standing Commission (WCRP) has decided to establish
a web site on the positive efforts of NGO's promoting peace, democracy
and human rights through radio services.
The
term "open society" was first proposed by French philosopher Henri Bergson
(1859-1941) and developed further by the Austrian philosopher Karl Popper
(1902-1994) in his 1945 book Open Society and Its Enemies. His concept
of an open society is based on the recognition that people act on imperfect
knowledge and that no one is in possession of the ultimate truth. In practice,
an open society is characterized by the rule of law; respect for human
rights, minorities and minority opinions; the division of power; and a
market economy. Similarly, German peace researcher Dieter Senghaas, named
six
interdependent factors for maintaining peace:
force monopoly, rule of law, interdependence / self-control of individuals,
opportunities for democratic participation, social justice and a culture
of conflict resolution. Obviously, media can contribute to the rule of
law, provide a means of participating in the society as well as influence
manners and mentalities. Radio broadcasting seems to be the medium best
suited to conflict or post-conflict situations, because it combines relatively
low costs, high flexibility and high impact among people hungry for information,
but lacking access to leaflets or newspapers. |
PESC
Promoting the Awareness of Peace Radio in the Context of National and International
Radio
To be mentioned on the Peace
Radio Web site a NGO station or programme had to meet the following criteria:
- adherence to journalistic
principles in its reporting
- humanitarian programming
- financial support from
renowned international sources
With
many sites on international and national radio already on the internet
and even the existence of sites concentrating on the documentation
of clandestine and hate radio stations, the Peace Education Standing Commission
(WCRP) has decided to establish a website on the positive efforts of NGOs
promoting peace, democracy and human rights through radio services.
To
be mentioned on the Peace Radio Website a NGO station or programme had
to meet the following criteria:
-
adherence
to journalistic principles in its reporting
-
humanitarian
programming
-
financial
support from reknowned international sources
This definition
excludes partisan and clandestine broadcasting as well as much of the programming
sponsored by single religious groups although some radio efforts like Vatican
Radio (1931-), the Lutheran
Radio Voice of the Gospel (1963-1977),
Radio
Veritas Asia Manila (1967-) and the
Methodist Radio Africa International
(2001-) did and do receive acclaim for their humanitarian work.
The
definition also excludes some government sponsored broadcasting which did
or might have effects for international peace, democracy and human right.
The stations at issue are Radio Free Europe
/ Radio Liberty, Radio
Free Asia and similar services of the USA.
Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty which just celebrated 50 years of broadcasting
started as an anti-communist propaganda machine of the CIA, but did change
quite dramatically and was even nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize after
the fall of communist rule.
The
exclusion of stations is not to be seen as disapproval of their work, but
will be more due to the different emphasis of the Website. Nonetheless
some of the more listened to international stations are mentioned to give
a complete picture about the peace radio efforts in a given country.
|
Current
Articles on the Peace Radio Web Site
are now featured at the
Peace Radio Web site at www.evrel.ewf.uni-erlangen.de/pesc/PESC-peaceradio.html.
Information is regularly
checked and updated drawing on individual research and news provided by
international readers and listeners.
Some of the organisations
mentioned in the survey decided to use their own transmitters, others hire
airtime on existing broadcasting facilities. With the end of the Cold War,
many of the facilities formerly used for official international broadcasting
are now available for rent by almost anyone with sufficient funds and a
message for the world. Various agencies such as Deutsche Telekom, Sentech
(South Africa), Merlin (UK) and MCCBN (Russia, CIS) are offering airtime
to interested parties. Operating the privatised network of BBC broadcasting
facilities both in the UK and overseas Merlin delivers over 1000 hours
of short wave and medium wave broadcasts every day for international and
religious broadcasters world wide.
|
Freedom
of Information as a Factor of Peace
The right to information
is guaranteed in international law, including also under the guarantee
of freedom of expression in Article 19 of the International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights. Many countries around the world are now giving
legal effect to this right, both by including access to information in
their constitutions and by adopting laws providing concrete processes for
its exercise. A Model Freedom of Information Law, based on best international
practice, is online at www.article19.org/docimages/1112.htm. Nonetheless,
nearly a third of the world's population lives in countries where there
is no press freedom. (Reporters without Borders Press Release 2 January
2002)
The International Federation
of Journalists, the world's largest journalist's group with 500,000 members
in 106 countries, report on journalists and media workers killed during
2001 records 100 confirmed killings and deaths under investigation. This
is the highest toll in six years. Many victims died in war zones, others
were targeted by assassins, others were in the wrong place at the wrong
time. The IFJ says that media groups like CNN, the BBC, and Reuters and
Associated Press have shown concern by defining a code of practice to improve
safety for journalists, but more must be done. |
Subversive
Broadcasting still very much ahead
Despite peace radio efforts
propaganda broadcasts and clandestine broadcasting are still very much
ahead of the efforts to promote national and international peace. Although
not all propaganda and clandestine broadcasting could be counted as hate
radio, some stations are said to fall into this category. So it does make
sense to note that after almost a decade of decreasing activity 2001 was
the second year of increased subversive broadcasting activity in a row.
During the year 2001 the activity of political clandestine stations broadcasting
internationally has increased by 4.7 % to 1432 weekly broadcasting hours
(WBH). According to German Clandestine Specialist Mathias Kropf the three
most active among the 21 target areas are Iraq with 367 WBHs (+8), Korea
DPR with 217 WBHs and Cuba with 162 WBHs (both unchanged). Clandestine
activity to Asian target areas has increased by 9.1 % to 1045 WBHs, while
activity on the African continent dropped by 7 % to 211 WBHs. The activity
to target areas on the American continent has remained unchanged at 176
WBHs. |
Conclusion
Even with the advent of
the internet one might still give international radio a try to listen to
the different voices of the world. The most prominent recent examples are
the reporting on the 11 September terror attacks of Al Qaida as well as
the war on terrorism. Although it is always difficult to judge events from
afar, one will surely get a personal first hand impression of different
views which might contribute a more valid personal own view. |
Dr Hansjoerg Biener has extensively written
on international media, including his dissertation. Recent publications
include
2001 Radio Broadcasting
and Central Asia, in: Central Asia Monitor (Institute for Democratic
Development, Vermont) 10,2001,1, S. 17-23.
2002 Broadcasting
to Tibet, in: Central Asian Survey 21,2002,4, S. 417-422. (0263-4937)
2003 The Arrival
of Radio Farda. International Broadcasting to Iran at a Crossroads,
in: *MERIA (Middle East Review of International Affairs) Journal 7,2003,1
(März 2003), S. 13-22, http://meria.idc.ac.il/journal/2003/issue1/biener.pdf. |
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