Exploring Conflict-Sensitive Journalism Experiences: A Hierarchy of Influences Approach

Abstract

This study explores the experiences of journalists from Davao City, Philippines in practicing Conflict-Sensitive Journalism (CSJ), which emphasizes the elements of conventional reporting and introduces conflict analysis to equip journalists of their capacity to contribute to conflict resolution without sacrificing the standards of journalistic professionalism. Guided by Shoemaker and Reese's (1996) hierarchy of influences model, I utilized five levels of analysis to understand the journalists' narratives. I described their transition from their academic training to their professional career and their specific practices related to effective conflict reporting and peacebuilding. In-depth interviews elicited three prevalent themes anchored on their experiences: disconnection, competition, and unfamiliarity. There is a disconnect between academic training and professional practice, which not only reinforces the theory-practice gap but also illustrates the glaring reality between the often idealistic expectations developed in journalism education and the issues journalists experience on the ground. There is also the prevalence of intrinsic and extrinsic competing ideals in individual embodied practices versus the norms imposed within media organizations that blur the lines of conflict-sensitive reporting. CSJ is not practiced directly and explicitly but rather imbued within the personal inclinations of the journalists to what constitutes as right for them. Furthermore, in the era of rapid technological advancement and media ubiquity, there is a need to enact sustained efforts to demystify, streamline, and future-proof CSJ, especially since journalists face precarious conditions in their line of work.