Feminist Peace Network

January 21st, 2008

Women Journalists n Kenya Insist That The Truth Be Told

Female journalists in Kenya are taking steps to address one of the age old problems of war and conflict, namely the problem of how it is reported, concentrating on the political ramifications, not on the impact it has on people.

“�?We twist news for politicians… and smile at chaos as it makes us sell newspapers and attract more viewers and listeners to our broadcast media,�? said Mildred Ngesa, special projects writer with the Daily Nation, Kenya’s largest daily newspaper.”

Ngesa and other women journalists in Kenya have formed the Heal the Nation Campaign because according to Ngesa,

“True peace can only exist if “we talk about truth, justice, history… only then can we start healing the nation.�?”

Wow–this is so right on target it is truly breathtaking. The same could easily be said about any military conflict–surely about the Middle East where the realities of what is happening to the Palestinian people are almost completely invisibilized by the media and in Iraq where the babblings of politicians and generals are based on delusions that having nothing to do with the reality of how the situation was created or the horrors faced every day by the Iraqi people. In Mexico we talk about free trade but not the murders of hundreds of women. The list goes on. And on and on.

“The women stressed that unless the origin of the conflict was addressed, the calm in the country during the past week would be just “artificial peace waiting to be triggered off by a small spark.�? “We must confront the real issues,�? explained Jane Thuo, of the Association of Media Women in Kenya.

The post-election violence has seen newsrooms polarised and reporters using inflammatory language, which may be making the situation worse.”

Bitange Ndemo, permanent secretary of the ministry of information and communication points out that all too often, crucial parts of the news are left out as well,

“Women were sexually and physically assaulted during the last few weeks of violence,�? Ndemo stressed. “After destroying property, some men went home demanding food but when told there was none, they turned their anger on their wives, sisters or mothers and beat them up. Such stories did not find space in the media.�?

What an inspiration for women journalists throughout the world. The time to insist that the truth, especially about the lives of women and children, be known! Please also see this report about another effort by Kenyan women to restore peace.