The news media and peace processes : the Middle East and northern Ireland

The news media can play a central role in the promotion of peace. The role of the media does vary, however, and both researchers and practitioners must better understand the reasons for these variations. This report points to four major factors that impact this equation: (1) the amount of consensus among political elites in support of the peace process; (2) the number and intensity of crises associated with the process; (3) the extent to which shared media, used by both sides of the conflict, exist; and (4) the level of sensationalism as a dominant news value. The first two variables tells us something about the state of the political environment, while the final two relate to the media environment.