Humans are always in the habit of exploring and adapting to the physical and social realities around them. Such adaptations are basic steps to development and survival. Social institutions are often necessitated by societal needs for services, harmony and response to emergencies. The media are part of the social institutions established by modern civilization and empowered by law to hold other social institutions to account as well as to monitor, and to conscientize the institutions about important conflicts and developments. Unfortunately, while traditional media reporting in developing countries are not often well (economically) adapted to early warning and response systems, conflicts are emerging at a very fast pace, and reporters are struggling to cope. The present position paper explores the role of the media in early warning and early response systems towards anticipating and stemming conflicts and emergencies. It underscores the need for the media to extend traditional reporting role to anticipating and issuing early signals to avoid conflicts or to manage them. At no other time in human history is this more imperative. Keywords: Media, Early Warning, Early Response, system, conflicts