The media need to step up efforts to fight Genocide Ideology

The Media High Council yesterday released a report that showed coverage related to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, had improved last year compared to the previous years.

Friday, April 02, 2010

The Media High Council yesterday released a report that showed coverage related to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, had improved last year compared to the previous years.

However, the report also pointed out that most of the coverage was event-based and did not address the issues and challenges that Rwanda is dealing with, years after the Genocide.

One major challenge that Rwanda has to deal with today is the Genocide ideology, harbored by revisionists, who are determined to spread it. Rwanda has gone a long way in fostering unity and reconciliation; there is practically no room for divisive rhetoric.

While fighting genocide is everyone’s responsibility, the media, particularly, has an extra job, because of its inherent capacity to reach out. If misused, the media can be used as a channel to promote genocide, as was the case in 1994.

The media play an important role in reconstruction and development, and as we approach the commemoration period, They need to effectively help mobilize the public in the fight against Genocide ideology.

Ends