Inter-Ethnic Reporting in Kosovo After the Conflict : OBSTACLES AND IMPLICATIONS OF PEACE JOURNALISM

This research focused on the issues related to journalism in post-conflict transitions with a particular case study - Kosovo, aims to shed some light in the implications of 'peace journalism' developments in Kosovo after the ethnic conflict. Mostly the commercial media in Kosovo is new, and based in a weak heritage regarding inter-ethnic reporting. During the period 1999 - 2008, international community aware of the power of media in a milieu characterized by deep ethnic divergences and tensions, endeavored to control, pressuring and moderating the media discourse concerning inter-ethnic issues. Nonetheless the media landscape in Kosovo remained unsustainable and problematic in regards to inter-ethnic reporting. This study is based on the field research that the author conducted in Kosovo during January-February 2008. The study covers theory of "peace journalism", history of media development in Kosovo, qualitative research (interviews), quantitative research (analysis of a daily newspaper in Kosovo). This research study aspires to present the specific obstacles that 'peace journalism' as a reporting genre is facing in Kosovo.