NOTE: This is the first of occasional bi-lingual blogs I'll be posting. The English is on top, si versiunea in Romana (Romanian) este mai jos.

Fulbright Update:
Team saves the day with exemplary sessions for Ungheni youth
The essence of team is to help one another out even of one of the members is struggling.

Recently in Ungheni, Moldova, I was fortunate to have a great team of trainers from the Centrul Media pentru Tineri  to pick me up when I stumbled.

Natalia Strogoteanu

Our CMT (Youth Media Center) team was in Ungheni recently training 26 young people on media, including social media, peace journalism, and video production.

My session on peace journalism  was, to put it charitably, mediocre. It was too stiff, too academic, and not participatory enough for 15-18 year old youngsters.

Fortunately, the other sessions were outstanding, breaking the kids of the stupor that I induced.

Natalia Strogoteanu led an interesting discussion about navigating the Internet, and about the competencies involved in media education, including access, analysis, reflection, and action. Natalia and the students talked about online sources and their reliability. It was great to see the way she connected with the students. She’s a natural.

Gabriel Encev

Then, Gabriel Encev discussed and demonstrated the basics of videography, including rule of thirds, lighting, subject framing, and so on. He also discussed and showed examples of video storytelling. Gabriel is also a natural.

After this, the students broke into four groups, each of which planned, shot, edited, and posted a 1-minute Tik Tok-style video touting the benefits Ungheni Youth Center, which hosted our training. The students loved doing this, and produced some fascinating videos.

As we concluded, the students thanked Gabriel, Natalia, and team leader Alexandru Ghetan (another natural) for an outstanding training, which it was, but no thanks to me.

On the trip home, I promised my CMT colleagues that I’d drastically improve my segment of the next training, which will be in Soroca. I’ve got nowhere to go but up.

Students plan their video shoot in Ungheni

In Romana
Esenta unei echipe este să se ajute reciproc, chiar dacă unul dintre membri are dificultăți.

Recent, în Ungheni, Moldova, am avut norocul să am o echipă excelentă de formatori din Centrul Media pentru Tineri care m-au ajutat când am dat greș. Echipa noastră de la CMT (Centrul Media pentru Tineri) a fost în Ungheni pentru a forma 26 de tineri în domeniul media, inclusiv social media, jurnalism pentru pace și producție video.

Sesiunea mea despre jurnalismul pentru pace a fost, să fim caritativi, mediocră. A fost prea rigidă, prea academică și prea puțin participativă pentru tinerii cu vârste între 15 și 18 ani.

În mod fericit, celelalte sesiuni au fost remarcabile, scoțându-i pe tineri din amorțeala pe care am indus-o. Natalia Strogoteanu a condus o discuție interesantă despre navigarea pe internet și competențele implicate în educația media, inclusiv accesul, analiza, reflecția și acțiunea. Natalia și studenții au discutat despre sursele online și fiabilitatea lor. A fost minunat să văd modul în care s-a conectat cu studenții. Este o natură.

Apoi, Gabriel Encev a discutat și a demonstrat aspectele de bază ale videografiei, inclusiv regula treimilor, iluminarea, încadrarea subiectului și așa mai departe. A discutat și a arătat exemple de povestire video. Gabriel este, de asemenea, o natură.

După aceasta, studenții s-au împărțit în patru grupuri, fiecare dintre ele a planificat, filmat, editat și a postat un videoclip de 1 minut în stil Tik Tok pentru a promova beneficiile Centrului pentru Tineret Ungheni, care a găzduit formarea noastră. Studenții s-au distrat făcând asta și au produs câteva videoclipuri fascinante. Pe măsură ce am încheiat, studenții le-au mulțumit lui Gabriel, Natalia și liderului echipei, Alexandru Ghetan (încă o persoană natură) pentru o formare excelentă, ceea ce a fost, dar fără contribuția mea.

În timpul călătoriei spre casă, le-am promis colegilor mei de la CMT că îmi voi îmbunătăți semnificativ partea mea din următoarea formare, care va avea loc în Soroca. Nu am încotro decât să merg în sus.

--Translated using ChatGPT

 

 

 

Fulbright Update:
Event explores complexity of Israel-Hamas journalism
As I embarked on my year-long Fulbright here, I anticipated talking about war and media, given that Moldova borders Ukraine on three sides. What no one could have anticipated, however, was another horrible conflict.

Media coverage of this latest war, between Israel and Hamas, was the focus of a panel discussion “The Israel - Gaza Conflict: What Journalists Covering War Should Know” organized by the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) last Thursday on Zoom.

Multimedia journalist Michael Lipin, who covers international affairs as a Voice of America (VOA) bridge editor, joined me as a panelist. Lipin produces and hosts VOA's weekly podcast, Flashpoint Iran. He also has done multiple assignments in Israel, interviewing senior political and military figures about Israel-Iran tensions as well as the 2018 visits of U.S. President Donald Trump to Jerusalem.

