Article – The genocide case against Israel: a historic turning point for journalism
The genocide case brought against Israel by South Africa before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is much more than just an international trial. It opens the way to new journalistic practices and underlines the importance of training journalists adequately.
One of the most interesting aspects of this case is the crucial role of forensic journalism. Indeed, media coverage of the courts constitutes the very basis of the journalistic profession and represents an unrivaled learning environment.
The art of reporting consists of presenting the facts objectively by answering the essential questions: who? Or ? What ? When ? Why ? and above all how? This forms the key elements of any story and any search for justification.
In this case, the case is of international importance and could set precedents in international law. This is why, as journalists, we must pay special attention to it.
The role of the media is not only limited to presenting the truth, but also to respecting ethical codes, especially when it comes to covering armed conflicts. War and conflict are a test of the media’s ability to respect these codes.
In this case, the arguments are presented by the parties involved in a pragmatic manner, drawing on international humanitarian law and establishing links with human rights. All this takes place in a highly emotional and extremely complex context.
South Africa, as claimant, seeks to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by characterizing Israel’s actions as genocide. Their methodical and documented approach is a dream for any journalist: clear evidence is presented before the ICJ and counter-arguments are also presented.
The clarity of the process, the way arguments are presented in court, with a focus on the facts, a logical structure and a balance of points of view, are consistent with the principles of journalism.
However, it is necessary for journalists not to get carried away by the rhetoric and to understand the political environment in which the case takes place.
This case also provides a fantastic opportunity for journalists to ask insightful questions and build an information-rich story about the actors involved, the event itself and its context.
The central question to ask is therefore: who are the actors and what motivates them? What are their interests and how could the outcome of this case change their lives? All these answers are clearly found in the file presented to the ICJ.
In journalism, the event is often considered news in itself. But it’s important to remember that many events are known long before they actually happen. Stories are often constructed from previous events and their contextualization.
In this specific case, the case brought by South Africa before the ICJ constitutes an important event, with relevance beyond the direct stakeholders. Context is essential to providing clarity and credibility to a story.
Covering a trial requires consideration of context, citing other cases judged by recognized legal institutions. In the case of the genocide case against Israel, it is essential to connect the facts to other similar events.
In conclusion, this case represents a turning point in journalism by emphasizing court coverage and emphasizing the importance of contextualizing events. It also reminds us of the importance of training journalists adequately, so that they can fully fulfill their role as impartial and credible informants for the public.