The fellows visited the Asia Pacific Center for
Security Studies in Honolulu. 

Leading Jefferson Fellows: An invigorating experience
My recent stint as program coordinator for the East-West Center’s Jefferson Fellowship was among the most rewarding of my career as a trainer and project manager, despite more than our share of ‘act of God’ bumps in the road.

One of the primary reasons for my satisfaction was due to the fellows themselves, 12 journalists from the Asia-Pacific region. They were a delight to work with—smart, dedicated, fun-loving, intellectually curious, and never at a loss for a quip or smart-alecky comment. They consistently impressed me with their professionalism and energy. And, they were consistently on time, which was a big bonus to an anal retentive timekeeper/taskmaster such as myself.

Another reason that shepherding these journalists was rewarding was because of the expert groundwork laid for the fellowship’s stints in Honolulu, Manila, and Taipei by our crack staff at the East-West Center. On the old “Mash” TV show, a character named Radar anticipated what the colonel wanted before he even asked for it. On this project, I worked with four Radars who provided me with everything I needed, and many things I didn’t know that I needed until I needed them, to successfully run a program. Tasha, Lizzy, Carolyn, and Kellie are consummate professionals. My colleagues Devon and Meril also made substantial contributions on behalf of the fellowship, as did Denny Roy, an EWC researcher who accompanied us during the fellowship. It was marvelous to have a regional expert at our fingertips.

The topic of this year’s fellowship was regional security, which is hardly my area of expertise. I enjoyed learning about these security challenges, and what’s being done to address them.

Since the fellowship occurred only six weeks after I began at the East-West Center, my learning curve was steep. Without patient guidance from the aforementioned colleagues and Ann Hartman, director and dean of Professional Development and Education Programs, I would surely have sunk like a rock. Instead, I was at least semi-buoyant. I'm grateful for their mentorship.

I have promised all of my colleagues that I will take full advantage of having much more time to plan the next Jefferson Fellowships, which will be in October, 2025. In fact, we’ll start our planning in a few weeks, beginning with the theme and location. Stay tuned for details.

An aging (aged?) journalism program coordinator on the left,
EWC researcher Denny Roy on the right, and 2024
Jefferson Fellows in the middle.

Jeff Fellow Stevenson Liu from Vanuatu takes in the
scale of Taiwan's Zhaishan Tunnel.

Jefferson Fellows explore Taiwan's many facets
It’s not often that one gets to visit a national parliament. Or a campus where most of the world’s most advanced microchips are made. Or a former underground supply tunnel for warships. Yet, this is exactly what the East West Center’s Jefferson Fellows experienced this week in Taiwan. The Jefferson Fellows are 12 journalists from the Asia Pacific Region on a study and reporting tour of Honolulu, Manila, and finally Taiwan. I am the Jeffs project coordinator for the East-West Center.

These visits stood out for me:

The Taiwan Fact Check Center hosted the fellows. It is the first fact checking organization operating in Chinese that has been certified by the International Fact Checking Network. Chief Executive Eva Chiu said Taiwan is the most-targeted country when it comes to disinformation. (My friends in Moldova might dispute this). Disinformation, deepfakes, and cheapfakes coming from mainland China threaten to destabilize and undermine Taiwan. That’s why the Fact Check Center promotes media literacy, and shares its fact checking tips with journalists.

The journalists toured Kinmen Island, which lies only 10km from mainland China. Kinmen is part of a group of Taiwan-governed islands, and was the site of intense fighting during the Chinese civil war and later in the 1950’s. We visited Zhaishan Tunnel, which allowed military and coast guard boats to load and unload cargo and personnel without being bombarded. It is no longer in use, but is open as an unusual museum.

 Another highlight was our visit to the Hsinchu Science Park Bureau, where a cluster of manufacturers supply 90% of the world’s most advanced microchips, and a 68% market share of all chip production (Wired). We heard an interesting presentation about the microchip industry, and took a tour of the enormous manufacturing and R&D zone that houses the chip makers and others.

Jeff Fellows at Taiwan's Legislative Yuan (parliament)

Our last official visit was to the Taiwan's Legislative Yuan, similar to  parliament. We met Johnny Chiang, the vice president of the Legislative Yuan, and several of his legislative colleagues. I made a short five minute speech about the Jefferson Fellows program and the East West Center that no doubt set back Taiwanese-U.S. relations by decades. The Jeff journalists then had a chance to pepper the politicians with probing questions about using immigrants in the Taiwanese armed forces; the chances of a Chinese invasion (“very low right now”); the upcoming Trump presidency; and whether Taiwan relies too much on the U.S. (“no.”) 

Other visits included stops at foreign policy think tanks; an organization that manages cross straits relations (the Straits Exchange Foundation); a civil defense organization (Kuma Academy), and the American Institute in Taiwan, the pseudo U.S. embassy in the country.

The week in Taiwan was fascinating, and delicious. I now know why Taipei is listed among the world’s best culinary cities.

Next week, I’ll wrap up my discussion of the Jefferson Fellowships with a few of my own observations.

