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Peacemaking in Communications Professions
Communication is impossible to avoid. From sharing ideas, to resolving conflicts, to enacting social change, communications is ingrained in almost every aspect of our social lives. Whether an individual or an organization, our ability to communicate can greatly impact our own well-being as well as our ability to influence our communities and even society as a whole.
The following courses are either required or elective for most communications majors and are included in the INPS curriculum:
- COMM 4500 - Race and Ethnicity in Media
There are as many ways to be a peacemaker in each communications profession as there are communications disciplines. Below is an exploration of some ways peacemaking intersects with the various majors and minors offered through 黑料论坛's Diederich College of Communication.
Peacemaking in...
Advertising
Converting messaging into engagement and action is as essential to the success of social ventures, nonprofits, and activism campaigns as it is to large businesses. Studies show that consumers are more likely to purchase from companies with social goals that align with their own personal values and beliefs.
Advertisements can highlight the sustainability or societal benefit of products, or can help those in need discover organizations that are best able to assist them. Truthfulness is an important ethical consideration in advertising so as not to mislead clients or consumers.
Some ad agencies may allow employees to take on pro bono nonprofit clients or have teams that specialize in public service / social benefit announcements. Likewise, nonprofits must demonstrate the ability to both reach prospective clients and raise funds for their operations. Advertising expertise benefits many professionals working in the nonprofit fundraising field, and can be attractive to nonprofit organizations looking for board members.
These ADVE courses are in the INPS curriculum:
- Additional ADVE courses may be waived in for INPS at the discretion of the Peace Studies program director.
Some organizations and employers in this area include:
- Almost all social ventures and nonprofits have an advertising or advertising-adjacent function
- Inclusive advertising networks and resources such as
- Regulatory agencies and guidance such as Federal Trade Commission and
- Storytelling for social change consultancies such as , ,
- Most activist organizations and campaigns have a committee focused on publicity or propaganda
Communication Studies
The ability to communicate is a foundational skill in every job and profession. Some factors that impact communication (and miscommunication) include cultural understandings, gendered language, generational differences, the urban/rural divide, and more.
Public speaking skills can help inspire the masses and rally support for social causes. On the other hand, strong interpersonal skills benefit those in service and caring professions. Furthermore, our communication styles impact the ways we prefer to approach and mediate conflicts.
There are also many legal considerations beyond freedom of speech outlined in the first amendment. Certain health, business, and law professionals are bound by specific legal and ethical provisions regarding client communications, disclosures, and more.
These CMST courses are in the INPS curriculum:
- CMST 3120 Interpersonal Communication
- CMST 4150 Communication and Conflict
- CMST 4400 Cross-Cultural Communication
- Additional CMST courses may be waived in for INPS at the discretion of the Peace Studies program director.
Some organizations and employers in this area include:
- Nonviolent communications training and certification organizations such as and
- Conflict style consultancies such as
- Law firms with communications law teams such as
Corporate Communication
All corporations communicate internally with employees and shareholders, as well as externally with customers and the public. Regardless of the audience, it's important for corporations to be effective communicators of their mission, vision, and brand.
Corporations often partner with nonprofits, public personalities, and influencers on specific social impact campaigns. The social issues corporations choose to address usually relate directly or indirectly to their mission, vision, or brand. This is commonly known as Corporate Social Responsibility. Some corporations may also be challenged or critiqued for stances they do or don't take on social issues.
These CCOM courses are in the INPS curriculum:
- Additional CCOM courses may be waived in for INPS at the discretion of the Peace Studies program director.
Some organizations and employers in this area include:
- Almost every corporation has a communications team
- Most large corporations have a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) team or program
Digital Media
Digital media, including television, radio, and social media, shape how we view and experience the world. Channels, programs, and shows can focus generally on social justice issues or highlight specific inequities as part of a storyline or episode.
Avoiding the use of tropes and stereotypes is an important ethical practice when developing content. Likewise, it's important to verify the accuracy of information before sharing as many malicious actors use digital technologies to spread rumors and misinformation.
Digital media can be a tool to effectively connect and teach people about cultures and histories other than their own. Documentaries, museum exhibits, and interactive websites all represent distinct ways digital media professionals can facilitate educational experiences that help build a better world.
