Expert speakers debated how the media tells stories of war and peacebuilding at the third Peace Talks event. Credit: Clare Richards
Expert speakers debate war and peacebuilding in journalism. A panel of expert speakers came together in London last night to discuss how the media depicts stories of war and peace, at an event organised by the School of Global Studies in partnership with one of the world's leading peacebuilding charities. The School joined forces with International Alert on Wednesday (18 September) to host the third debate in the Peace Talks series, titled 'War and peace in journalism - does the devil have the best stories?'. Professor Dan Smith, Secretary General for International Alert, chaired the public discussion, held for the first time at the Frontline Club - a media club that champions independent journalism and freedom of the press worldwide. The panel was completed by: Martin Bell OBE, a veteran war correspondent and British ambassador for UNICEF; Timothy Large, Editor-in-Chief at Thomson Reuters Foundation; and Professor Cynthia Weber, Professor of International Relations at the University of Sussex. The debate began with a discussion of why stories of war are prioritised by the media, while stories of peacebuilding and reconciliation usually fall off the news agenda. Professor Weber suggested that stories are often selected by media organisations on the assumption that peace is the norm or a non-event.
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