Conflict-sensitive reporting in Kenya’s print media: a case of Tana river clashes

Abstract

Conflict and its escalation in the present day world demands and commands our attention, as well as our commitment to understanding and addressing it. Therefore, how should the media cover conflict? The debate is widespread and still ongoing both between media professionals and conflict resolution practitioners on what role does the media play in conflict resolution? These questions and others are what this paper answered. The major objectives of the study areto investigate to what extent is the reporting conflict sensitive, and what are the factors influencing conflict sensitive reporting. journalists need to understand more about what causes conflict, and how conflict develops and end, they need to know where to look for these causes and solutions not just being distributors of facts. By providing this information, journalism makes the public far more well-informed about the conflict beneath the violence, and can assist in resolving it. The study targeted the two main daily newspapers, The Daily Nation, and The East African Standard. A purposive survey was used to select a representation of variables from the two main daily newspapers. The study concludes from the findings that through its dissemination withholding and manipulation of information media represents a powerful weapon during conflict. In situations of violent conflict or high tensions such as the Tana delta clashes, the print media should not just be a mere reflection of what is happening on the surface but rather give possible solutions on how to end the conflict. Print media can also be harnessed by peace building actors to disseminate messages and programming which promote peaceful coexistence and development, or raise awareness