Elaine Holder is a 40-year member of Mothers for Peace, a citizens watchdog group working from kitchen tables between family and work commitments. The group has pursued a novel and potentially precedent-setting challenge against a nuclear power generator's plans for storing radioactive waste in aboveground dry casks at the power plant. (AP Photo/Michael A. Mariant)
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What Does It Take For Peace Efforts To Be Heard?
By Tiffany Martin
The media provide an outlet for communication, a force for mobilization as well as a power for change. To get media coverage, peace groups have learned that the message must be clear -- and attractive — to the media. Yet, with over 100 peace groups in Washington State alone, the amount of media coverage is surprisingly limited. Furthermore, the media coverage tends to be negative rather than positive. To understand coverage of peace groups it must be explained why the groups are not covered and then it can be understood what can be done to gain attention.
The USS Jimmy Carter submarine, the most heavily armed submarine ever built, is scheduled to be moved to Washington state, making the Seattle area home to all three of the Navy's third Seawolf class of subs. (AP Photo/Courtesy General Dynamics and U.S. Navy Visual News)
Bombs in Our Backyard: What the Media Forgot to Mention
By Laurel Severt
Merely twenty miles from Seattle, the Trident submarine base at Bangor is currently the largest single stockpile of nuclear warheads in the U.S. The base holds 2,364 warheads, comprising 24 percent of the U.S. arsenal. Yet, only an estimated 5 percent of Washington residents are aware of this fact. Placing the blame for public ignorance on the media, the Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action works to educate the public about this issue.
Media and peace research confirms that when examining media coverage of peace groups, news values of what is “newsworthy” must be considered. Certain news values include simplicity, objectivity and conflict/drama. Events and drama relating to these groups provide the most opportunity for attention. News footage shows that there is great reward for visual spectacle including novelty, costume, confrontation and violent action. Professionalism, organization and networking on the part of a peace organization can increase the chances for media coverage. It is important to designate a PR team and spokesperson for the organization to provide accurate information about the importance and the validity of its concerns.
Peace groups need media coverage in order to receive legitimacy, importance and validation for their cause, as well as to foster a public dialogue about peace related issues. Consequently, many peace groups have adapted their activities and events to appeal to news values and get attention by the media and the public. However, a recent survey conducted by students in the Media and Peace course at the University of Washington revealed that these changes have not always been as rewarding as hoped. Often times the media tends to miss the true mission or goals of the organization thus many have opted for others means of reaching the public.
Fortunately, the media are not the only means of communication and mobilization. Many peace activists, who have become skeptical of the media and decide to do without, chose alternative methods. Opinion or editorial articles, many written by members or supporters of peace groups, can be submitted to news sources to advocate for an issue or organization. Also, other organizations have opted for raising funds to buy personal advertisements. Websites and other forms of cyber activism offer another way to communicate to the public directly as well as create a global network of information exchange.
Peace activism in the media has long been a controversial topic and, unless there are changes to the media, peace activists will continue to struggle for positive attention. According to peace scholar Gadi Wolfsfeld, no matter how many changes peace groups make, even with PR professionals and news releases, a peace process will not be successful unless conducted in a media environment that is favorable to compromise, reconciliation and optimism. Perhaps within this new generation of communicating a more favorable environment can be found.