Media Strategies: Additional Resources

These references supplement the Knowledge Base Essay, Media Strategies.

Additional Explanations of the Underlying Concepts:

Online (Web) Sources

Botes, Jannie. "Dialogue of the Deaf: Reframing the Debate Over Media and Conflict." , December 1, 1998
Available at: Primary Link  [Backup Link]

How should the media cover conflict? The debate is widespread and ongoing, both between media professionals and conflict resolution practitioners and within the media itself. Jannie Botes, journalist and conflict resolution theorist, suggests that the media and conflict debate need not be so polarized, and that even the mass media can contribute toward conflict's resolution.

Media as a Mirror, Media as a Leader. 2003.
Available at: http://www.aworldofpossibilities.com/details.cfm?id=140  [Backup Link]

An interview with Shahabuddin Quraishi, Gabiela Paz y Mino, Claire Nelson, and Kumi Naidoo. Imagine what it would take in this wired world to make our mass media into a source of awareness and connection rather than distraction and division. In the final program in this series, hear how a transformed media could contribute to a different sense of what we're capable of doing for, and not simply to one another.

Hieber, Loretta. "Media as Intervention: A Report from the Field." , December 1, 1998
Available at: http://ccrweb.ccr.uct.ac.za/archive/two/7-4/p16-intervention.html  [Backup Link]

This article from Track Two (vol.7, no.4), looks at media intervention in conflicts, and explains how it can play a crucial role in combating the tragic effects of war on civilians by providing them with long-term and sometimes life-saving social support through the mechanisms of information.

Media as Mediator: Transforming Conflict into Communication. 2004.
Available at: http://www.aworldofpossibilities.com/details.cfm?id=178  [Backup Link]

An interview with Barbara O'Brien, Francis Rolt, Lena Slachmuijlder, and Bill Ury. "If it bleeds, it leads," goes the old newsroom rule. In this program, we question whether we're as vile and violent as we're made to appear in the media's mirror as we turn that mirror from the destructiveness of conflict to the drama of resolution. Join us for an exploration of the media as mediator rather than manipulator.

Media Metamorphosis: Trance or Transformation. 2003.
Available at: http://www.aworldofpossibilities.com/details.cfm?id=141  [Backup Link]

An interview with Jennifer Glasse, Rami Khouri, Geneva Overholser, Dan Rather, and Nancy Snow. After cheerleading its way into a war with Iraq, the media has come out the other side scratching its head at its own failure to ask the tough questions when it counted most. The watchdog turned lapdog and left government and military leaders unaccountable. Still, maybe there's life in the watchdog yet.

Burmann, Melissa. "Reporting Conflict: Skills for Conflict Analysis." , 1993
Available at: Primary Link  [Backup Link]

The author has compiled several of the frameworks and models used by Harvard University's Conflict Management Group in their workshops for journalists. This particular website lists 2: A framework for analysis and interest analysis, questions that should be answered when evaluating a conflict.

The Benton Foundation: Media Relations. The Benton Foundation.
Available at: http://www.benton.org/publibrary/toolkits/mediarelations.html  [Backup Link]
"The Benton Foundation seeks to demonstrate the value of communications for solving social problems. Their media relations page has links to articles on working with the media and a 'tools' section with links to how-to articles."

The Communication Initiative.
Available at: http://www.comminit.com/  [Backup Link]
The Communication Initiative is a partnership of development organizations seeking to support advances in the effectiveness and scale of communication interventions for positive international development.

Glaser, Tanya. "The Media as Mediator--Summary." University of Colorado Conflict Research Consortium, 1993.
Available at: Link

This page is a summary of the article, The Media as Mediator, by Melissa Baumann and Hannes Siebert published in NIDR Forum, winter 1993. The authors argue that the media's representatives "define, shape, and often exacerbate conflict by the stories they choose to cover, by those they omit, by the sources they use, by the facts' they include, by the way they use language, and by their own biases, or newsframes."