Never a dull moment for the Jefferson Fellows,
not even on the bus

 

 

 

 

 

Briefing aboard a Filipino Coast Guard vessel

Jeff Fellows explore maritime disputes in the Philippines
After a great week in Honolulu, 12 Jefferson Fellows—journalists from throughout the Indo-Pacific region—journeyed to Manila, Philippines to continue their research, study, and reporting tour. 

The Jefferson Fellowship is the flagship journalism program of the East-West Center. 

The highlight of our stay in Manila, in my opinion, was a fascinating visit to a Philippine Coast Guard vessel, the BRP Sindangan, which carries 44 sailors on 2-3 day missions to resupply their forces located throughout the South China Sea. These resupply missions are anything but routine. Since China also claims these waters, Chinese vessels regularly harass Filipino ships by firing water cannons, ramming, and swerving to impede. (See Video 1, Video 2 of these incidents). The captain of the BRP Sindangan visited with the journalists, discussing his ship’s harrowing adventures. He showed video clips of these incidents, the most recent of which just occurred last week. The journalists also got to tour the ship, including the bridge. I was told later this captain is noted for his daring, and his skill, in evading Chinese challengers.

Philippines Coast Guard 
vessel BRP Sindangan

China claims sections of the Philippine and South China Seas, though an international tribunal in 2016 brushed aside these claims, and ruled that the disputed waters belong to the Philippines.

The Jefferson Fellows also visited the online media outlet Rappler, home to Nobel Peace Prize winner and Jefferson Fellow alumnus Maria Ressa. She co-founded Rappler with Glenda Gloria, who spoke to the group about the challenge of running a media outlet during the Duterte presidency, when 12 legal cases were filed against Ressa and Rappler. Gloria said things are better now (they’re down to two legal cases), though far from perfect—going from “hell to purgatory,” she said. Rappler rests on three pillars—journalism, community and civic engagement, and technology, according to Gloria, who noted that the outlet’s “biggest competitors are social media content providers.” Rappler staffer and current Jefferson Fellow Bea Cupin then made a fascinating presentation about the Filipino personalities and politics involved with the maritime disputes with China, and discussed her experience reporting these incidents.

The reporters also met with Philippines Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner. He and four lieutenants answered questions from the Jefferson journalists about deployments in the South China Sea, about the impact of the Trump presidency on U.S. policy towards the Philippines, the transparency initiative which releases videos of Chinese water cannon and laser attacks, and strategies related to dealing with Chinese aggression.

The last day in Manila featured fascinating presentations by Richard Heydarian, an economics and trade analyst, and Antonio Carpio, a former associate justice of the Philippine Supreme Court, who discussed legal remedies to Chinese aggression.

Our stay in Manila also featured a meet-and-greet reception featuring the Jefferson Fellows and Filipino alumni of East-West Center programs. 

The Jefferson Fellows are off to Taipei, Taiwan today for another series of interesting meetings, tours, and reporting opportunities. Stay tuned for details.

At the East West Center alumni reception,
Century Park Hotel, Manila

Jefferson Fellow Charley Piringi (Solomon Islands)
at the USS Arizona memorial. 

Jefferson Fellow journalists meet, learn, report in Hawai'i
Take 12 journalists from the Asia Pacific region, add in many informative diplomatic and military briefings, stir in lots of journalistic expertise, and voila—you have the 2024 Jefferson Fellowships, which convened this week in Honolulu, Hawai’i.

The Jefferson Fellowship, sponsored by the East-West Center, is an annual event bringing journalists from the region together to study and report on issues of vital importance. The theme of this year’s fellowship is, “Partnerships, Postures and Perils: Assessing East Asia Security and Economic Environments.” The fellows this year are traveling to Hawai'i, the Philippines, and Taiwan.

This week, they fellows went to the US military’s Indo-Pacific Command, met with experts at the Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies, diplomats from consulates here in Honolulu, East West Center experts, as well as (via Zoom) David Sanger, New York Times White House and national security reporter.

Fellow Tingting Liu from Taiwan 
presents her research paper.

A few key takeaways:

--There is “no imminent threat of war” between the US and China because neither country wants this to happen, according to a senior US defense official
--Biden has managed competition with China competently, but hasn’t done enough, and hasn’t acted fast enough, according to Sanger
--The US won’t get involved in disputes about South China Sea islands, Sanger said
--Trump’s foreign policy consists of four themes: America is not exceptional; the US doesn’t benefit from international leadership; nationalism is good and globalism bad; and the military should be strengthened, according to EWC research and Indo-Pacific whisperer Dr. Denny Roy.

The Jefferson Fellows each also presented research papers on topics like China’s influence in the Solomon Islands; the Philippines middle power strategy; and the big picture in the South China Sea. Finally, they visited Pearl Harbor and the U.S.S. Arizona memorial--a powerful moment, since most of them were previously unaware of what happened on December 7, 1941.

It’s great to see how the journalists have already bonded, sharing both expertise and laughs. It’s going to be fun to travel with this group the next two weeks to Manila and Taipei. Stay tuned to this space for updates.

Jefferson Fellows visit the Asia-Pacific Center for
Security Studies in Honolulu.

Pakistani-Indian colleagues meet, discuss reporting projects
Of the dozens of peace journalism projects I’ve taught in 32 countries, few match the success of the Cross Border Reporting workshops that I’ve been involved with since 2018.

