The 1994 genocide in Rwanda provides a telling case study of two quite separate roles for media in a conflict situation. The genocide was among the most appalling catastrophes of the 20th century, and media played a significant part both internally and internationally.
This course, originally developed by Fahamu for the University for Peace, will be taught by Gerald Caplan, a Canadian-based public policy analyst and international coordinator of the Remembering Rwanda project. He is also a public affairs commentator and author of Rwanda: The Preventable Genocide, the report of the International Panel of Eminent Personalities to Investigate the 1994 Rwandan Genocide, appointed by the Organisation of African Unity (OAU). He is presently co-editing a book on the Rwandan genocide ten years later.
This two-week course will look at the definitions of genocide and how they apply to events such as those in Darfur, Rwanda and elsewhere. Participants will have opportunities to explore the reasons why international responses to genocide are sometime inconsistent. Participants will have the opportunity to analyse media from the genocide period in Rwanda and compare these with current media in the region. Video and audio materials on the genocide will also be available.
Course content
Prior to the genocide, radio stations and newspapers were carefully used by the conspirators to dehumanise the potential victims, Rwanda’s Tutsi minority. During the genocide, radio was used by the Hutu extremist conspirators to mobilise the Hutu majority, to coordinate the killings and to ensure that the plans for extermination were faithfully executed.
While a series of terrible massacres of Tutsi were carried out and as the signs of ever-increasing violence grew, Rwanda was totally ignored by the international media. When the genocide came, the erratic media coverage largely conveyed the false notion of two ‘tribes’ of African ‘savages’ mindlessly slaughtering each other as they had done from time immemorial. As a result, there was little public pressure in the West for governments to intervene.
This course examines these two facets of the media role in the genocide in detail. It explores how the concept of free speech and free press in a local situation can be perverted for foul ends. It considers how this dilemma could be resolved. It also explores the problem of inadequate or even distorted international coverage of crises and confl icts in areas poorly understood by Western journalists. Finally, it looks at whether this unfortunate situation can be improved in the future.
The units covered include:
- An introduction to genocide
- Media coverage of conflict
- The media in Africa
- Rwanda before the genocide
- Road to genocide: rise of Hutu Power
- One hundred days of genocide
- Role of RTLM in the genocide
- International response
- Coverage by the international media
- The media in Rwanda and Africa
- Never again? Dealing with new conflicts.
By the end of the course
Participants will:
- Gain expertise in the Rwandan genocide – one of the major events in 20th century history
- Develop a greater sense of both the power of the media and the limits of a free press
- Understand that the line between freedom and licence is very thin, that freedom without responsibility is dangerous, and that a free media in a culture that does not respect the rule of law and diversity of opinion can be a formula for disaster
- Understand that the media are an instrument that can be used for both positive and destructive ends, and be able to cite examples of both
- Understand the way the Western media covers African affairs and the consequence of this coverage for both public policy in the West and public attitudes in the West towards Africa.
Course benefits
Every participant will be provided with course materials.
On successful completion of the course, participants receive a certificate from Fahamu.
Audience
The course has been developed for journalists and other professionals in the media, students of journalism, NGO staff and policy-makers, and is suitable for all those seeking to prevent the occurrence of genocide.
Course length
2 weeks (currently only available as a residential course)
Tuition fee
Contact:
How to apply
I nformation on how to apply for a Fahamu course .
Buy CDROM
You may also purchase CDROMs of our courses from www.fahamubooks.org .