Research Review

Media Roles in the 21st Century

By Nicholas Cenac

Our calendar may have turned to a new century on January 1, 2000, but our media system entered it on September 11, 2001. When terrorists hijacked and crashed American planes into symbolic American targets killing innocent American citizens, the way in which our media system operates was forever and fundamentally changed.

In his article, The Media’s Role in Preventing and Moderating Conflict, Robert Manoff asks the question, “What media-based initiatives would it be possible and appropriate to undertake in particular conflict situations?” This piece was published in 1997 but following the attacks of September 11 th, the question holds all the more significance now. What media-based initiatives should we undertake? Should our media system work to promote peace? Should it work to promote the government’s voice? Should it still strive to be an objective witness relaying current events with as little bias as possible? Can it?

One way the media can help to moderate or prevent conflicts is to highlight political upheavals in other countries which then, in turn, force our government to act. As reported in the Chicago News Tribune and elsewhere, following the state of emergency declared by Pakistan’s president, Pervez Musharraf, the Bush administration is now “reviewing” the billions of dollars in aid the U.S. provides to Pakistan. Whether the Bush administration goes any further than merely reviewing the Pakistani aid package remains to be seen, but the fact that our media have covered this political upheaval has, in some part, forced the administration to publicly address the issue.

Another way the media can work to moderate or prevent conflict, perhaps less obvious but no less important, is through the arts. In the book, Literature from the Axis of Evil, editors have collected short stories and fiction excerpts from countries such as Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Syria, Cuba, and Sudan. Clearly, one of the goals of this book is to expose Western readers to foreign perspectives. This is partly in an effort to facilitate better relationships between these nations and the West. It is also though, in an effort to humanize the people who live in countries which for various reasons are at odds with our current American foreign policy stance.

After September 11, 2001, the U.S. became a country of fear and isolation. The media in this new century must combat both through education and information.

Activists hold placards during a rally by the Peace Now group supporting the Saudi Peace Initiative outside the Prime Minister's residence in Jerusalem. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)