Workshop
Media and Violence: Designing Coverage to Foster Peace

February 19-21
Konrad Adenauer Center for Journalism
at the Ateneo de Manila University

Discussion Leaders:

Honey Carandang is a professional lecturer at the Psychology Department of the University of the Philippines. A retired professor of the Ateneo de Manila University's Psychology Department, she was also director of its doctoral program in clinical psychology. As a clinical psychologist, she runs an active clinical practice and has pioneered in family therapy and group therapy for children with special needs. She headed several national and international research and intervention projects for groups of disadvantaged and traumatized children and their families, including projects on how to prevent family violence. She earned her doctorate from the University of California at Davis, her master's degree from the Ateneo de Manila University, and her undergraduate degree from the University of the Philippines.

Elisa Munoz is the executive director of Crimes of War Education Project, a collaboration of journalists, photographers, legal experts, and academics to promote understanding and support of international humanitarian law among journalists, policymakers, educators, and the general public. The project is based in Washington, D.C. Previously she served as senior program associate of the Science and Human Rights Program of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. She received her master's degree in International Relations from the University of Maryland. She has also done course work in International Human Rights in Strasbourg, France, and in International Humanitarian Law, in San Remo, Italy. Part of her undergraduate degree was undertaken in Madrid, Spain, her country of origin.

Barry A. Hollander is a professor in the Department of Journalism in the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia, where he teaches basic and advanced public affairs writing and reporting. He worked as a journalist for the Sarasota (Florida) Herald-Tribune, the Houma (Louisiana) Daily Courier, and the Corinth (Mississippi) Daily Corinthian. He has taught workshops for journalists on using the Internet in reporting, on the various techniques of computer-assisted reporting, and on readership research. His research focuses on talk radio and on strategies newspapers can use to attract readers. He earned his doctorate and his master's degrees from the University of Florida and his undergraduate degree from the University of North Alabama.

Lee B. Becker is director of the James M. Cox Jr. Center for International Mass Communication Training and Research, a unit of the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia. He also is a professor in the Department of Journalism in the Grady College. He worked as a journalist for the Lexington (Kentucky) Herald-Leader and the Cincinnati (Ohio) Enquirer. He has taught workshops for journalists in countries all over the world on a wide range of topics. His research focuses on training issues in journalism, on characteristics of the journalistic labor market, and on the work of journalists and journalism organizations. He earned his doctorate from the University of Wisconsin and his master's and undergraduate degrees from the University of Kentucky.

Robert Luke Iroga, senior reporter, Solomon Star and workshop participantInvocation

Jose M. Cruz, S.J., Dean, School of Social Sciences, Ateneo de Manila University

Violet B. Valdez, Ph.D., Director

Session I

Introduction of the Topic

How are crime and violence covered in the media?

Why do the media cover crime and violence?

What interest does the audience have in crime and violence coverage?

Break

Session II

Trauma Defined

What is trauma as suffered by the victims of crime. Do journalists also suffer trauma?

Lunch

Session III

Reporting at the Scenes of Crime and Violence

What are the journalistic routines?

Can journalists get in the way?

What are the special problems of covering war and civil violence?

Break

Session IV

Interviewing

Does interviewing increase or decrease trauma?

What techniques can be used to minimize trauma?

Launch of Master's of Journalism Program

Thursday, February 20

Session V

Writing about Crime

Can it be done sensitively?

Break

Session VI

Use of Pictures and Sound

What are the special issues of visualizing crime?

What are the special problems of the broadcast media?

Lunch

Session VII

Reporting on Rape and Domestic Violence

Should these topics be covered?

How should they be covered?

Should the identity of the victim be revealed?

Break

Session VIII

Reporting on Children

Can children give informed consent for interviews?

How can children be interviewed sensitively?

Break

Session IX

Working Session: Developing Guidelines for Covering Violence

Participants divide into groups and develop suggested guidelines for covering crime and violence.

Session X

Crimes of War Defined

What should journalists know?

What should the public know?

Break

Session XI

Victim Rights

What are they?

What role do journalists play in protecting them?

Lunch

Session XII

Case Studies in Media Coverage of Violence, Crimes of War

Break

Session XIII

Presentation of Guidelines for Reporting Crime and Violence by Groups

Evaluation of Workshop

Closing Ceremony