Constructive Journalism in a Divided Society? Role Perceptions of Journalists in Northern Ireland

As Northern Ireland continues to struggle with its turbulent legacy of the Troubles, one could ask the question of what role the media will continue to play in the process of reconciliation and peacebuilding in the country. This master’s thesis sheds light on the role perceptions of journalists in Northern Ireland in a transitional, post-conflict context. This research also explores the use of constructive journalism through in-depth interviews with journalists. As constructive journalism—a journalism style drawing from solutions and peace journalism—gains footage in academia and journalism schools worldwide, this thesis is the first study of its kind to investigate its use in Northern Ireland. This thesis shows that journalists in modern-day Northern Ireland mostly view their roles as dictated by traditional Western values for journalism, such as that of a neutral observer. Journalists in Northern Ireland do not think they should be actively participating in the reconciliation or...Show moreAs Northern Ireland continues to struggle with its turbulent legacy of the Troubles, one could ask the question of what role the media will continue to play in the process of reconciliation and peacebuilding in the country. This master’s thesis sheds light on the role perceptions of journalists in Northern Ireland in a transitional, post-conflict context. This research also explores the use of constructive journalism through in-depth interviews with journalists. As constructive journalism—a journalism style drawing from solutions and peace journalism—gains footage in academia and journalism schools worldwide, this thesis is the first study of its kind to investigate its use in Northern Ireland. This thesis shows that journalists in modern-day Northern Ireland mostly view their roles as dictated by traditional Western values for journalism, such as that of a neutral observer. Journalists in Northern Ireland do not think they should be actively participating in the reconciliation or peacebuilding process. This research further finds that journalists in Northern Ireland do not explicitly use constructive journalism techniques in their reporting. However, journalists from Northern Ireland do acknowledge that the deep political violence in their country provides a unique challenge to their work. Sectarianism, paramilitary violence, economic inequalities, and trauma from the past are elements that journalists in Northern Ireland must learn to navigate.Show less

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Constructive Journalism in a Divided Society? Role Perceptions of Journalists in Northern Ireland