Conclusion
USIP's Intended-Outcomes Needs Assessment methodology guides assessment teams through the process of designing purposeful media interventions that have a high likelihood of success. The IONA three-stage assessment process enables the creation of a portfolio of media and non-media activities that effectively address the root causes of conflict.
USIP has developed a spreadsheet-based tool called IONA Frame Manager to support the IONA process. Native spreadsheet function enables the creation and management of an IONA database with rudimentary search, sort, ranking, filtering, and comparison functionality. This prototype will demonstrate proof-of-concept, allow estimates of a custom tool's effectiveness, and provide useful input to the custom tool's specification process. Researchers interested in using the spreadsheet should access
USIP's Center for Media, Conflict and Peacebuilding Web site at http:// www.usip.org/publications/iona to download a copy of this tool. Because it is in the prototype phase, users should contact USIP with ideas for improving the Frame Manager.
Using the insight developed from the spreadsheet-based prototype, USIP intendes to develop user-friendly custom software for IONA data management and analysis.