Thus, I was thrilled to reconnect yesterday with my Indian and Pakistani journalist colleagues in a new zoom meeting series called, Cross Border Conversations.

From Himal SouthAsian news

The Cross Border Reporting project, sponsored by the East-West Center, has brought together Indian and Pakistani journalists, uniting them first for Zoom trainings, then in-person in Kathmandu, Nepal. In Nepal, the journalists learned reporting and multimedia production techniques alongside peace journalism. Then, we put them together into reporting teams (one Pakistani, one Indian) to report stories of mutual interest. Our most recent meeting in Kathmandu was in January, 2024. 

During our Cross Border Conversations meeting yesterday, Pakistani journalist Ali Jabir Malik discussed the cross border story that he produced with Indian journalist Diwash Gahatraj. Their unique story was about how climate change has led to more snakebites in South Asia. He discussed the challenges they faced, including skepticism about their thesis and convincing media outlets to allow a double byline featuring both authors’ names. He said the journalists received positive feedback about the piece, which has spurred further research on the subject by scientists and other journalists. 

An Indian woman whose husband was
killed by a snake, and her children.

Cross Border Conversations also included an interesting brainstorming session led by Pakistani journalist Lubna Jerar, who teased out future cross border story ideas. These ideas include:

Air quality, smog, pollution, health effects
Smog and agricultural workers, particularly women
Smog and animals
Environment as driver for wider cooperation between governments
Fake news, and combating it
How smog impedes exercise, which leads to bad health outcomes
Religion and climate change
Cultural stories—clothing, jewelry, etc.
Culture shared practices
Refugees
Human-wildlife conflicts exacerbated by climate change (pangolins, leopards)

I concluded the session by leading a discussion about the U.S. presidential election, and its impact in South Asia. I shared a Foreign Policy magazine article whose title summed up its thesis: “In South Asia, expect continuity from Washington.” I  was asked about Trump and climate change. I replied that many climate change activists are concerned about climate change initiatives and regulations disappearing under the new administration.

Our Cross Border Conversations event will be held quarterly. I’m already looking forward to our discussion next February.

ABOUT THE EAST-WEST CENTER: The East-West Center is a nonpartisan, nonprofit, international educational institution whose mission is to promote better relations and understanding among peoples in the Indo-Pacific region. EWC does this through cooperative study, research, dialogue, and immersion experiences, including programs designed to train and connect journalists.

Insightful jointly reported N. Ireland-Kosovo stories published
An insightful series of articles jointly produced by journalists from Kosovo and Northern Ireland is being published by Shared Future News in Belfast.

These articles were produced as part of a groundbreaking project that combined discussions about reporting a troubled past with the principles of peace journalism. The participants first visited Kosovo and then Northern Ireland to learn about how journalists from both places are dealing with these thorny issues. 

As I wrote earlier, "It was gratifying to see how the project grew from an idea I had a few years ago into the initiative that brought together 20 journalists, half from each region. I was especially moved by the way the journalists came together, both professionally and personally. Project co-director Allan Leonard (Shared Future News, Northern Ireland) even said in his closing remarks in Belfast that the journalists, trainers, and project staff had united to form a family. This is especially remarkable given that the journalists are from different countries, practice different religions, and have a wide age disparity."

The project, sponsored by the British Embassy in Kosovo, culminated with the production of stories jointly produced by the one participant from each location. They're being disseminated by Shared Future News, one of the project's sponsors. I encourage you to look over these remarkable pieces, which demonstrate the constructive role media can play in building bridges and transitioning away from acrimony and division.

These stories include:
1. Lack of sculpture dedicated to women in Kosovo and Northern Ireland
2. Music's restorative capacity in Northern Ireland and Kosovo
3. Eating away at divisions in Northern Ireland and Kosovo
4. No one sees us--ethnic minorities
5. The salience of symbols

Other stories are being added daily at the Shared Future News website, so keep coming back for more.

I'm proud of the work of my journalism colleagues, and of the program's leaders Allan Leonard at Shared Future News and Xhemajl Rexha at the Association of Journalists of Kosovo. It's been a unique and wonderful learning experience for me.

Election 2024: Don't fan the flames
The first rule of peace journalism is this: at minimum, don’t make a bad situation worse and don’t add fuel to the fire.

Regardless of the election’s outcome, there will be anger, finger pointing, inflammatory language, false claims, and even hatred. So, what can the media and the public do to not exacerbate what will undoubtedly be an incendiary situation?

First, the public can avoid spreading propaganda. NPR has a great guide that details how to do this, including not getting anxious if the results aren’t available election night; pausing before re-posting, especially if you feel your emotions stirred by the info you’re reading; analyzing the source of information; and being wary of images because they can be manipulated or taken out of context.

