Portrayal of mediation through media presentation Keys
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Transcript of Portrayal of mediation through media presentation Keys
The Portrayal of Mediation
Through Media
Bianca Keys
The Accord Group, Australia
www.accordgroup.com.au
Why Is This Topic Important?
* Managing Expectations: Process, Role, Outcomes
* Clarifying Misunderstanding based on Dubious Exposure to
Mediation
"First the trust obtained the services of a person purporting to be
a mediator who was in fact an acquaintance of [the employer]
and a friend of the other supervisor…Second, [the employee] had
no input and or any say about the mediator for the meeting…the
"mediator" then did most of the talking for [the employer] and
gave [the employee] three oral warnings during the meeting.
The mediator then handed her a pre-prepared written warning”
The Cinema, the Candy Bar Lady and the Black Jelly Bean, Sydney Morning Herald, 21 June 2012
Where to Begin?
The “Unsung” Hero: The Mediator
• Prevalence of Legal, Court-Room Drama gives the viewer
some idea (however distorted) of the adversarial system.
• Where are the mediators?
• In those limited examples in which mediation is staged,
how realistically is the process and role of mediator
portrayed?
The Big Screen
• Hollywood has a lot to answer for: Where are the Mediators?
• Equally disturbing – The quality of the message (where
mediation is included)
• Disclosure (1994) – Arbitration or Discovery disguised as
“mediation”
• The Wedding Crashers (2005) – Owen Wilson and Vince
Vaughn as Mediators?
The Wedding Crashers (2005)
The Small Screen
• Examples from American Television
– The Good Wife
– Harry’s Law
– Star Trek: The Next Generation
• Fairly Legal – The Birth of a New TV Heroine/Mediator?
• A Time of Change?
Fairly Legal – Pilot Episode
The “Even Smaller” Screen
• Australian Soap Operas to the Rescue?
– Neighbours (3 mediations in 6 years)
– Home & Away (2 mediations 2002-2012)
• The Importance (or Unimportance) given to the Mediator’s Role
• Utility and Neutrality?
Reality Television
• Are you cringing?
• No Australian Examples (Yet)
• USA and UK examples
USA “The Peacemaker”
Casting Call – Acting Role for Mediators?
“GOT A BEEF WITH YOUR FRIEND OR FOE? NEED VALIDATION… OR
MAYBE CLOSURE?
Ever wish there was a professional way to settle your personal drama? MTV
Networks is casting for a new show where a trained mediator helps two high
school students who have an issue with each other resolve their dispute. We’re
interested in hearing all kinds of stories. For example: Do you have a friend that
always borrows money and never pays you back? Did someone start a rumor
about you that has had lasting effects? Did a fellow student bring uninvited guests
to your party then they trashed your home or disrespected you? Did an ex
vandalize your property, like keying your car? … If your recent ‘falling out’
needs resolution – then email us.”
Casting Call for Mediation, MTV Network, 12 December 2011
http://realitywanted.com/cal/14721-now-casting-mtv-mediation-show
Casting Calls Continued…..
“NOW CASTING: MOTHER-DAUGHTER EXPERIENCING CONFLICT
"MOMMY MEDIATOR”
A new pilot presentation is seeking moms who are having big problems being the
mother their teenage daughters (and/or children & spouse) want them to be….
*Are you finding yourself in big arguments with your teenage daughter (and/or
children and partner) about the way you parent?....
*Sick of the yelling and the criticism and want to mend your relationships with
your teenager, children and spouse?
This new pilot looks to mediate in households with moms who may feel like
outsiders in their own homes. If you're sick of feeling like the "bad mom" and
want to regain a better relationship with your family, please contact us
immediately! “
Casting Call for “Mommy Mediator”, 27 December 2011
http://www.realitywanted.com/call/14849-mommy-mediator-now-casting
Next Door
Nightmares (UK)
From excessive bongo playing to tall conifer
trees, Next Door Nightmares will either fill you
with relief that you don’t have such
inconsiderate neighbours, or with hope that a
reasonable solution is possible.
New to Sky1 HD, this documentary brings
warring neighbours together in an attempt to
resolve their ongoing feuds with mediators,
many of whom are volunteers, sent in to try and
defuse the situation.
Their job is not without risk – those involved in
long-running disputes may be on the verge of
violence, and otherwise reasonable homeowners
are driven to fury by their inconsiderate
neighbours.
Each episode follows the mediators as they
attempt to reconcile rows – from the moment
they’re called, through the negotiation process,
and culminates in a face-to-face meeting
between the quarrelling parties.
We’ve all had irritating
neighbours. But as Next
Door Nightmares shows,
barking dogs and
trumpet-learning
children are the least of
your worries.
http://sky1.sky.com/next-door-nightmares-helping-you-love-thy-
neighbour?DCMP=Sky1-search-sslc
The You Tube Phenomenon
Where to From Here?
• Mediators as Educators
• Collective ways to reach mass audiences?
• Examples
– NADRAC’s Guide to Dispute Resolution
– Role of the MSB?
• How do we create a visual?
• How do we influence those writing the scripts/creating the
shows?
• How can we effectively use social media (and portray a
consistent message)?
Let’s Keep the Conversation Alive!
Bianca Keys – The Accord Group
www.accordgroup.com.au
http://www.linkedin.com/in/biancakeys