Peace under Fire: Building the Media Agenda in Post-Genocide Rwanda
Following the 1994 genocide, in which the media played a significant role, the government enacted strict media laws that have led to a climate of self-censorship and government influence on the media. This study examined the processes of agenda building and frame building in the media from the perspective of Rwandan journalists and media professionals. It further examined the media within the framework of peace journalism. The study used both a qualitative and quantitative approach. A series of 35 in-depth interviews were conducted with Rwandan journalists and media professionals, along with a survey of 101 journalists. Results showed that journalists and media professionals in Rwanda face several challenges, including indirect government censorship, few opportunities for training, and a lack of resources including low pay. According to the respondents, the government strongly influences the media agenda. Particularly in Kigali, the country's capital and center of government business, politics drives the media agenda. In the rural areas, however, journalists report stories focused more on the community than politics.
Journalism, African Studies, Mass Communications, Peace Journalism, Rwanda, Agenda Building, Frame Building, Media, Conflict
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