As for journalists, what can they do to avoid fueling anger and division? Peace journalism can provide us several tips:

1. Don’t amplify extreme voices on either side
2. Don’t give credence to rumors of electoral fraud. Even in the unlikely event of electoral fraud, it will take weeks (months?) to uncover and prove any fraudulent activity.
3. Give peacemakers and moderates a platform, and amplify dialogue that builds bridges
4. Be patient, and don’t speculate. The results will come when the results come.
5. Explain trends, and don’t blow them out of proportion. One reason so many believe that the 2020 election was crooked is because their candidate was “ahead” but then ultimately lost. A better informed public would understand these ebbs and flows.
6. Call out those who use incendiary language, and especially those who advocate violence
7. Avoid exaggerated “end of the world” analysis from “experts.” A victory by the “wrong” candidate does not equal the apocalypse.

I’ll be watching and reading closely this week to see if the media contribute to reconciliation, division, and/or violence.

 

New professional chapter begins at East-West Center
When one door closes, another door open. Challenges are just opportunities by another name. You’ll land on your feet.

Yes, I used these cliches while counseling those who lost jobs, or didn’t get hired for the job they wanted. I was embarrassed to utter these seemingly silly phrases because, honestly, I couldn’t come up with anything better. I certainly didn’t really believe what I was saying.

In hindsight, maybe I was right.

I’m starting a new job now—one that is the perfect fit for my abilities and experiences. I am the seminars/journalism program coordinator for the East-West Center. In this capacity, I will help plan and facilitate programming for journalists from the Asia-Pacific region, and travel with these journalists as they explore and report about the region. My first project is facilitating the Jefferson Fellowships which will bring 12 regional journalists first to Hawaii and then to Taiwan and the Philippines reporting security and trade issues. I’m working with our partners in Manila and Taipei to line up speakers, set agendas, and so on.

Not only is the job perfect, but the location is idyllic Honolulu, Hawaii. (For some great Honolulu photos, check this out). Nothing is more attractive to me than no winters, no blazing hot summers, and easy access to breathtaking beaches and mountains. It truly is paradise.

I am grateful for the opportunity the East-West Center has given me, and will of course do everything I can to validate the confidence they’ve shown in me.

So, I did land on my feet, charge through that open door, and seize the opportunity that presented itself.

I’m excited to see what comes next.

Burns Hall, home of the East-West Center on the campus of
the University of Hawaii-Manoa

Hot off the presses: The new Peace Journalist magazine
The latest edition of The Peace Journalist magazine is out! It features a special report on a ‘reporting the past’ project with journalists from Kosovo and Northern Ireland, as well as dispatches from Ethiopia, Gaza, Uganda, and elsewhere.

The magazine can be viewed/downloaded at https://www.scribd.com/document/774752030/The-Peace-Journalist-mag-Oct-2024  .

This edition of The Peace Journalist was produced in cooperation with Making Peace Visible, a bridge-building organization that facilitates conversations globally about how the media cover peace and conflict. You can get their journal, Nuance, listen to their insightful podcast (also called Making Peace Visible), or sign up for their newsletter at https://www.makingpeacevisible.org/ .

Enjoy the magazine.

Best wishes, Steven Youngblood, Editor, The Peace Journalist

MPV, Indian-Pakistani peacebuilders inspire
As we approach the International Day of Peace on Sept. 21, my thoughts and gratitude turn to the peacemakers with whom I’ve had the privilege of collaborating.

While the list is too long for one blog (or a dozen blogs), let me pick out a few peacebuilders whom I admire:

I am grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with Making Peace Visible—MPV.  MPV is a bridge-building organization that facilitates important conversations globally about how the media cover peace and conflict. MPV’s mission is to help expand global coverage of peace and reconciliation efforts in the media, to inspire a wider range of approaches to conflict reporting, and to improve the overall public narrativ about peace. Towards that end, MPV produces an entertaining, enlightening podcast, also called Making Peace Visible, and a journal, Nuance. They are planning an ambitious symposium in Washington in 2025 that will bring together journalists and peacebuilders to discuss how they can make peace more visible. MPV is led by Luxembourg Peace Prize laureate Jamil Simon, one of the most dedicated peacebuilders I know. He is joined by an equally committed staff of associates and volunteers that include Faith McClure, Andrea Muraskin, Dr. Annie Rappeport, Adam Weiss, and Peter Argoos. Their commitment to the cause of peace and their perseverance inspires me.

I am also inspired by the 80 or so courageous peacebuilders who have participated in the East-West Center’s two cohorts of a cross border reporting project. These participants are journalists from India and Pakistan who have come together to meet (on Zoom first, and then in person in Nepal) and to jointly report stories of mutual interest. The last cohort, which met in January in Kathmandu, reported climate stories. It takes courage for these journalists to work with “the enemy” since such collaboration opens them up to suspicion of collusion, spying, or disloyalty. Yet, these tenacious journalists persist. They have produced stories that highlight the commonalities between the two countries, rather than the traditional narratives that demonize and dehumanize the other side. (See below, links to some of these stories). Their perseverance also inspires me.

As I begin a new chapter in my career next month (details soon!), I will strive to meet the high standard set by these exemplary peacebuilders.

