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

PJ podcast released by Politik International
I'm honored to have been interviewed for the Politik International podcast produced by the Union Foundation (Stiftung) in Germany. The host and I discussed peace journalism in times of conflict, the efficacy of PJ, and its potential. 

The podcast is titled, interestingly, More Freedom Through Media? I don't know if I'd thought of Peace Journalism in this way, though it does spark interesting questions about the intersection (symbiotic relationship?) of peace and freedom. 

Next week, I wrap up my Fulbright scholarship.

Wrapping up my Fulbright Scholarship in Moldova
My 9-month Fulbright Scholarship to Moldova has concluded. I'm processing the experience now, and will share my reflections in next week's blog. Stay tuned. 

(Top photo-Traditional music/dancing from Chisinau birthday celebration; Bottom-With my fifth graders at Orizont Lyceum)

TAD promotes dialogue, builds bridges of understanding
As any peace journalist knows, one of the keys to creating an atmosphere conducive to peace is establishing dialogue. In the parlance of PJ, this means rejecting “us vs. them” narratives and instead building bridges of communication and cooperation across boundaries.

Thus, I was right at home at the recent Transatlantic Dialogue (TAD) Conference in Luxembourg, whose theme was “Soft Power in Uncertain Times: Building Bridges for Culture, Diplomacy, Peace, Trust, and Compassionate Leadership on a Changing World.” The event was sponsored by the European Cultural Parliament and the University of Luxembourg.

During the PJ session at TAD

In my session, I discussed how peace journalism can be used to build bridges. I gave two examples. I’ve been working on a cross border project for the last five years that has brought together Indian and Pakistani journalists to jointly report on issues of common concern, especially climate change. It’s been gratifying to see them work together, and to bond as professionals and as friends. A short video produced by the East West Center, sponsor of the cross border reporting project, can be found on YouTube. We met the journalists in Nepal in 2022 with the first cohort, and again in Nepal in January this year to discuss peace journalism, multimedia production, and reporting skills.

The second bridge building example I gave was on a recent project I did in Moldova that brought together journalists from the disputed region Transnistria and from the rest of Moldova. Journalists from across this boundary are jointly producing stories in the same manner as their Indian and Pakistani counterparts. For more details, see my earlier blog entry. 

Nour Saleh's session at TAD

I also participated in a panel discussion (“TAD Talk Show”) on challenges for cultural diplomacy. This discussion naturally centered as well on building bridges, but I think offered some hope about the potential for both journalism and art to help spur dialogues. My fellow talk show panelist Nour Saleh, founder of the organization Art Breath in London, also gave a session about cultural exchanges through the arts. I loved her energetic presentation about the power of art to make us more aware of the world around us, and to transcend “us vs. them” barriers. It was fascinating to learn about Art Breath, which is an “interdisciplinary platform where the arts and politics collide. Sharing voices from around the world to showcase the power of people and the power of the arts that speak on matters that affect us,” according to its website.

There were a number of interesting sessions at TAD, attended by professionals and a American students from universities like Emory and Miami of Ohio. I liked the keynote by Hubert Wurth, honorary ambassador of Luxembourg in Moscow, who talked about the role of culture and art in war. He reminded the gathering of the importance of culture in building shared perspectives, and respect for culture as a foundation of ethical behavior. I of course thought of Russia, which has attached Ukraine not only militarily, but also culturally, seeking to erase Ukraine’s heritage. Two other presenters, Ashley Brown from Emory University and Zduy Chu from Florida State University, diplomatically discussed cancel culture, and the pressures being faced by those advocating diversity and inclusion. Baptist Coelho, visual artist from India, gave a fascinating presentation featuring his remarkable photos from Kashmir. Writer Nicolae Burcea led a discussion about social media. He was optimistic about the ability of social media to bring people together. TAD also featured a number of musical interludes from the group Voxology.

The Transatlantic Dialogue conference is the brainchild of Francois Carbon, a long-time educator and peacebuilder in Luxembourg. His energy, vision, and good karma permeate TAD, and create a warm and welcoming environment where hope can flourish. It was, as you can surmise, a vibe very different from the usual academic conference—one I found refreshing and invigorating.

It was an honor to be invited to speak at TAD, and to represent, for the first time, my new partners, the outstanding organization Making Peace Visible. I’ll be working with them on educational programs.

Francois Carbon at TAD

Valea Morilor Park, Chisinau

Fulbright Update:
Life is good in Moldova, and so is the Chisinau Rotary Club
I haven’t written much about this, but life is very good here in Chisinau.

If you live in the center of town, as I do, the city is very walkable, and there are a number of beautiful parks at ones’ fingertips. Schedule permitting, I often spend an hour during lunchtime strolling the central park, Valea Morilor lake, or cathedral park. The nearby (10 min bus ride) Valea Trandafililor park is also worth the visit.

I live near the piata centrala, the central market, and thus tasty, cheap, fresh fruits and vegetables are also at my fingertips. The seasonal fruits (cherries and strawberries now; grapes in the fall) are notably excellent. Moldovan food is among my favorites—always fresh and well prepared. (This is a good guide to traditional Moldovan dishes.) 

