Can the Role of the News Media Change?
The role of the news media in violent conflicts can perhaps best be understood by remembering Platos allegory of the cave. In his classic work The Republic, the Greek philosopher talks about the consequences of having captives tied up in front of a wall for as long as they can remember. Images are then projected off the wall and the people have no other contact with the outside world. The shadows become reality for they are the only reference point the captives have. We too spend a good part of our lives looking at images designed by political and military leaders that are then projected onto an electronic wall by journalists. Many of these shadows represent extremely frightening portrayals of the other side and the natural reactions are fear and the desire to strike back. The danger is that despite the advent of the so-called global village, most of us remain captives in our own national caves. It would be a mistake, however, to conclude that the role of the news media in such conflic