East West Center Cross Border Reporting Project—Stories produced include:
Transgender climate activists
Regenerative Farming 
Flood Relief 
Snakebites 

Bonus--Previous Peace Day posts:
a. University students: What peace means to me
b. Peacebuilding in Yemen
c. Kansas City peacebuilders
d. Nelson Mandela Peace Summit at the United Nations in New York

N. Ireland, Kosovo journalists forge professional, personal bonds
August was a whirlwind that took my colleagues and I to Kosovo, then back home for a few weeks, then finally to Northern Ireland. We were collectively tapping into one another’s wisdom about the troubled pasts that both regions are still dealing with, and how, as journalists, we can most responsibly report on issues like anniversaries, memorials, victims, trauma, and justice. (See my previous blogs for details about the trips to Pristina/MitrovicaKosovo and Belfast/Derry Northern Ireland). 

At the Bloody Sunday memorial in Derry, Northern Ireland. 
(Photo by Allan Leonard/Shared Future News)

It was gratifying to see how the project grew from an idea I had a few years ago into the initiative that brought together 20 journalists, half from each region. I was especially moved by the way the journalists came together, both professionally and personally. Project co-director Allan Leonard (Shared Future News, Northern Ireland) even said in his closing remarks in Belfast that the journalists, trainers, and project staff had united to form a family. This is especially remarkable given that the journalists are from different countries, practice different religions, and have a wide age disparity. The journalists from Kosovo were mostly in their 20’s and 30’s, while their peers from Northern Ireland were mostly, well, much more seasoned.

Their newly formed connections will be put to use as the journalists produce stories during the next month in teams of two (one reporter from Kosovo, and one from Northern Ireland). They’ve selected thoughtful, riveting story topics including refugee songs and their power to integrate or segregate; challenges facing ethnic minorities and women in both Northern Ireland and Kosovo; how food brings people together; missing women; expectations of young generations (especially women) regarding reconciliation; women’s football in both places; the role of symbols/flags in reconciliation; naming of monuments; and integration of education. All stories will be explored using a gender-sensitive lens.

I enjoyed my job as one of the project’s trainers, as well as working with Allan Leonard and Xhemajl Rexha, director of the Association of Journalists of Kosovo (AJK). Leonard, Rexha, and their helpers at AJK, Shared Future News, and the National Union of Journalists in Northern Ireland developed invigorating itineraries for the participants, and overcame a million logistical challenges. They have my gratitude and admiration. Of course, I'm grateful as well to our funders, the British Embassy in Kosovo.

I’m proud of what we accomplished during our trips to Belfast/Derry and Pristina/Mitrovica. I’m looking forward to seeing the stories produced by the teams of journalists. My expectations are very high indeed for some outstanding reporting.

Beautiful, and historical, Derry, Northern Ireland

"Reporting the Past" journalists reconvene in N. Ireland
(BELFAST AND DERRY, NORTHERN IRELAND)—Sometimes, everything goes just right.

No, I’m not talking about my Belfast to Kansas City travel home, which included a cancelled flight, a second massively delayed flight, and a soul-crushingly long passport control line at O’Hare.

What went right—just right—was the second part of our project that has brought together journalists from Kosovo and Northern Ireland. Early in August, we visited Kosovo. Last week, we were in Northern Ireland, hearing about media and The Troubles, and discussing responsibly reporting a contested past, especially things like anniversaries, monuments, marches and other events, etc.

Richard Moore shares his incredible story

Everything went right (as it did in Kosovo) thanks to our local host Allan Leonard and his colleagues at
Shared Future News who planned an exemplary itinerary for us. We got to visit with the incomparably inspirational Richard Moore. Blinded by a British soldier’s rubber bullet in 1972, he told us about his incredible journey, one unencumbered by even the slightest whiff of anger or bitterness. He met the shooter 33 years after the deed, a day he called “one of the best of my life.” The two frequently give presentations together. His reflections on forgiveness were especially poignant. “Forgiveness is a gift you give yourself,” he said, adding, “Forgiveness doesn’t change the past, but it changes the future.”

We also met Paul Gallagher, who survived his own trauma during The Troubles, at the WAVE Trauma Center, which works with survivors of The Troubles with counseling, short courses, and fellowship. Importantly, WAVE reaches across divides, allowing its clients and others to hear about suffering that occurs in all communities. He discussed the nuances of victimhood in Northern Ireland: who are good and bad victims? Which victims are innocent, and which are terrorists? He then discussed NI’s segmentized society, admitting that he is a “recovering sectarian bigot.”

In-class presentations included Allan Leonard’s terrific overview of Northern Ireland’s terribly complicated history, Angela Fusco’s talk about how to sensitively report trauma, a panel discussing women in journalism, and my presentation on human rights reporting in transitional societies.

The journalists from Kosovo and I got to tour many interesting sites, including the so-called Peace Walls

Colin O'Carroll discussed Belfast's "Peace Walls"

that separate communities in conflict in both Belfast and Derry. In Belfast, we were treated to a biking tour by journalist/participant Colin O’Carroll, who showed us historical and tourist sites. 

We also journeyed to Derry, which is where we heard Richard Moore, toured important historical sites, and learned about a peacebuilding organization called the Holywell Diverse Community Partnership that facilitates difficult conversations and public forums on issues that cut across sectarian communities.

Next week, I’ll put a bow on our August visits to Kosovo and Northern Ireland, and preview the next phase of the reporting a troubled past project.

