Peace journalism and the usage of online sources

Abstract

This article looks at reporting practices in the South African news media with regard to onlinesources and the realisation of peace journalism. Based on data collected from questionnairesand interviews with journalists, media scholars and media monitors in South Africa, the articleexplores their responses to suggestions that Internet sources are more politically biased thanare traditional sources and determines both the extent to which journalists use them and theextent to which they should rely on online sources. The discussion around online sources andpotential bias and even hate speech is linked up with normative ideas and debates around peacejournalism in the South African news media and the promise of peace journalism through theusage of alternative news sources.