According to the results of the research entitled, “The role of social and psychological processes in the journalistic approach of war and peace journalism”, peace journalism (peace journalism) can contribute to reconciliation between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, reducing tensions, while building a lasting peace.
This research aims to investigate the social and psychological processes of Greek Cypriot and Turkish journalists and how these processes are related to their professional attitudes in peace journalism or war journalism in the divided and conflicting context of Cyprus. .
As defined in the research, socio-psychological processes are the thoughts, feelings or beliefs that are formed by the interactions with the “others”, in this case between E/k and T/k.
It is noted that the research of the professor at the University of the Eastern Mediterranean based in occupied Famagusta, Dr. Houri Yodoutzou, was held with the participation of 205 Cypriot journalists and media workers (103 Greek Cypriots and 102 Turkish Cypriots) and took place during the period 11/2020-01/2021.
Investigative journalism
Journalists through appropriate methods and practices can take a constructive stance both at the leadership level and “At the community level.
” Journalism is a very important profession as it is the main source of information for the public about what is happening around us, “Dr. Yodoutzou told” P “.
< p>He stressed that especially in Cyprus, where we have a frozen conflict, it means that the principles of peace journalism are very important for both sides, as the way the issues are presented to the public can reduce the existing tension and help maximize foundation of peace, cultivating reconciliation, but also in the settlement of the Cyprus problem. “Journalism influences people in their socialization, in the collaborations they build, but also in their own behavior,” he added.
It does not mean that a media worker who is in favor of resolving the Cyprus issue or even peace necessarily belongs to peace journalism. “An employee of the media, in order to be considered to belong to peace journalism, must, for example, use specific phraseology, give the opportunity to be heard by all sides, but also have the will to understand the other side,” he explained. >
He added that in order to further build peace journalism in Cyprus, more investigative journalism is needed. “We need to look better at what comes to light, raising the quality of journalism,” he said.
She noted that transferring the news to the other side, using her mother tongue will help us understand each other. “Furthermore, in this day and age, both sides have an increased number of immigrants and therefore, the creation of a multilingual journalism could contribute to their integration into our society, but also to mutual understanding,” he said.
War raises tensions
At the same time, wartime media workers use intense emotional writing, raising tensions between the two sides. “These people often use the & # 8220; winner-loser & # 8221; theory.” That is, one must be victorious over the other “, he explained.
According to Dr. Yonduzu, in all conflicts no one ever comes out alone victorious or only defeated. “For example, many times, both sides were equally on the losing side,” he said.
He added that mainstream media journalism could be used as a tool to create create negative news frameworks. He stressed that the news is usually covered by media outlets that use war journalism practices from both sides.
He noted that war journalism during the various talks held on the Cyprus issue had a huge negative impact, affecting the processes themselves.
More common between the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots > journalists than their differences
According to the results of Dr. Yodoutzou's research, there were more commonalities between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot journalists than their differences. Among other things, the levels of forgiveness, socialization and positive feelings for the other side were almost the same, but their self-identification as “Cypriots” received almost the same degree. At the same time, however, they reported that there is not the desired level of communication between their colleagues on the other side, but again having identical grades.
Commenting on the levels of communication between Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot journalists, Dr. Yodoutzou said that they lack contact and realize it themselves. “If they come to a desired level of contact, then journalists will start to embrace the principles of peace journalism more,” he said.
common identity increases the perceptions of “we” versus “I” of the two communities. It also reduces the practices of war journalism that create negativity within the two communities.
In addition, the attitudes of the respondents classified in the war journalism were negatively correlated with the common identity, the contact with the other community, the contact with journalists from the other side, the quality of the contact, but also with the stress caused by the other side. .
Indicatively, some of the results of the Turkish Cypriot participants of the research (scale index: from 1 to 5) are: For the category peace journalism 4.74, for the war journalism 3.44, for the common identity between Greek Cypriots and T/C 3.07, for communication with the other community 2.85, for communication with Greek Cypriot journalists 2.09, for the stress caused by contact with the other community 1.96.
Regarding the results of the Greek Cypriot participants in the same categories as above, they are: For the category peace journalism 4.57, for the war journalism 3.60, for the common identity 3.85, for the communication with the other community 2.75, for communication with Greek journalists 2.07, for the stress caused by contact with the other community 1.81.
Concluding, Dr. Yodoutzou The settlement of the Cyprus problem and the establishment of peace is absolutely necessary for both communities, both for us and for the next news. He stressed that in addition to the Cyprus issue, journalism plays a key role in gender equality and LGBTQI people, in relations between parents and children and in general in the protection of human rights.
