war reporting ANTTONI JAMES NUMMINEN


‘You can put the spotlight on war crime in a systematic way’


For many, Bosnia has become a byword for political paralysis, as political and ethnic tensions continue and the viability of complex power-sharing mechanisms is put under pressure. Equally, many journalists I


spoke to and whose work I have read speak of a special affinity with the country after covering the war. I have visited Bosnia on several occasions as a journalist, election observer and tourist, and it is a beautiful country with kind, generous people, and the continued peace is a testament to the commitment of citizens to lead a ‘normal’ life and avoid another conflict. When I visited the


autonomous Republika Srpska


region, it was striking to speak with people who live side by side with those responsible for horrific crimes. In many cases, Bosniak


Muslims continue to face discrimination and an uphill struggle to work in public roles or maintain their places of worship. Meanwhile, those accused of crimes during the war hold positions of responsibility, from police officers to elected officials. Just before I visited


Srebrenica last summer, staff closed the genocide memorial centre for a few days owing to tensions and threats against it. In light of Bosnia’s


present-day situation and with another war raging in


Europe, journalists and readers have questioned what impact – if any – being a witness to war has and whether it is worth the risks. Pulitzer-winner Roy


Gutman tells me: “The one thing you can do in journalism is put the spotlight on crime and wrongdoing, especially massive crime. “You can’t write stories or


uncover facts with the goal of moving major powers into military operations. What you can do is put the spotlight on the crime in a systematic and thoughtful way. “And that spotlight, based


on the sequence of events, actually led to the closing of the concentration camps. It wasn’t me alone. I may have


been the first one to write about it in a convincing way and put it on the map.” He added: “Journalism


can embarrass criminals in the act of crime and it can force them to react with a gesture. And, in this case, the gesture was, basically, closing the camps.” Musing on the impact of


journalism and covering the war in Bosnia, Dr Martyn Bignold says: “I think it’s worth it only in the sense that any alternatives are worse.


“Covering it as an


international [journalist] has its problems because it’s very much seeing what is of interest to our viewers in the UK and that’s a distortion. Covering it in that way has many problems but it’s probably better than any of the alternatives. “Did it make a difference?


Well, in hindsight, it’s difficult to see that because the problems remain, but it’s certainly better than ignoring it.”


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