Global Perspectives and Conflict

(4 Credits)

“Tell the truth and shame the devil’. This is what Walter Lippman called the higher law of journalism. But the simplicity of this injunction unravels quickly in conflict situations. Whose truth? And what if there are multiple devils - or none? This course explores the various roles played by local and international media in covering conflict situations. We will analyze how the media in Europe, Africa, Asia, and North America have become both tools for propaganda and encouraging violence, and also means for fostering dialogue, solidarity, and reconciliation among communities.