On the bike tour at Queens University-Belfast

 

Part Two
Journalists learn N. Ireland, Kosovo history, and PJ's role 
in reporting about troubled, contested pasts
(Pristina and Mitrovica, Kosovo)-Last week, 20 journalists from Kosovo and Northern Ireland gathered for a workshop focusing on responsibly reporting a troubled past. The journalists learned about the conflict in Kosovo, and analyzed the obstacles they face in reporting about contested narratives about the past. Of course, peace journalism was also on the menu.

The four day program included classroom sessions and a number of fascinating trips.  (In my previous blog below, I discussed the first two days of the seminar, including an interesting visit to Mitrovica, an ethnically-divided city.)

Journalists brainstorm bridge-building story ideas

The third day of the seminar was the in-class portion of the program. I discussed how peace journalism might inform better reporting about controversial past events and contested narratives. This included a lengthy but important discussion about the nature of the word “terrorist,” and when and how to use it. I presented the 10 principles of peace journalism, and asked the journalists which might best apply to reporting the past. Many answered “all of the principles apply,” while others picked out several most salient principles, including rejecting ‘us vs. them’ narratives and instead building bridges; providing context; balancing reporting; and avoiding inflammatory language and images.

During my presentation, I also recommended that the journalists consider producing stories that discuss the role of denial in confronting the past; how different post-conflict generations have dealt with memories of the conflict; victims, victimization, and trauma healing; how causes of the conflict are still present today; the ongoing negative impacts of the conflict—social, political, economic; previously unexamined human rights violations during the conflict; contested narratives, and the reasons/motivations behind them; commonalities between conflicted communities; and ideas about, and examples of, bridge building initiatives between conflicted communities.

My presentation was followed by a revealing discussion led by Allen Leonard, editor of Shared Future news and the project’s Northern Ireland co-director. He delved deep into the region’s history (the Norman Conquest!) before giving a brief overview of the Troubles, the period of violent sectarian unrest from roughly 1968 to 1998. Noteworthy was his analysis of the BBC’s shifting focus of the coverage, and whether it should have given the “oxygen of publicity” (in the words of Margaret Thatcher) to anti-British forces. Leonard also led a discussion about whether journalists should withhold information that would jeopardize the peace process. Are we citizens first, and journalists second?

Xhemajl Rexha, director of the Association of Journalists of Kosovo (AJK) and the project’s Kosovo co-director, then discussed reporting about the past in Kosovo. He began with a timeline of the conflict here, tracing it back to the 1970’s (Kosovo gets autonomy inside Serbia) through the beginning of attacks by the Kosovo Liberation Army in 1994, the war in 1998-99, and the birth of the state of Kosovo in 2008. He talked about one incident in 2004 when misreporting by the media caused riots that killed 19 and displaced thousands, and about the difficulty of reporting during this conflict, and in choosing language—Intervention or invasion? War or conflict? Peacekeepers or occupiers?

After the presentations, the participants visited the Kosova Rehabilitation Center for Torture Victims, and the Barabar Center, a cultural dialogue hub in Pristina. They work to organize events and exhibitions that will “shift the pattern” and bring together people from all ethnicities to mingle and discuss an art exhibit, a book launch, a musical presentation, and so on. Interestingly, Barabar recently hosted a peace activist from Northern Ireland, Jo Berry, who gives presentations alongside an IRA bomber who planted a bomb that killed Berry’s father.

The week concluded with the journalists coming up with story ideas which they will utilize in reporting projects jointly conducted with one journalist from Kosovo and one from Northern Ireland.

The project was organized by the Association of Journalists of Kosovo, Shared Future News in Northern Ireland, and me, as director of education for Making Peace Visible. The project is funded by the British Embassy in Kosovo.

Next week, the project moves to Belfast and Derry, Northern Ireland. Updates will be posted on this site.

At "The Bridge" dividing ethnic groups in Mitrovica 
(Photo by Allan Leonard)

Part One:
Journalists from Northern Ireland, Kosovo convene to discuss reporting a troubled past, peace journalism
(Pristina and Mitrovica, Kosovo)-Other than being on the front lines during combat, journalists face no tougher challenge than reporting from and about places that are recovering from violent conflict. With this in mind, we convened 20 journalists last week from two such recovering conflict locations—Kosovo and Northern Ireland. Our task: to learn about conflict in Kosovo, to compare challenges in reporting contested narratives, and to discuss how peace journalism can be useful for reporting about troubled pasts.

10 journalists from Northern Ireland traveled to Kosovo for the project, organized by the Association of Journalists of Kosovo, Shared Future News in Northern Ireland, and me, in my roles as director of education for Making Peace Visible and director of the Center for Global Peace Journalism. In Kosovo, the Irish journalists met and collaborated with 10 Kosovo journalists. The project is funded by the British Embassy in Kosovo.

The four day program included a few classroom sessions, but also a number of field trips designed to educate the journalists about how the past is commemorated and reported about in Kosovo.