These DGMD courses are in the INPS curriculum:
- Additional DGMD courses may be waived in for INPS at the discretion of the Peace Studies program director.
Some organizations and employers in this area include:
- Local reporting with a social justice lens such as and
- Networks and resource centers for journalists such as , , and
- Journalist safety organizations such as and
Film and Media Studies
Critical analysis of film and media recognizes the power of these mediums to shape public opinion and societal norms. Film and media can educate others on unfamiliar cultures, histories, and information. Stories and scenes can also engage the viewer's moral imagination through envisioning and exemplifying what justice looks like in action.
Media that normalize and encourage discrimination, hate, and violence should be criticized or understood in an appropriate moral and ethical context.
These FILM courses are in the INPS curriculum:
- Additional FILM courses may be waived in for INPS at the discretion of the Peace Studies program director.
Some organizations and employers in this area include:
- Many news organizations have arts & culture beats
- Networks and professional organizations such as
Journalism
Journalism, at its core, is a search for truth. Print and visual media have been powerful vehicles to expose violations of human rights, explore social issues, and mobilize people to work toward solutions together.
Journalists who integrate peacemaking into their reporting aim to remove the bias news often has towards violence (e.g., avoiding "good versus evil" framing). Peace journalism makes a point to include coverage of nonviolent responses and alternatives to violence when reporting on conflicts. Similarly, solutions journalism focuses on understanding and solving pressing social problems.
Whether reporting in familiar areas or in conflict settings, journalist safety is an important consideration. This may include environment assessments, self-care, protecting your sources, safeguarding data, dealing with online harassment, and more.
These JOUR courses are in the INPS curriculum:
- Additional JOUR courses may be waived in for INPS at the discretion of the Peace Studies program director.
Some organizations and employers in this area include:
- Local reporting with a social justice lens such as and
- Networks and resource centers for journalists such as , , and
- Journalist safety organizations such as and
Public Relations
All organizations (including social ventures, nonprofits, and social movements) can find themselves in a public relations crisis or situation in which organization representatives need to communicate with the media and public. Public relations is also an avenue for companies and organizations to demonstrate responsibility and accountability, especially as customer and client disputes are increasingly public through social media and online reviews.
Through public relations, companies can communicate educational information that supports and aligns with their social values. Furthermore, public relations teams at traditional businesses often partner with nonprofits, public personalities, and social justice influencers on specific social impact campaigns.
Skill overlaps between peacemaking and public relations include strategic problem solving, clear communication, and building relationships. This skill set can also serve professional fundraisers at nonprofit organizations well.
These PURE courses are in the INPS curriculum:
- Additional PURE courses may be waived in for INPS at the discretion of the Peace Studies program director.
Some organizations and employers in this area include:
- Most companies and organizations have a public relations team
Sports Communication
Sports communication can be a powerful force for shaping culture, building community, and advancing social justice. Historically, athletes have been among the most public personalities in struggles for racial justice and collective bargaining rights.
Beyond speaking out for social justice, many athletes and teams use their platform to support charities and foundations. This can include being a spokesperson, hosting fundraisers for nonprofits, or developing their own charitable foundation.
Examining a company's social and environmental impact or corporate social responsibility initiatives should be an ethical consideration in pursuing commercial endorsement opportunities.
These SPCM courses are in the INPS curriculum:
- Additional SPCM courses may be waived in for INPS at the discretion of the Peace Studies program director.
Some organizations and employers in this area include:
- Most athletes are represented by an agent or agency, which may also assist with public communications and endorsement deals
- Most sports leagues and teams have departments focused on communications and social responsibility
- Sport for Peace and Development organizations such as and
Theatre Arts
Theatre has long been a tool to draw attention to injustice and advocate for social change. Artists and creatives are often the first to give voice and visual to ideas of social justice and collective liberation.
Production companies, playwrights, and actors can prioritize projects that advance understandings of justice and injustice, as well as move viewers towards taking action to build a better world. Beyond the stage, street theatre and other forms of dramatizing injustice can help to make social injustices more visible.
These THAR courses are in the INPS curriculum:
- Additional THAR courses may be waived in for INPS at the discretion of the Peace Studies program director.
Some organizations and employers in this area include:
- Most cities have local theatres with productions that address social justice
- Social justice oriented improv theatre companies such as and
