Through the Media Programme, the UNU International Institute for the Alliance of Civilizations will consider the role media can play in fostering greater tolerance and understanding among different cultures. Media professionals are understood to play a particularly important role in shaping public opinion in local and international arenas. With changes in perceptions and attitudes toward cultural diversity, media professionals will increasingly need to seek new ways of bridging cultural, societal and ideological divides. This research programme will focus on cross-cultural communication among media professionals with the aim of fostering new approaches to the use of mass media in an effort to reshape public discourse in more constructive ways. Some projects will be undertaken in collaboration with the Centro de Estudios y Documentacion Internacionales de Barcelona foundation. This research agenda will be further developed after the appointment of the Institute’s first director.
The focal point for this programme is Prof. Dr. Parvati Nair.
Impact: Influencing policymaking in the United Nations System
Target: Support the work of UN in the field of fostering dialogue amongst civilizations
How: Dissemination, cooperation
Impact: Influencing policymaking at the international level
Target: Support the work of different institutions by providing advice on cultural diversity in the media industry and among media professionals
How: High quality research and training in collaboration with international and local partners
Impact: Influencing policymaking at the regional level
Target: Support the work of partners in the Mediterranean region
How: High quality research and training
Impact: Influencing policymaking at the national level
Target: Support the work of local partners by providing advice on cultural diversity in the media, among media professionals and civil society
How: High quality research, training and dissemination
Impact: Raising awareness
Target: Provide the necessary research tools to understand and deal with cultural diversity among media professionals and civil society
How: Research, cooperation and dissemination