"There is an urgent need to work toward a process of greater social openness in order to be able to learn something about reality before it is set in concrete, in order to recognize facts before they are interpreted" (Ignacio Martin-Baró, 1991). The contribution which journalists can make to such a process of greater social openness is central to the present training book, which puts three topical complexes at the center of journalistic training: the transmission of theoretical knowledge of the social-psychological mechanisms involved in an escalation-oriented construction of reality, the application of this knowledge to sensitize journalists and the audience to the escalation-oriented bias of conventional conflict reportage and the development of writing techniques which will enable journalists to overcome it.

The book is unique in its combination of theoretical argumentation, empirical analysis and practical training offerings which are presented in the form of electronic teaching and learning material on the accompanying CD-ROM.

Contents: The social construction of international conflict / The logic of conflict and the dynamics of conflict escalation / War reporting and propaganda / The challenge of post-conflict reconciliation / Constructive conflict coverage / Training in journalism / Analyzing the media / Rewriting the news

The editor: The Austrian Study Center for Peace and Conflict Resolution (ASPR) is a private, non-profit, independent organization which is intended to contribute to advancing dialogue and propagating the idea of peace through research, teaching, training, conflict mediation and museum pedagogy.

The author: Wilhelm Kempf, Dr. phil. habil., is Professor of Psychological Methodology and Head of the Peace Research Group at the University of Konstanz, Germany.