The South Sudanese civil war (2013-2018) was characterized by the circulation of hate speech online between two main ethnic groups: Nuer and Dinka. The circulation of hate speech made a significant contribution to the level of violence that occurred during the civil war. What this meant was that following the peace agreement, it was necessary to engage in peacebuilding that would address the damage hate speech did to the South Sudanese community and to prevent a surge in hate speech in the future. One of the organizations that focused exactly on this – the prevention of hate speech through media literacy training - was #defyhatenow, which is committed to providing community-based and data-driven solutions for countering hate speech. More specifically, it focuses on journalists as opinion multipliers and has developed extensive training for them. This study analyzed 90 training materials from the fact-checking platform #211check, which is part of the #defyhatenow project. This project focuses on training journalists, influencers, and peacebuilders. The analysis shows #defyhatenow trains journalists in fact-checking and mitigation techniques to create a more informed and discerning online community.The training helps journalists resist divisive narratives and promote unity. By leading outreach initiatives and media campaigns, these trained journalists play a crucial role in counteracting hate speech across various media platforms. This proactive approach not only debunks false information but also fosters a culture of responsible online engagement and dialogue. This study provided greater insight into hybrid communicative peacebuilding, particularly regarding the training of journalists in post-conflict settings.

Authors:
Yichun Dou, University of Sheffield, United Kingdom

About the Presenter(s)
Miss Yichun Dou is currently a Postgraduate Research(PhD) Student of School of Journalism, Media and Communication in the University of Sheffield, UK.

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