Our Mission and Vision
Our Mission
Making Peace Visible (MPV) is a 501(c)(3) and the only bridge-building organization dedicated to bringing peacebuilders, journalists, and other media professionals together to examine how media is capable of both helping and hindering peace efforts. Together, we address how narratives about peace are shaped and disseminated; how the media can help educate the public on the viability of peacebuilding; and ways we might collectively implement groundbreaking strategies across all platforms for powerful, transformative storytelling. By cultivating this interdisciplinary network, we aim to shift media trends from divisive narratives to those that highlight the long-term, collaborative efforts that effectively prevent and resolve conflicts. Our goal is to make peace efforts more visible, understood, and supported in the public sphere, and to foster a more informed, engaged civic culture that supports peace as an essential part of democratic participation.
Our Goals
To improve the overall public narrative about peace
To expand global coverage of peace and reconciliation efforts in the media
To inspire a wider range of approaches to conflict reporting
Our Vision
Building Bridges: Journalism and Peacebuilding
Our vision is grounded in the belief that peacebuilding is a viable and transformative practice capable of resolving conflict without war and violence. We also recognize that peacebuilding will continue to be starved for resources until the public recognizes peacebuilding as a viable alternative to war. Given the critical role the media plays in shaping societal narratives when it comes to conflict, MPV is committed to forging strong connections between journalists and peacebuilders to help reshape the narrative on peace. To paraphrase the American playwright, Tom Stoppard, if you want to change the world, start with journalists. We’ve taken his advice seriously.
To accomplish this, we’re implementing a range of public programs to both foster in-depth, sustained cross-dialogue between journalists and peacebuilders, and to build public awareness about peacebuilding. We do this through our multiple platforms such as The Making Peace Visible Podcast, our online journal NUANCE, through online and in-person events, such as webinars and international symposia, and through our education program for both journalists and the public. Our goal is to establish a new network of professionals who are united by a shared commitment to reshaping the public narrative on peace and conflict.
Our Theory of Change
Peacebuilding is currently in a negative cycle. As a practice, peacebuilding is rarely reported on in the news. As a result, the public doesn’t see it as a solution to conflict, and without this recognition, it is therefore minimally resourced and supported. The scarce resources peacebuilding receives limit its progress as a viable solution to conflict. This perpetuates the cycle of its invisibility.
Our hope is to transition peacebuilding into a positive cycle. With more media attention focused on peacebuilding, the practice would gain visibility as a viable practice. With greater visibility, public support could grow, potentially leading to more resources for peacebuilding. With greater resources, more work in peacebuilding can be accomplished, leading to more peaceful outcomes in cases of conflict and violence.