Top-ICFJ moderator Paul Adepoju, me;
Bottom-Michael Lipin, VOA

Lipin discussed his extensive experience in the region with the 64 attendees, and the approaches he uses when reporting. His current focus is on Iran, and he used this to emphasize the  importance of offering a wider, contextual perspective about the situation in the region, given Iran’s impact and influence on Hamas and Hezbollah. Lipin also mentioned the significance of language, including the sensitive nature of the term “terrorism.” During the Q and A, we also discussed if and when we should use the word “genocide.”

I began my presentation by pointing out the many characteristics Lipin’s approach shares with peace journalism. Then, I offered peace journalism as a different way of reporting and thinking about the war. I gave an overview of peace journalism, then discussed some questions that peace journalists would ask about Israel-Hamas war coverage. These questions are:

1. Does the coverage present all victims as worthy? Are all innocent lives valued equally in storytelling? Are all those traumatized treated with empathy and sensitivity, or re-traumatized? And, are the voices of victims, including those displaced, heard?

2. Do the stories and images accurately portray suffering on all sides? Or, is the suffering shown 98% “ours” and 2% “theirs”? And, is “their” suffering sanitized (e.g. long shots of bombings, but no close ups of carnage)?

3. Is the coverage contextual? Does it explain, but not excuse, the attack by Hamas? Is the blockade mentioned? Is Hamas’ commitment to destroying Israel mentioned?

4. Are media disseminating only factual, verified information and images? Are images used authentic? Is propaganda unwittingly being circulated in mainstream news platforms and on social media?

5. Does coverage generalize, stereotype, scapegoat, and demonize “them”?

6. Is there any discussion of peace, or peaceful alternatives to war, no matter how remote they seem? Are peacemakers given a voice? Or, is peace simply mentioned in passing, and summarily dismissed?

7.  What are the consequences of the reporting? Does it make angry people angrier? Empower warmongers? Does it make peace less possible? Is it polarizing? Does it glamorize or glorify war? In sum, does it pour gasoline on the fire?

8. On social media, are journalists actively combating falsehoods about the Israel-Hamas war, no matter which side they might seem to benefit? Are they “pre-bunking” anticipated themes of disinformation?

9. Is the coverage biased? Does it simplify the situation into “good guys vs. bad guys? Are voices heard from only one side?

10. Is the coverage sensational, in both language and images? Are bloody, horrifying images used because they’re needed to tell the story, or are they used instead as click bait? Are images and storytelling emotionally exploitative?

Then, I led attendees through newspaper front pages of the initial Hamas attack, discussing whether these represent peace journalism.

I concluded my presentation by noting that in times of war, journalists are pushed to their professional and ethical limits. In these times, I think it’s valuable to step back, take a breath, and examine how we report, and the consequences of that reporting. Peace journalism provides a valuable means for that self-reflection.

During the Q and A, we were asked if we prefer calling this conflict the "Israel-Gaza war" or the "Israel-Hamas war." Both Lipin and I agreed that the latter is the best choice, given that it more accurately reflects the conflict. 

Resources:

ICJF’s page of tips for reporters covering the Israel-Hamas war

Michael Lipin’s profile page on VOA

 

 

 

Fulbright Update:
In charming Cahul, a day well spent with English students
The audiences for my presentations and lectures are usually media, communications, and journalism students. So it was an interesting challenge to address a different crowd in Cahul, Moldova, in the southern part of the country.

State University, Cahul

The participants, a mix of English learners at the Bogdan Petriceicu Hasdeu State University, seemed to be responsive to my presentation about media and peace journalism, and, implicitly, their role as media consumers.

We discussed the use of images from conflict zones, and when and if it’s appropriate to show bloody, horrifying images. The students were squeamish about this, opting for a virtual ban on these images. I never say never, and believe sometimes horrifying images need to be shown (e.g. Alan Kurdi, the little Syrian boy who’s body washed ashore in Turkey 8 years ago). 

Students analyze content for peace journalism

We also discussed local coverage of the Ukraine war. The students opined that this coverage depends on “who you’re listening to.” Romanian language and European coverage is very pro-Ukraine, while Russian language coverage is propaganda filled, and of course pro-Russia. Drastically imbalanced coverage, I suggested, does audiences a disservice.

There was also an excellent question asking if I knew the number of practicing peace journalists in the U.S. or worldwide. Alas, I responded, no such data exists, to my knowledge. In individual organizations like the Cameroon Community Media Network or the Media Association for Peace in Lebanon, yes, they have membership numbers. But we in the peace journalism field need a big fat grant (anyone have a loose $100,000 laying around?) to adequately finance a study that would answer this important question.

I have been invited back to give another presentation in the spring. I will happily accept this invitation because I enjoyed visiting with the students and because I loved Cahul, which appropriately rhymes with cool. It’s a charming little town, with a comfy park, tree lined streets, and a small town European vibe. I’m already looking forward to my return visit.

Central Park and cathedral, Cahul

 

Fulbright Update:
Moldova's National Wine Day: My strictly academic experiences
As a strictly academic exercise designed to satisfy my curiosity as an amateur sociologist, I attended the National Wine Days (Ziua Nationala a Vinului) celebration last weekend in Chisinau.

The two day event featured 95 wine vendors, along with food, music, and shopping.

