Park University's Global Peace Journalism Center to Commemorate Decade Milestone with Symposium Event
On March 2, 2022, the Center for Global Peace Journalism (CGPJ) at Park University will celebrate its 10th anniversary. This virtual symposium, held from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. (Central time), promises a day filled with insightful discussions, inspiring speeches, and a celebration of the CGPJ's significant contributions to peace journalism.
The symposium will feature a moderated discussion on "Peace Journalism Around the World," with panelists hailing from Cameroon, India, Lebanon, Mexico, Northern Ireland, Pakistan, and Uganda. This discussion will delve into the role of journalism in promoting peace, conflict resolution, and understanding, offering a global perspective on the importance of peace journalism.
The keynote speech, titled "25 Years of Peace Journalism," will be delivered 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 share his insights on the evolution and impact of peace journalism over the past quarter-century.
The concluding address, titled "Reaching the Future Through the Past," will be given by Kathryn Johnston, deputy editor of VIEW, a magazine based in Northern Ireland that focuses on social affairs journalism. Johnston's speech will no doubt inspire attendees as she shares her insights on the future of peace journalism and its role in shaping a more peaceful world.
The CGPJ, under the leadership of its founding director, Steven Youngblood, has been at the forefront of promoting peace journalism. Since its inception in 2012, Youngblood has conducted peace journalism workshops in 33 countries worldwide, including conflict areas like Cameroon, Indian-administered Kashmir, Lebanon, South Sudan, and Turkey.
Youngblood, a two-time J. William Fulbright Scholar, has been a member of Park University's faculty since 1997. He is also the 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.
The CGPJ offers various resources such as courses, workshops, lectures, a magazine, blog, and other materials to encourage media to produce counter-narratives that offer a more nuanced view of marginalized groups. These resources aim to promote journalism that highlights peace-building efforts, conflict resolution, and nonviolent approaches to reporting on conflict zones and global crises.
Youngblood's contributions to peace journalism have been widely recognised. He was awarded the 2020 Luxembourg Peace Prize for Outstanding Peace Journalism, and has been recognised for his service to global peace by the U.S. Department of State, Rotary International, and the United Nations Association of Greater Kansas City, which named him its World Citizen of the Year in 2012.
The symposium is open to the public, and can be accessed at this link. Join us as we celebrate a decade of peace journalism and look forward to its future.
Social media users can share the link to attend the symposium's celebrations of a decade of peace journalism, showcasing discussions, speeches, and insights on the role of journalism in promoting peace and conflict resolution. Attendees might find educational material and self-development opportunities in the conference's workshop and lectures, focusing on peace journalism's role in shaping a more peaceful world.
