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Articles

Vol. 3 No. 2 (2016): December 2016

Ethics of Conflict-Sensitive Journalism & Boko Haram

Submitted
January 18, 2017
Published
2022-02-22

Abstract

This paper discusses some ethical concepts and issues as they relate to conflict-sensitive journalism. These concepts are legitimization, objectivity and fairness, among others. The salient issues are in respect of the search for a globally acceptable ethical system. They include the
varieties of journalism practice that exist, the future of the reporter, the dynamic nature of his or her job and the fact that reporters constitute only one group out of many stakeholders whose interests are crucial to the survival of this brand of journalism and the media industry as a whole. The
non-recognition of these stakeholders is identified as a major impediment in the way of the search for the appropriate ethical universals. Using Boko Haram insurgency as the archetype conflict, the paper identifies these stakeholders and their interests and asserts that the harmonization of these
interests with those of the journalist is necessary for the creation of a suitable ethical system that can significantly guide the conflict-sensitive reporter.

Keywords: Conflict, conflict-sensitive journalism, ethics, insurgents, Boko Haram terrorism, media, media stakeholders, ethical concepts.