A ticket to the event bought you 12 wine tastings—maybe ¼ of a glass each. Of course, regulation glasses and bottles of wine were for sale as well. As an academic research project, and to fulfill my role as cultural ambassador here in Moldova, I thought the right thing to do would be to purchase a ticket (about $12).

I know nothing about wine, except that I like it dry. I made it a point to try wines from small wineries, those I haven’t heard of or tasted in the past. I liked all the samples I tried, especially the dry roses and whites.

The highlight of the event, for me at least, wasn’t even the wine—it was the terrific entertainment. Bands, singing groups, and dancers entertained the thousands present from a main stage from noon-ish until well into the evening each day. I loved the music—upbeat, traditional, fun, eminently danceable. The musicians used a variety of instruments, including violins, accordions, dulcimers, pan flutes, and so on. It was fun watching the crowd get into it, dancing with themselves, fake conducting the orchestra, and singing along. The attendees danced in large circles, holding hands and swirling rhythmically in an almost dizzying display.

While I try to be a polite, appreciative cultural ambassador here in Moldova, my politeness did not extend to dancing. Between the wine and my general ineptitude, had I “danced,” the wreckage I wrought might’ve created an international incident.

I was, however, a better cultural ambassador when it came to the food, which was quintessentially Moldovan—friptura (grilled meats) of lamb, pork, chicken, rabbit, and a small bird of some kind (quail?), served alongside lots of fresh, tasty salads. The light haze created by all this charcoal grilling occasionally drifted from the food sector over towards the main stage, to the olfactory delight of those assembled.

If you haven’t been to Moldova, the wine festival is the time to come here to learn about the culture, language, music, food, and wine of this undiscovered gem. And, it makes for an interesting sociological study for those academics in the crowd.

 

Fulbright Update:
Warm welcome extended by media center, Chisinau Rotary

Centrul Media pentru Tineri-Youth Media Center
As I’ve taught in 32 countries (face to face), most of my collaborators and partnering organizations have been very good. However, none surpasses the Centrul Media pentru Tineri (CMT) here in Moldova. It’s honestly one of the reasons I selected Moldova for my Fulbright.

The youthful, vibrant team 
from the Centrul Media
pentru Tineri, and an elderly
person (front and center)

CMT, a youth media center, is dedicated to “promoting the rights of children and young people to free expression, opinion, and participation” in society.

In this capacity, CMT sponsors a number of activities: media camps, roundtable discussions, a video program called Abraziv (abrasive), etc. It also sponsors media clubs in eight cities and villages around Moldova that provide outreach and programming for young people outside the capital Chisinau. These clubs “provide an opportunity (for students) to make their voices heard in their community and get involved in solving local challenges.”

I’ve worked with CMT 3-4 times in the past teaching media programs for youth. I had a blast doing this, and loved the kids’ energy, enthusiasm, and optimism.

This academic year, we’ll again be collaborating. I plan to visit each of the CMT’s Media Clubs outside of Chisinau—8 clubs in all. On our first stop in Ungheni, I’ll be leading a peace journalism session and taking part in other discussions with the local youth (15-18) there. I’m also going to be helping to launch new clubs, and teaching short courses here in Chisinau.

I can’t wait!

Rotary Club of Chisinau
Those who put service above self (the motto of Rotary International) are the same the world over.

A case in point is the Chisinau Rotary Club, which has taken me in as a member since my arrival here 5 weeks ago. As an honorary member of the Parkville (MO) Rotary Club, I was already familiar with Rotary and Rotarians, so I shouldn’t have been surprised with the reaction here when the Chisinau club met with tragedy.

A valued and much-loved middle-aged member of the Chisinau club passed away suddenly and unexpectedly last week. Our meeting that week was sad and poignant yet somehow uplifting, and featured toasts and short speeches singing the praises of what sounded to me like an extraordinary woman. Then, these Moldovan Rotarians do what Rotarians anywhere would do: honor their colleague by planning, fundraising for, and launching a project to honor the deceased member. In this case, the project is to buy orchestra uniforms for school kids who can’t afford them. Without these uniforms, young musicians can’t perform with their peers. In just a week, the club raised over $1700, with more donations on the way—enough at this stage to pay for 40 uniforms.

Overall, I’ve been impressed with the commitment of these Rotarians to assist their community, reflected in their projects to bring updated technology to schools, including smart boards for use in a local school for children with autism. Bravo, Chisinau Rotary Club.

Chisinau Rotary Club meeting

 

New Peace Journalist magazine arrives on virtual newsstands!
The new edition of The Peace Journalist magazine is out! This edition features insightful articles about a seminar in Greece and AI’s role in non-violent communication, along with stories from Cameroon, Brazil, Kosovo, Pakistan, Serbia, and elsewhere.

You can access (view and download) the magazine at- https://issuu.com/parkalumni/docs/the_peace_journalist_-_vol._12_no._2_october_202 .

The next edition of The Peace Journalist is April, 2024, with a copy deadline of early March. Submissions are of course welcome from all.

Enjoy the magazine!

Best wishes,
Steven Youngblood, Editor