Mainstreaming the Mass Media in Early Warning and Early Response Systems

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