Rwanda Genocide and the Media

Carrie Gingrich’s proposed research attempts to determine a number of issues relating to the relationship between the media and sociopolitical events. In particular, the researcher wants to reveal various aspects of the relationship between the media and the 1994 genocide in the East African nation of Rwanda, which caused the killing of about million people. Quite clearly, the media played a significant role before, during and after the genocide. Various studies as well as inquiries into the problem have revealed that negative tribal attitude, propaganda and other forms of wrong information were passed to the public through the media. For instance, the radio played an important role in inciting and building tension prior and during the genocide. The author cites the case of the now defunct Radio Collins, a pro-government and militia backed radio that directly and/or indirectly incited Rwandans of the Hutu ethnicity against the minority but economically powerful Tutsi group. Noteworthy, the media also played a significant role in informing the outside world about the events in Rwanda, including mobilization of the international community. In fact, the media petitioned the international community to take a leading role in finding a legal and social solution to the problem as well social, political and economic recovery.

Some of the most important goals in Gingrich’s proposed research project include determination of the relationship between the media and national events. Secondly, it attempts to describe the role of the media in providing information about the state of national health during the genocide. It provides evidence of health problems that the isolated communities faced during the event. Moreover, the annotated bibliography reveals that the research aims at examining the possible solutions that the media can provide during international crisis, including adequate reporting, possible bias and use of language in reporting. The impact of reporting on the target audience is also addressed.

The author expresses her argument in a number of ways. However, the statement ‘the radio was the most important tool that perpetrated violence but an important tool for solving similar international crisis’ is the best argument. It allows the researcher to proceed with the research proposal. In fact, it is clear that the researcher wants to state that the tool that caused the death of millions of people in Rwanda is the same tool that can be used to solve similar problems in future. This argument is not only interesting, but also attracts and retains the reader’s attention, thus providing evidence that a study problem exists.

Nevertheless, a number of questions need to be addressed in the proposed study. For instance, the particular process through which the research is conducted apart from the use of literature review should be provided. In addition, the question on whether the media triggered or caused the genocide should be clarified. While it is clear that the radio played a significant role during the genocide, it is also worth noting that a number of social, economic and historical problems had been building tension between the two ethnic groups in Rwanda since the colonial times.

The researcher’s annotated bibliography reveals her ability to search information from relevant and justified sources. For instance, she has indicated that her research problem is obtained from a thorough review of literature, including previous studies, reports from the relevant institutions such as the UN, the tribunal for Rwandan Genocide as well as peer-reviewed journals published since 1994.