Shinar, Dov. The Peace Process in Cultural Conflict: The Role of the Media.
Available at: http://www.cco.regener-online.de/2003-1/pdf-2003-1/shinar.pdf  [Backup Link]
"This article explores (1) the cultural nature of the Palestinian conflict; (2) the "intractability" of cultural conflicts; (3) conflict management models: reconciliation/"end-of-conflict" versus "conflict transformation" and their relation to cultural conflict; (4) the serious consequences of the wrong matching of models and conflicts, sucha s using the reconciliation model in cultural conflict; (5) the changing role of the media in international relations, and their contribution to the "crisis expectations" that came to fruition in September 2000, with the eruption of the Intifada; (6) the possibility of the media contributing to peace processes; and (7) implications of the media adoption of the conflict transformation model." -Article Abstract

Offline (Print) Sources

Duke, Annette R. "Advocacy By Design: Using Direct Media to Get a Direct Response." The New England Nonprofit Quarterly 1:1, 1900.
This is a short article explaining how nonprofits can effectively use direct media. The author focuses on developing a media strategy.

Ryan, Charlotte. "Beyond the Black Box Approach to Media: A Starter Kit for Nonprofits." The Nonprofit Quarterly 6:1, 1999.
This article concisely lays out how an organization can begin putting together a media strategy.

Kunde, James E. "Dealing With the Press." In The Consensus Building Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide to Reaching Agreement. Edited by Susskind, Lawrence, Jennifer Thomas-Larmer and Sarah McKearnan, eds. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 1999.
This chapter seeks to guide facilitators and participants on how to deal with journalists as they pursue a consensus-based process. The author recognizes third parties' reluctance to involve the media in such processes, but argues that the benefits of press coverage can outweigh the downsides. This is possible, however, only if mediators and participants know how to deal with press and take the steps necessary to ensure good coverage.

Frameworks for Interpreting Conflict: A Handbook for Journalists. Fairfax, VA: George Mason University: Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution, 1994.
needs description

Hieber, Loretta. Lifeline Media: Reaching Populations in Crisis: A Guide to Developing Media Projects in Conflict Situations. Geneva: Media Action International (MAI), 2001.
This work is "[a]n indispensable guide for anyone involved in setting up media-related projects in conflict and post-conflict settings. The approach used in the book is designed to ensure that affected populations always have access to well-produced humanitarian information in a manner that enhances local media capacity. The author explores how the skills of professional Western journalists can best be applied in realizing this objective. As a resource for international journalists, producers, relief workers, consultants, and others, Lifeline Media is a unique sourcebook that sees media as a powerful tool in assisting populations in crises." -From Publisher

Strobel, Warren P. "The Media and U.S. Policies Toward Intervention: A Closer Look at the 'CNN Effect'." In Managing Global Chaos: Sources or and Responses to International Conflict. Edited by Crocker, Chester A. and Fen Osler Hampson, eds. Washington, D.C.: United States Institute of Peace Press, 1996.
This chapter examines the role of the meda in reporting on conflict on what effect it has on public opinion, as well as governmental decisions regarding foreign policy. The author of this piece argues that the so-called "CNN Effect" is exaggerated.

Reid, R.P. "Waging Public Relations: A Cornerstone of Fourth Generation Warfare." Journal of Information Warfare 1:3, January 1, 2002.

Ryan, Charlotte. "Why Take Media Seriously?." The New England Nonprofit Quarterly , 1999.
Media work is labor-intensive and prone to failure, but it is essential to the nonprofit sector. The author offers some tips on how to get started in media work.

Siegel, Dan and Jenny Yancey. "Widening the News Lens." The New England Nonprofit Quarterly 6:1, 1999.
The authors argue that nonprofits need to do more to be better understood by the public. The media regularly covers business and government, but there is not similar effort on the part of nonprofits, despite the fact that there are over 1.2 million in the US employing over 10 million people.

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Examples Illustrating this Topic:

Online (Web) Sources

"Communications and Education: Peace Media." , 2002
Available at: Primary Link  [Backup Link]

"Peace media uses radio, television, and print journalism to promote peace, to disseminate truthful information or alternate viewpoints that could turn public sentiment toward peaceful resolution of conflict, or to counter 'hate radio.'" This page includes all the pertinent information regarding peace media as a tool in conflict prevention and resolution.