On Monday, we launched the program with a brief overview about the nature of memory. In short, memories are often distorted due to newly acquired information (misinformation effect), hindsight bias (people relate present perceptions with memories that they consider predictable), and the overconfidence effect wherein people credit themselves for better memory than they actually have. As journalists, I said we need to be aware of distorted memories, and how these help to fuel contested narratives, which are past events where the existing historical narrative is refuted or supplemented by alternative narratives and/or new perspectives. We then discussed the variety of distorted narratives in both Northern Ireland and Kosovo, many of which center on the origins of the conflicts, and how events and people are perceived (terrorist or freedom fighter? Massacre or battle?)

At exhibit on child war victims, Pristina

One of our first stops was an exhibit called “Once Upon a Time and Never Again” about the 1,133 children killed during the war between Serbia and Kosovo from 1998-2000. I had to fight back tears as I read the stories of kids who died, and looked at the artifacts they left behind, like shoes, a sled, and a tricycle.

On Tuesday, the 20 journalists traveled to Mitrovica, a city north of the capital Pristina that is essentially divided into two. Ethic Serbs live in the northern half. There, they fly Serbian flags, use Serbian currency and cell phone service, and consider themselves citizens of Serbia, even though their half of Mitrovica is inside Kosovo’s territory. Ethnic Albanians, who are the majority in Kosovo, live in south Mitrovica. Life in divided Mitrovica was addressed by north Mitrovica resident Jelana Rasic, who met with the journalists at the concrete barrier on a bridge that divides Mitrovica. Pedestrians calmly stroll across this bridge and around the barrier, though vehicular traffic isn’t allowed. In fact, there is a current proposal to open the bridge to vehicles which is opposed by the Serb minority. Interestingly, there was a rally at the bridge to protest this proposal the day after we visited Mitrovica.

Jelana Rasic, at the "border" between
North and South Mitrovica

In Mitrovica, we also met with representatives from Community Building Mitrovica, which is dedicated to building dialogue between ethic Serbs and Albanians. This exemplary organization is extremely active, and sponsors youth camps for young people from all ethnicities; a rock music school; local women’s organizations; and a coffee festival. They even helped to establish a peacebuilding course at a local university that is taught in English and enrolls students from across the ethnic spectrum.

In these first days of the program, I was thrilled to notice the camaraderie that the journalists built. They quickly became a team, and curiously questioned one another about the obstacles journalists face in both places, as well as the lessons they’ve learned in covering conflict.

At the end of the month,  the 10 journalists from Kosovo will travel to Northern Ireland to examine reporting a troubled past from an Irish perspective.

IN PART TWO: In part two of my report about our visit to Kosovo, we’ll discuss our visit to a peacebuilding organization in Pristina, as well as story ideas on reporting a troubled past produced by the participating journalists.

Assoc. of Journalists of Kosovo director Xhemajl
Rexha discusses the "border" situation in Mitrovica.

Podcast features leading peace journalist
A new Making Peace Visible podcast (from the organization of the same name) features one of the world's leading peace journalists, Gloria Laker from Uganda. 

You can catch my interview with Gloria and hear her inspiring story here. Enjoy!

Call for Papers: The Peace Journalist magazine

Dear colleagues:

The Peace Journalist, a semi-annual magazine produced by the organization Making Peace Visible, is seeking submissions for its October edition. Submissions should be 600-1600 words, and address peace journalism/peace media research and projects. Please also submit photos, if possible. We do not run articles about general peace projects or processes unless they have a strong media component/angle.

The previous edition of The Peace Journalist can be found at https://www.scribd.com/document/718881055/Peace-Journalist-Mag-April-2024

The deadline for submissions is Sept. 4. The magazine usually fills up quickly, so the sooner you can get your pieces in, the better. Please submit to steven.youngblood@fulbrightmail.org .

Thank you in advance for your submissions.

Best wishes,

Steven L. Youngblood
Editor, The Peace Journalist magazine
Director of Education, Making Peace Visible
steven.youngblood@fulbrightmail.org
@PeaceJourn

After the assassination attempt, media consumers aren't powerless despite a flood of polarizing disinformation
Many media consumers are feeling helpless and hopeless in the wake of a tsunami of false, misleading, hateful, and polarizing social media that followed Saturday’s assassination attempt.

These negative narratives filled the internet in the hours and days immediately following the incident in Pennsylvania. There were absurd conspiracy theories on both sides. On the left, one theory was that the whole thing was staged—ridiculous when one considers Trump came within a half inch of being killed. On the right, the predictable theory was that Biden and/or dark government forces were behind the attack. This is also absurd. If it were true, would they hire an untrained, 20-year old knucklehead to do the job?

In addition, “We saw things like ‘The Chinese were behind it,’ or ‘ Antifa was behind it,’ or ‘the Biden administration did it.' We also saw a claim that the RNC was behind it,’” said Paul Bartel, senior intelligence analyst at PeakMetrics. “Everyone is just speculating. No one really knows what's going on. They go online to try to figure it out.” (Spotlight.pa) 

Deepfakes also quickly popped up. After Trump was ushered offstage, his face streaked with blood, “a doctored photo of the scene began bouncing around on X, falsely showing Trump with a wide smile,” according to the Washington Post. 

