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"The media tend to emphasize and reinforce the priorities and values of those who create the messages and those who own the means of dissemination. The media product presented is the result of commercial, political, racial, class, and other cultural factors. Inevitably the interests of the owners of the media prevail."

Produced by Women's Media Watch Jamaica, this training manual shows how to go about reducing violence against women by challenging gender stereotypes in the media and working to improve media representations of women. The manual provides brief essays, exercises and practical tools for conducting workshops that explore the media's role in perpetuating sexism and violence against women and what can be done to change media imagery. Created by and for women of color in Jamaica, the issues, concerns and examples are equally relevant and accessible to U.S. audiences and communities.

Individual chapters systematically lay out the links between media imagery and violence against women in crisply - organized training segments. The manual first defines "media," then goes on to present a series of lesson plans and exercises focused on building awareness of gender stereotypes, particularly as presented in media imagery. Subsequent chapters point out ways that media portrayals of violence against women contribute to actual incidents of violence against women in society. Designed as a practical tool, the guide also features a section on how to do media analysis and media monitoring, along with suggestions for lobbying against sexist media images. Each training module includes interactive exercises that give training participants a chance to reflect on personal experiences and practice new skills. The manual also includes a set of handouts that can be copied and distributed to workshop participants to stimulate discussion.

Recommended for organizations looking for tips on how to analyze and use media in campaigns designed to challenge sexist imagery and prevent violence against women and girls.