Guidance to Journalists. Commission for Racial Equality (CRE).
Available at: http://www.cre.gov.uk/media/guidance.html  [Backup Link]
This page contains recommendations designed to help in dealing with the way parts of the media report on Traveler and/or Gypsy issues. Coverage of race and ethnic issues across the media has significantly improved over the past 20 years. There has been a wider and more constructive exploration of many questions and a reduction in the use of language that is offensive to members of different ethnic groups. The CRE and those organizations representing Travelers and Gypsies want to see more coverage in the media but are keen to help the media develop a coverage that is honest and fair, open and inclusive.

Galtung, Johan. "High Road, Low Road: Charting the Course for Peace Journalism." Track Two, Vol.7, No.4 , December 1, 1998
Available at: Primary Link  [Backup Link]

This article urges the media not to report the savagery and struggle associated with war, but rather instead to focus on conflict transformation processes that take the conflict towards peace.

Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR).
Available at: http://www.history.com/  [Backup Link]
The Institute works to strengthen local journalism in areas of conflict by training reporters, facilitating dialogue and providing reliable information. Their web site provides current stories on media in particular conflict areas, such as the Balkans and Afghanistan, in English and a local language. There are also special reports, workshop announcements, and training materials on the site.

Media Action International (MAI).
Available at: http://www.mediaaction.org  [Backup Link]
"Media Action International bridges the gap between journalism and humanitarian, post-conflict and development activities. It uses this unique position to develop strategies to make the best use of the mass media, at a time when its role is recognised widely as key in the fight against illiteracy, poverty and disease."

Lougee, Dave, Jerry Bell and Clifford May. Role of the Media in Reporting Less-Tractable Conflicts. University of Colorado: Conflict Research Consortium.
Available at: Primary Link  [Backup Link]
This paper is an edited transcript of a talk given by Jerry Bell, Dave Lougee and Clifford May for the Intractable Conflict/Constructive Confrontation Project on April 1, 1993. It discusses how the media decides to pick certain stories or events to cover, or issues to focus on.

Wolfsfeld, Gadi. The News Media and Peace Processes: The Middle East and Northern Ireland. United States Institute of Peace.
Available at: http://www.usip.org/pubs/peaceworks/pwks37.pdf  [Backup Link]
This report explains how and when the media takes different roles in the promotion of peace. They can emphasize the benefits that peace can bring, they can raise the legitimacy of groups or leaders working for peace, and they can help transform images of the enemy. But the media also can serve as destructive agents in a peace process. They can emphasize the risks and dangers associated with compromise, raise the legitimacy of those opposed to concessions, and reinforce negative stereotypes of the enemy.

The Search for Common Ground.
Available at: http://www.sfcg.org/  [Backup Link]
The Search for Common Ground is an NGO which designs and implements innovative ways to reframe issues and solve problems. They believe that for conflict prevention to be successful -- no matter how timely and effective the outside assistance -- the political will needs to exist within the country to prevent violence. The methodology of prevention is simply not powerful enough to deter people intent on killing. They believe that prevention works best in a pre-violence state such as Macedonia, where ethnic tensions are high but where violence is not widespread, or in a post-violence state like Angola, where the impulse toward bloodshed has diminished.

Yimsut, Ranachith. "The Tonle Sap Lake Massacre." , 1900
Available at: http://www.edwebproject.org/sideshow/stories/ronnieyimsut.html  [Backup Link]

A survivor of the Khmer Rouge tells how a reporter influenced his life.

Creative Associates International. Tool Category G: Communications and Education 25. Media Professionalization.
Available at: Primary Link  [Backup Link]
Provides details on the training of journalists and projects aimed at helping mitigate the inflammatory potential of the media. Has some very brief examples.

Offline (Print) Sources

Restuccia, Rob. "Becoming a Reliable Source." The New England Nonprofit Quarterly 1:1, 1999.
Mr. Restuccia explains how he became a frequently quoted media source.

de Grazia, Victoria. "The Selling of America: Bush Style." The New York Times , August 25, 2002.
This article describes America's public relations campaign to 'sell' U.S. foreign policy abroad.

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Audiovisual Materials on this Topic:

Offline (Print) Sources

No Man's Land: Women Frontline Journalists . Directed and/or Produced by: Saywell, Shelley. First Run Icarus Films. 1994.
This film profiles women war correspondents. Primary Link [Backup Link]

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