Park University's Center for Global Peace Journalism Marks Decade with Symposium Commemoration
On March 2, 2022, at 10 a.m. (Central time), the Centre for Global Peace Journalism (CGPJ) at Park University will celebrate its 10th anniversary with a virtual symposium. The event, accessible at this link, promises to be an insightful exploration of peace journalism around the world.
At the heart of this celebration is Steven Youngblood, the founder and director of the CGPJ. A peace journalism expert, Youngblood has dedicated his career to promoting a more constructive and ethical approach to conflict reporting. His work emphasises peace initiatives and nonviolent methods of conflict resolution, moving away from sensational and inflammatory reporting.
Youngblood's contributions to peace journalism have earned him numerous accolades. In 2017 and 2020, he was awarded the Luxembourg Peace Prize for Outstanding Peace Journalism. His work has also seen him recognised by organisations such as the U.S. Department of State, Rotary International, and the United Nations Association of Greater Kansas City.
The symposium will feature a keynote address by Jake Lynch, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Director in the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Sydney, Australia. Lynch, one of the most published and most cited authorities in peace journalism, will discuss the importance of peace journalism in today's world.
The event will also include a moderated discussion on "Peace Journalism Around the World," featuring panelists from Cameroon, India, Lebanon, Mexico, Northern Ireland, Pakistan, and Uganda. Kathryn Johnston, deputy editor of VIEW, a magazine based in Northern Ireland that focuses on social affairs journalism, will give the concluding address.
Jake Lynch was also the recipient of the Luxembourg Peace Prize in 2017. He is known for his work in promoting peace journalism through educational and advocacy efforts, and for his commentary on influential figures like Mahatma Gandhi, whom he described as "the first peace journalist."
Youngblood, a two-time J. William Fulbright Scholar, has travelled to Moldova in 2001 and Azerbaijan in 2007. He has been a member of Park University's faculty since 1997 and has taught peace journalism in 27 countries and territories, including conflict areas.
As editor of The Peace Journalist, a semi-annual Park University publication dedicated to disseminating news and information for and about teachers, students, and practitioners of peace and conflict sensitive journalism, Youngblood continues to promote the philosophy and practice of peace journalism.
The CGPJ encourages media to reject sensational and inflammatory reporting, and produce counter-narratives that offer a more nuanced view of marginalized groups such as ethnic/racial/religious minorities, women, youth, LGBTQ, and migrants.
Join us at the symposium on March 2, 2022, to learn more about peace journalism and its role in creating a more peaceful world. Let's celebrate a decade of peace journalism and look forward to its continued growth and impact.
Attendees of the symposium can expect to learn about the philosophy and practice of peace journalism, championed by Steven Youngblood, a peace journalism expert who has dedicated his career to promoting constructive and ethical conflict reporting. Additionally, personal growth and self-development can be achieved through this symposium as it focuses on education-and-self-development and learning about peace initiatives, nonviolent methods of conflict resolution, and the role of peace journalism in creating a more peaceful world.
