Luxembourg Peace Prize Granted to Park University Professor
Park University Professor Steve Youngblood Receives 2020 Luxembourg Peace Prize for Outstanding Peace Journalism
Steve Youngblood, an associate professor of communication arts at Park University in Parkville, Missouri, has been honoured with the 2020 Luxembourg Peace Prize for Outstanding Peace Journalism. The award ceremony, initially scheduled for later this month, has been rescheduled to May 28, 2021, due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Youngblood, the founding director of the Center for Global Peace Journalism at Park University, is a key figure in peace journalism. He has been actively training journalists, including in regions like East Africa, to adopt peace journalism principles that promote conflict resolution and non-violent reporting.
The award ceremony will take place as part of the 5th annual Transatlantic Dialogue Conference at the University of Luxembourg in Esch-sur-Alzette. The event is jointly organised by the Schengen Peace Foundation and the World Peace Forum.
Youngblood's work in peace journalism extends beyond his role at Park University. He has been a J. William Fulbright Scholar in Moldova in 2001 and Azerbaijan in 2007. He also serves as editor of The Peace Journalist, a semi-annual Park University publication.
Youngblood's contributions to peace journalism have been widely recognised. He has been acknowledged by the U.S. Department of State, Rotary International, and the United Nations Association of Greater Kansas City, earning the World Citizen of the Year award in 2012.
In addition to his academic career, Youngblood has taught peace journalism in 27 countries and territories worldwide, including conflict areas such as Cameroon, Indian-administered Kashmir, Lebanon, South Sudan, and Turkey.
Upon receiving the award, Youngblood expressed his feelings, stating it was the honor of his professional lifetime. The award recognizes journalists or media publications that have used their craft to contribute to peace.
Youngblood resides in Parkville, Mo., and continues to dedicate his work to promoting peace through journalism.
Steve Youngblood, through his dedication to education-and-self-development in peace journalism, has fostered personal-growth in journalists worldwide, contributing significantly to conflict resolution and non-violent reporting. Youngblood's extensive work in this field has not only enriched his career at Park University but also earned him international recognition, including the 2020 Luxembourg Peace Prize.
