Thinking about Syria

I've done a lot of thinking lately about the situation in Syria vis-a-via peace journalism. As usual, I'm left with more questions than answers. How should websites and TV networks handle the inflammatory images from Syria? Are the consequences of not publishing these videos and photos worse than if they are shown? Do these images encourage peace or inflame war? Or, are they necessary tools in the overthrow of a tyrant? Stay tuned: I'll be writing at length about this soon.

Peace Journalism Center--Nuts and Bolts

By popular demand, I've pasted below some basic information about the just-approved Center for Global Peace Journalism at Park University.

Center for Global Peace Journalism--Information sheet

Mission:
The Center for Global Peace Journalism at Park University promotes the concepts of peace and peace journalism, including advocating non-violent conflict resolution, through seminars and courses both in the U.S. and abroad, through its website and magazine, and through partnerships with like-minded organizations and individuals.


What we do:
The Global Peace Journalism Center is a resource for Park University students, Park faculty, high school journalists, professional journalists worldwide, and like-minded organizations.

Activities:
1. The center launched a Peace Media and Counterterrorism program in Dec., 2011. The project brings together media and security officials in Uganda to establish frameworks of cooperation on anti-terrorism efforts. It is funded with a $150,000 State Dept. grant.
2. Center Director Steven Youngblood taught and coordinated a comprehensive Peace and Electoral Journalism Project in Uganda from July 2010 to November 2011. It featured seminars, a PJ reporting contest, producing peace-themed radio programs, etc.

Publications:
1. The center will be publishing an e-magazine, "The Peace Journalist", in April and November, 2012. This semi-annual magazine will feature articles and multimedia from peace journalism practitioners from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe.
2. A chapter about the Uganda peace journalism project is featured in the just-published book, "People Building Peace 2.0" The story by Steven Youngblood was selected for the book as part of a "Stories of Peace" contest sponsored by the Peace Portal.

Looking ahead:
1. The Peace Media and Counterterrorism project will continue in May and June, 2012 as Steven Youngblood and Park Criminal Justice professors Ken Christopher, John Hamilton, and Carol Getty travel to teach in Uganda.
2. An official launch event for the center will be held in September, 2012 at Park University.
3. A peace journalism symposium will be held at a Park campus site to be determined in October, 2012.

--Follow me on Twitter @PeaceJourn--