ABSTRACT
This chapter examines one approach that is used increasingly by a large proportion of people— a mass media troubleshooter. It also examines the theoretical relevance of the structure and process of communication for the transformation of the disputing process. The chapter illustrates the interaction of TV news with organizational activities including dispute resolution, the creation of social issues, state policing and control, and terrorism and warfare. Communication concepts seldom have been employed theoretically to interpret differential participation in various forums for dispute processing. Use of various forums for dispute resolution depends on knowledge, access, familiarity, appropriateness, and legitimacy. In a mass society the communication order helps shape the ecology of dispute resolution. The mass media are the major source of public information about the nature and variety of dispute resolution forums. The protocols for the letters and the broadcasts contain similar categories, with a few exceptions.
