[afro-nets] Course: The Role of Media in the Genocide in Rwanda

[Patrick Burnett <patrick@fahamu.org.za>]

Distance Learning course on the role of media in the genocide in
Rwanda
----------------------------------------------------------------

Applications are invited from persons living and working in
Rwanda to participate in a distance learning course on "The role
of the media in the genocide in Rwanda".

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. Prior to the genocide, radio stations and news-
papers 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 no-
tion of two 'tribes' of African 'savages' mindlessly slaughter-
ing each other as they had done from time immemorial. As a re-
sult, there was little public pressure in the West for govern-
ments to intervene.

In this distance learning course you will study these two facets
of the media role in the genocide in detail. You will see how
easily the concept of free speech and free press in a local
situation can be perverted for foul ends. We will ask how this
dilemma could be resolved. We will explore the problem of inade-
quate or even distorted international coverage of crises and
conflicts in areas poorly understood by Western journalists. We
will consider whether this unfortunate situation can be improved
in the future.

The course, developed by Fahamu for UPEACE, will be taught by
Gerald Caplan, a Canadian-based public policy analyst and inter-
national 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 Organization of African Unity (OAU). He is
presently co-editing a book on the Rwandan genocide ten years
later.

The course has been developed for journalists and other profes-
sionals in the field of media, students of journalism, NGO staff
and policy makers, and will lead to a certificate from the Uni-
versity for Peace.

This course is designed to take 10 weeks using an interactive
CD-ROM containing all materials required for the course. You
will be guided in your work by a course tutor via email. You
will also have an opportunity to discuss your work with fellow
students via email.

The course will include a workshop in which all students, as
well as the tutor come together for several days of intensive
work. There will be a final short period in which students will
work independently and submit a final assignment. The topic for
this assignment will be determined at the workshop.

Applications are invited from suitable candidates in Rwanda to
attend the first course. The distance learning course will begin
on 10 January, with a workshop to be held in Butare, Rwanda, on
15-17 March.

Please note that this is a pilot run of the course and that is
why it is limited to Rwandan participants. Following the first
pilot, the course will be fine-tuned and will be made available
at a later date for broader participation from elsewhere in Af-
rica.

Eligibility

Applicants must:
- Have good command of written and spoken English
- Have access to a computer with a CD-ROM drive (PC or Mac) for
at least seven hours a week
- Have an e-mail address (access to the WWW would be an advan-
tage)
- Be living and working in Rwanda

Application process

Applicants should submit a letter, in English, of at least 500
words explaining why this course is important in their work, and
motivating why they should be selected. They should submit a
summary CV of no more than one page, and provide evidence from
their employer/institution that they have access to a suitable
computer. Applications should be sent by e-mail only to Fahamu
mailto:info@fahamu.org. Applications should be received by 22
November 2004.

Fees

There are 15 places available. Since it is a pilot course, fees,
and costs of attending the workshop in Butare will exceptionally
be met by the University for Peace.

--
Patrick Burnett
mailto:patrick@fahamu.org.za