Part III Human rights education in practice Chapter 10: Working with the media155 KEY QUESTIONS • Why should NHRIs engage with the news media? • What human rights education outcomes can they achieve? • How can NHRIs work effectively with the media to build community awareness and promote action on human rights issues? • How can NHRIs use social media to exchange information with stakeholders and promote action? 10.1. INTRODUCTION Strong and inclusive communities are built on the foundations of human rights: dignity, fairness and respect for people, no matter their age, gender or background. However, for this to happen, it is essential that the community understands what “human rights” are and how they apply to daily life. The media156 is a critical tool in shaping public opinion and setting a social, political and economic agenda. While social media provides a powerful platform that allows people and organizations to connect directly with each other and share information, the reality is that many people, especially those with limited access to the Internet, continue to seek news and opinions from traditional media sources. The media – management, editors and journalists – decide what constitutes “news”. They filter and frame the issues and provide the context for people to understand the events that are reported. While the media might not tell us what to think, they do play a critical role in shaping what to think and talk about. Human rights issues are often highly newsworthy. The media are “interested not only in violations of human rights, but in the institutional apparatus that has been designed to promote and protect human rights”.157 Accurate, informed and sustained media coverage of human rights – for example, on issues related to gender-based violence, child protection or the treatment of refugees – can help shape community attitudes and contribute to genuine changes in law, policy and practice. On the other hand, some media reporting can perpetuate stereotypes that further entrench social disadvantage and discrimination in a community. NHRIs have a responsibility to “capitalize on and make use of new information and communication technologies, as well as the media”,158 to build public awareness of the human rights issues facing their communities. 155 This chapter was written and updated by James Iliffe, author of the Media Handbook for National Human Rights Institutions; APF; 2013. 156 In this chapter, the “media” describes the broad range of organizations that collect and publish or broadcast news or news-related programmes to mass audiences. It includes newspapers, television, radio, magazines, journals and news agencies. These can operate online or at a local, provincial, national or international level. 157 Journalism, Media and the Challenge of Human Rights Reporting; International Council on Human Rights Policy; 2002; p. 16. 158 United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Education and Training; article 6. Chapter 10: Working with the media | 91