Written for editors, reporters, and researchers, this publication contains background information on war and peace. Included are newspaper articles, essays, and excerpts from radio commentaries. The information is intended to help journalists provide more accurate coverage of war-and-peace issues, in particular more accurate coverage of the Soviet Union. The author believes that in order to encourage action, the topic of the arms race needs to be brought to the public's attention through all forms of the media. He states that without replacement of American stereotypes of the Soviet Union by something closer to reality, there is no hope of ending the cold war. Contents include articles such as "The Myth of Symmetry,""Public Health Research vs. the MX,""Our Portrayal of the Soviet Union Dooms Ourselves,""The Big Lie of the Arms Race,""The Media and Civil Defense,""One Paper's New Attitude toward Peace,""Words and War,""Media-MX Deal Denies Protestors Rights through News Blackout,""Journalism/Arms Race Direct Links,""Journalism and the Bomb," and "A Crisis of Perception." Resources listed included peace organization contacts and publications. (RM)