It’s too early to say exactly what impact all of these lies and distortions have had on media consumers. It’s safe estimate that perhaps millions have fallen for hateful, inflammatory, polarizing disinformation. Of course, those who are media literate are inoculated against disinformation because they possess the tools to critically analyze media messaging. This includes asking the simple yet crucial questions:

What is the source of the info?
Is this source credible? Reliable?
What is the motivation behind the post/report?
How did the info/post make you feel? (If it’s angry, that’s one tip off that the content is mis or disinformation)
Who benefits from this info/post?
What methods are used to attract my attention, or to elicit emotion?

Average media consumers are not powerless in the face of negative, polarizing information. First, we can practice Peace social media, a close cousin to peace journalism. Peace social media is when content creators make choices that encourage an atmosphere that is more conducive to peace. Peaceful social media practitioners don’t create or share polarizing ‘us vs. them’ narratives, or hateful, misleading posts. Social media users can expose such posts and the often vile motives behind them, without reposting the hateful content itself. And we all can educate ourselves about media messaging so that we don’t fall prey to the fear mongers, haters, and propagandists in our midst.

We can’t control what news media or politicians say. But we can control both how we interpret and react to inflammatory content, and what information we create and share on social media.

Protesting Russian oppression of journalists at the Russian embassy in Moldova on Free Press Day.

Fulbright Update:
Revisiting nine invigorating months in Moldova

My academic-year-long Fulbright Scholarship in Moldova came to an end last month. It was one of the best experiences of my professional life.

As with my previous two Fulbrights, the bulk of my most impactful, gratifying work occurred outside of my official assignment in the state university’s journalism department.

My best experience at Moldova State University in 2024 was when I worked with a class that teaches English to law students. I met with this class three times to discuss disinformation and deepfakes, and to present information on how to successfully produce a short video, which was a class assignment of theirs. Then, I met a larger group of English learners at America House to discuss disinformation and peace journalism.  (https://stevenyoungblood.blogspot.com/2024/05/fulbright-update-connecting-with.html )

My experiences with English faculty and students were excellent. The students were curious, engaged, and energetic. The faculty and students made me feel welcome, and valued.

Outside the university, I loved working with Centrul Media Pentru Tineri, the Youth Media Center. I was a co-presenter at CMT media literacy seminars in Soroca, Cimislia, and Ungheni, and presented as well at their Camp Reunion event in December. I also “acted” in CMT’s social messaging YouTube program “Singura Acasa.” As I wrote earlier, Brad Pitt and George Clooney have nothing to worry about. My CMT colleagues were great, as were the teenagers we taught. The sophisticated media literacy skills these students demonstrated make me hopeful about the future of Moldova despite the country being inundated by Russian disinformation. 

At a CMT media workshop for youth

My work with UN Human Rights in Moldova was, I hope, impactful. I taught a 3.5 day peace journalism seminar in Vadul Lui Voda for journalists from Transnistria, Gagauzia, and the rest of Moldova, as well as a “Media Brunch” in Bender with journalists from Transnistria. I also worked with the UN and API to develop an online peace journalism course. (See details). Again, my UN colleagues were a delight to work with. I deeply admire the important work they do, and their dedication to this task.

I collaborated with the Asociatia Presei Independente (API) on the aforementioned online peace journalism course, which will be posted by the end of their year on the API website.  I also taught two seminars for journalists sponsored by API on the subject, Responsibly Reporting Roma. (Details). 

The work done by these organizations, CMT, UN Human Rights, API, and the Independent Journalism Center, for whom I wrote several articles on media and refugees, is vitally important for Moldova’s future, which is predicated on successfully combating Russian meddling, influence tactics, and disinformation. (See my recent US Institute of Peace article about Russian disinformation for more details.) By facilitating a free press, shining a spotlight on Russia’s destabilization tactics, and empowering Moldovans to analyze and debunk propaganda, these NGO’s are helping Moldovans to choose a path of democracy and freedom. 

I was thrilled to play even a small role in these laudable efforts.

The most professional fun I had was undoubtedly my eight or so visits to Orizont Lyceum, where I discussed media, disinformation, and life with an energetic, clever fifth grade class. The kids and I connected in the same way grandparents connect with their grandkids. I got a little misty-eyed when I left them for the last time. (Details) 

My personal experiences were also memorably fun. I spent a weekend with friends in Ignatei, a village north of Chisinau; attended the wine festival and the annual Chisinau birthday party; drank too much great craft beer; ate too many placintas; spent many glorious hours in parks and strolling around lakes; and had wonderful interactions with Moldovan friends and colleagues.

I can’t highly recommend enough the Fulbright Program for faculty and student exchanges. This was my third Fulbright scholarship. Each was an unparalleled horizon-expanding experience—a journey of discovery not just of the countries I visited, but of myself.

I’m working on several grant possibilities now that could bring me back to Moldova. I can’t wait to return!

Filming "Singura Acasa" for CMT.
I was one of the "stars" of an episode.

 

 

 

Moldova, disinformation article published by USIP
An article I co-authored has been published by the US Institute of Peace on their website. The article details the hybrid war being waged against Moldova and its EU and democratic aspirations. It's a real honor writing for USIP, whose initiatives and staff I greatly admire.

https://www.usip.org/publications/2024/07/russias-disinformation-targets-moldovas-ties-europe

hashtag #Disinformation has been posted on the website of the US