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Press Release“All wars begin with a word”In Elections Run-up, Lebanese Journalists Discuss Media’s Role in Inciting Hate
(May 13, 2009) Lebanese journalists discussed the role of the media in hate incitement at a roundtable on media and peace in Beirut last week. The roundtable took place during a tense period as Lebanon approaches crucial parliamentary elections to be held June 7. Held by the Lebanese Media Civic Initiative (LMCI) under a grant from Internews Network and hosted by the Minister of Information, Tarek Mitri, the roundtable focused on how media can help to maintain civil peace and reduce the incitement of hatred. The print and broadcast journalists who attended gave their input on a recent report by LMCI that monitored attempts at incitement and the spread of hatred in online media. The report was commissioned by Internews in response to the political violence that erupted in Lebanon in 2008. "All wars begin with a word," said Information Minister Tarek Mitri, calling on journalists to exercise responsibility and fairness in their work. “The media should shoulder its responsibility during election time,” said LCMI political science researcher Karim El-Mufti. He stressed that LCMI’s initiative is not intended to oppress freedom of opinion, but to encourage media outlets to show responsibility and commitment to civil peace. Finally, the Minister and some participants expressed their support for an initiative "going into the details of problems" and not only talking in general terms. Minister Mitri said, "The report helps all of us acquire an objective perspective on how electronic media operates in Lebanon and what should be promoted and what should be avoided.” Internews’ project, “Communicating to Humanity: Media and Civil Society in Support of Lebanon’s Reconciliation,” is supported by a grant from the US Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. |
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