Journalists reach across borders, inspire
(Kathmandu, Nepal and Parkville, MO)—It’s hard not to be impressed by those actively working to build bridges across conflict-reinforced divides.

In this case, the bridge builders are 60 Pakistani and Indian journalists who gathered in Nepal last week as part of a cross border reporting workshop sponsored by the East West Center.

It was inspiring to see these supposed enemies working together as professional journalists while developing friendships in the process. The Indians and Pakistanis are teaming up to report stories of mutual interest on the environment, agriculture, health, and business. They’ll be publishing these jointly reported stories this fall in media across South Asia and, we hope, worldwide.

Nepali journalist Kunda Dixit

The environment group, for example, is working on such fascinating stories as transgender climate change activists, single use plastics, and the impacts of air pollution on street sweepers. Journalists will collect data and conduct interviews in India and Pakistan, then put the stories together with information from both countries. It’s gratifying to see peace journalism reflected in their story topic approaches, and in their ‘voice of the voiceless’ reporting plans.

It was an honor working with the team from the East West Center and with fellow trainers Sara Shipley Hiles, Randall Smith, Steve Rice, Erin Jordan, and Laura Unger; and with South Asian journalists Dilrukshi Handunnetti and Kunda Dixit, who taught an inspiring session on peace journalism and reconciliation.

I have been inspired to continue developing projects with a cross boundary reporting theme. There is no better way to plant the seeds of peace than through this type of people-to-people contact and collaboration.