Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions Introduction for users 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 people understand what “human rights” are and how they apply to daily life. The media1 is a critical tool in shaping public opinion and setting a social, political and economic agenda. While the rapid growth of social media provides new ways for people and organizations to connect directly with each other and share information, the reality is that most people 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 play a very significant role in telling us what to think about. Human rights issues have become increasingly newsworthy. The media “have become interested not only in violations of human rights, but in the institutional apparatus that has been designed to promote and protect human rights”.2 Accurate, informed and sustained media coverage of human rights – for example, on issues related to the rights of people with disabilities, gender-based violence 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. National human rights institutions (NHRIs) have a responsibility to “capitalize on and make use of new information and communication technologies, as well as the media”,3 to build public awareness of the human rights issues facing their communities. To perform this role effectively, NHRIs need to understand how the media operates, the different audiences they reach, the limited knowledge some journalists may have about human rights, the multiple pressures they can face when reporting on certain issues and the constant demand to be the first with “breaking” news. While NHRIs communicate with the public in a variety of ways – and increasingly through social media – mainstream media outlets continue to be one of the most influential carriers of information generated by NHRIs and “the most powerful gatekeepers between these organizations and the wider public”.4 The challenge for NHRIs is two-fold. The first is to present human rights issues in a way that will engage the media and result in accurate and compelling coverage. The second is to work cooperatively with media outlets and individual journalists to promote informed and accurate reporting on human rights. 1 In this Handbook, the “media” describes the broad range of organizations that collect and publish or broadcast news or newsrelated programmes to mass audiences. It includes newspapers, television, radio, magazines, journals and news agencies. These can operate online or at the local, provincial, national or international level. 2 International Council on Human Rights Policy; Journalism, Media and the Challenge of Human Rights Reporting; 2002; p. 16. 3 United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Education and Training; article 6. 4 International Council on Human Rights Policy; Journalism, Media and the Challenge of Human Rights Reporting; 2002; p. 18. iv | Introduction for users