Forever, in all my work I’ve asked, “is there a better way to do this?” Experience tells me anyone, can always improve something, about a “not-so-good” situation. Perhaps that explains my deep desire to see journalists writing about solutions to problems, not just the problems! If you only look at the problem, there’s no hope!
So, this article about young Jewish and Muslim people, creative people, getting together in London struck a chord with me.
“Amid rising tension in the Middle East, and attacks on the respective communities, the idea of peace can seem like ‘the weedy shy boy at school,’ according to Avaes Mohammad, one of the event organisers.
He said: ‘These sessions have actually shown that it takes great courage to talk about peace. It is more courageous than throwing petrol bombs through a window.’
Explaining his decision to get involved with the MUJU event, he said: ‘I wanted to come away from what I was seeing on my Facebook feed and find a way of building trust.
‘A lot of Palestinians and Israelis want peace, whether that is a one or two-state solution is not the point of this workshop. This was about acknowledging shared culture and respect.’
I hope Lapido Media become an example for journalists reporting on problems. It would be good if journalists began to ask:
- Does my story explain the causes of a social problem?
- Does the story present an associated response to that problem?
- Does the story get into the problem solving and how-to details of implementation?
- Is the problem solving process central to the narrative?
Good job by the young people in London; and, the journalist.
They are on the way to peace! And, fairness, well-being and shared prosperity!
