The report was kept short (the printed version was six pages), and was distributed widely as part of the Program's largest distribution effort ever, in an effort not only to inform discussions, but to influence the behavior of both media and relief organizations. The Program mailed more than four thousand copies of the report and published a related article in the April issue of its newsletter, Update. The complete report was included in the March issue of InterAction's Monday Developments newsletter, which reaches all major U.S. relief agencies. A two-page excerpt appeared in the May issue of American Journalism Review, which is read by more than 50,000 journalists and academics. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies included an excerpt in its authoritative World Disasters Report 1994, which is distributed worldwide in five languages. That excerpt was reprinted in the May-June 1994 issue of Crosslines, the international development and humanitarian relief newsletter. The Program's report was also distributed at the World Conference on Natural Disaster Reduction in Yokohama.
On May 20, 1993, The Annenberg Washington Program sponsored a high-level roundtable in Washington, D.C., to examine the impact of images of the developing world portrayed through the media and by relief organizations. The 17 participants--including reporters, editors, producers, and leaders from international and national relief organizations--considered the many causes of these images and practical means for improving reporting on development, disasters and their causes, and relief activities in the developing world. The group also explored ways to further strengthen partnerships between the press and relief organizations.
On December 2, 1993, the Program brought together in London a working group of six of the participants to continue the work of the roundtable. The working group recognized that the media compete for viewers, listeners, and readers, and aid organizations vie for members and contributors in markets that are increasingly competitive and rapidly changing. Both media and relief organizations command limited resources with which to respond to more frequent and complex disasters around the world. The working group therefore sought to identify practical, specific strategies for both the media and relief organizations to improve the accuracy, timeliness, quality, and cost-effectiveness of the information they disseminate about developing countries.
This report is based on those discussions. Although not every participant would agree with all of the statements included herein, the ideas and suggestions that follow are the product of serious deliberation and reflect a frank and energetic dialogue. A more detailed report examining the images of the developing world and their causes will be published later this year. The Program is grateful to all of the participants who have devoted themselves to this task and who have given generously of their time, experience, and knowledge.
Where does this misimpression originate? Most of the developed world's information about the developing world comes from two sources--the news media and relief organizations. Despite considerable efforts to be accurate and timely, both the media and relief organizations unintentionally contribute to distorted images of the developing world because both focus on the unusual, the extraordinary, the dramatic. Yet western viewers and readers perceive this information without a context or a background of information or experience against which to evaluate its significance. Thus, the public's perception of developing countries may be formed entirely of information about the exceptions, rather than the norms, of daily life.
Despite the force and variety of factors contributing to misimpressions of the developing world--e.g., the public's lack of first-hand knowledge about developing countries and the complexity of factors intrinsically interrelated with development, such as world trade--there are practical steps that could help the media and relief organizations respond to the challenge.
2. Designate and train development journalists. Reporting on developing countries could be improved by increasing the number of reporters who cover the area and by designating "development correspondents," just as many media today designate reporters to cover politics, financial markets, and other specific "beats." How can reporters and photographers who are rushed into a country to cover a story be better prepared for such assignments? What training and background information would help equip them? How can they have the greatest amount of time possible "on the scene," and how can that time best be used? What training or information would help editors and other "gatekeepers" within the media evaluate the significance of stories from developing countries and place those stories in a broader news context?
3. Cover efforts by indigenous organizations and individuals to prevent, anticipate, and respond to disasters. Reporting should seek to include, to an extent proportional to their importance, relief efforts by indigenous people and organizations or by other developing countries. Most disaster relief comes from within the developing world. News reports that focus on the arrival of western government officials, relief workers, or shipments from the industrialized world are likely to distort the response to disasters. "On the scene" interviews with western relief officials may similarly mislead the public. The media should seek to interview and quote officials from indigenous governments and relief organizations where possible.
4.Provide professional training and review. Journalism reviews, graduate schools, professional societies, and media critics should play an important role in training journalists in international reporting, critiquing reporting on developing countries, and sensitizing both the media and the public. There are noteworthy examples of high-quality reporting on development issues; these should be noted, rewarded, and used to help train other reporters, editors, photographers, and producers. Media institutions could help provide opportunities for skill building, sponsor workshops, provide training for reporters assigned outside of their home country or region, and even participate in providing substantive briefings about specific countries and issues.
2. Train organization personnel to work with media. Relief organizations should provide training, particularly for personnel in the field, on how to work with media to improve the timeliness, quality, and accuracy of reporting about developing countries. Because relief organizations have expertise in development, monitor issues affecting developing countries and disaster relief full time, and have resources within developing countries, they are well placed to help the media identify and report important stories accurately and sensitively, evaluate the quality of news reports, and seek to correct inaccurate stories or supplement incomplete ones. For example, field offices could help identify stories warranting press coverage and provide indigenous spokespeople, logistical support, and other assistance to media covering stories in developing countries. Organizations should help link important stories to newsworthy events that are traditionally covered by western media, such as meetings of the World Bank or the International Monetary Fund. Information provided to the media should be accurate, concise, and clear, and presented in the manner and format requested by the individual reporter or organization. Relief organizations should recognize that the media have limited resources, and should avoid overstating the scope of disasters.
3. Evaluate media content. Relief organizations should evaluate media coverage for accuracy, quality, completeness, timeliness, and professionalism. Excellent media coverage should be recognized and used to help improve other reporting. Inaccuracies or misperceptions should be corrected through direct contact with the media and reporters involved, letters to the editor, guest columns, counterinformation, and other means available to relief organizations.
4. Create alternative programming. Relief organizations should work to facilitate documentaries and other programming that provides a more complete image of developing countries. In particular, organizations should work cooperatively with program producers in developing countries and with the media to create and disseminate programming, such as the Developing Stories series produced for the One World Group of Broadcasters and broadcast in 18 countries in the developed world in 1992. New outlets such as cable and satellite television offer considerable potential for airing such programming.
5. Evaluate relief organization communications. Many relief organizations--individually and cooperatively--have adopted standards for their communications with the public. All communications activities should be evaluated according to articulated standards. For example, InterAction--a membership association of U.S. relief organizations--requires its members to "respect the dignity, values, history, religion, and culture of the people served by the programs. They shall neither minimize nor overstate the human and material needs of those whom it assists." Save the Children (U.K.) has also adopted standards for communicating with the public: "The images and text used in all communications must be accurate and should avoid stereotypes and cliches. . . . Attempts should be made where possible to identify and quote people being photographed or interviewed. If they wish to remain anonymous, their request should be honored. Wherever possible, the views and experiences of the people involved should be communicated."
There is much we can do to correct misimpressions and to meet the challenge of conveying accurate, realistic information about development and life in developing countries in a timely, cost-effective, competitive manner. Many of the strategies identified in this report are simple and can be put into effect immediately and without significant cost. Most are already used by leaders in the development and media communities. What is important is that we continue the process of collaboration, both among and between media and relief organizations, to further the portrayal of honest, complete images of the developing world.