Yes, it tastes as good as it looks

The restaurant and beer scene here has picked up considerably since my first visit in 2001. There’s a credible Asian restaurant, several good Georgian restaurants (dumplings!), and you can even get very good falafel in several places. There is craft beer everywhere, including two fine brewpubs. I’m recommending the Vienna lager at Holz brewery, and the dark house beer at Kozlovna brewery.

It seems like there’s always a festival or celebration of some kind going on in Chisinau, from the recent Europe Day to last fall’s raucous wine festival. 

Rural Moldova is charming. I spent a few days in Cahul, in the south, last fall, and loved it. I recently spent a weekend in the small village of Igntei north of Chisinau, and marveled at its natural beauty and in the warmth and hospitality of my hosts.

I would be happy living in Moldova long term, if I could bring my family and friends. Since that's not possible, I’ll have to content myself with occasional visits.

Charming Ignatei, north of the capital

Moldova Rotary Club
One of my favorite activities while in Moldova, not coincidentally done with some of my favorite Moldovans, was my participation in meetings and activities with the Rotary Club of Chisinau.

I had worked with them in 2022 on a project that connected my Rotary club in Parkville, MO to the Chisinau club on an initiative to benefit Ukrainian refugees. Having already had that connection, I had an “in,” and was generously invited to meet with them weekly. These meetings were great—always fun, frequently celebrating a birthday or other milestone. Especially memorable was a party to celebrate Rotary International’s birthday, and an afternoon spent planting cherry trees on the farm of one of our members. (Despite my brown thumb, the trees are reportedly thriving).

This club means business, and spares no expense or effort to make Moldova a better place, with multiple public service projects to provide scholarships, buy A/V equipment for schools, teach kids about the dangers of drugs, and even, simply, to help out a family in need. As I said during my last meeting with the club, I was honored to be associated with the Chisinau Rotary Club.

Chisinau Rotarians plant cherry trees

Brainstorming ideas at workshop in Chisinau

Fulbright Update:
Journalists learn Responsibly Reporting Roma
One of the tenets of peace journalism is to give a voice to the marginalized in our communities. Here in Moldova, and throughout much of Europe, there is probably no group that is as marginalized as Roma.

With this in mind, I launched a two-seminar series on Responsibly Reporting Roma. The first event was held on May 17 in Chisinau, and the second a week later in Soroca, a city north of Chisinau with a large Roma population. Both seminars were sponsored by the Independent Press Association (API).

Elena Sirbu, at Roma workshop in Soroca

I was joined by journalist and Roma activist Elena Sirbu. She told the journalists in Chisinau about the diversity in the Roma community, including the fact that there are 40 sub-groups of Roma. She discussed the term gypsy (in Romanian, tigan), which was used long ago to describe a slave or “untouchable.” Today, this term is seen as an “insult,” according to one of the Roma panelists who presented at the seminar. In Chisinau, one journalist said that the term gypsy (tigan) is tradition, implying therefore that it’s okay to use. I replied that there are traditional terms in the US to describe African Americans, including the n-word, but that no one believes now that these terms are acceptable. In Soroca, the discussion about “tigan” was much more robust, with several journalists arguing that some older Roma even accept and use this word. Sirbu replied that it’s a little like the n-word in the U.S.—that it’s okay to use within a group of African Americans, but insulting when others use it. At the outset of the Soroca seminar, the journalists were freely using the word “tigan.” By the end of the seminar, they were not.

In Chisinau, the panelists and Sirbu all decried the stereotyping and stigmatization of Roma done by the media. Panelist Sergiu Bugai showed several examples where media fed into the stale narrative of Roma as criminals. I said that all journalism codes of ethics I know dictate that journalists not mention the race or ethnicity of subjects in their stories unless it’s relevant. So, the paper should read, “store robbed,” not, “Roma robs store.”

Panelist Sergiu Bugai at Chisinau workshop

In both Soroca and Chisinau, I presented some information about how peace journalism can provide a foundation for more responsibly reporting about Roma. This includes rejecting stereotyping, xenophobic language and images like the one Sirbu showed of Roma women in colorful dress. Roma voices must be central to any reporting about Roma communities. And peace journalists should offer counternarrative stories that debunk media created and perpetuated stereotypes, stigma, and myths about Roma. The journalists attending the seminars were asked to come up with counternarrative story ideas about Roma in Moldova. The excellent story ideas generated in Chisinau and Soroca were on religious diversity in Roma communities, discrimination in employment, schooling for Roma kids, Roma LGBTQ individuals, success stories, Roma women and mental health, NGO programs for Roma, and mixed families of Roma and other Moldovans.

I hope to see these stories online, in print, and on the air in the coming weeks.

Fulbright Update:
In Russia-loving Transnistria, journalists gather for media brunch
Though I’ve been to Moldova many times, and lived here since September, last Thursday was my first foray into Transnistria.

For the uninitiated, Transnistria is a break-away region of Moldova. In 1993, a group of Russian-backed separatists fought a brief was against the rest of Moldova and broke away from Moldova, forming what they call the Prednistrovian Republic. This enclave is not recognized as a country by any other nation, even their Russian backers (some would say, puppet-masters). An estimated 1500 Russian troops are stationed in Transnistria, Russian flags fly everywhere, and there are multiple of statues of Lenin glowering over stark Soviet-style squares.

Lenin: Right at home in Transnistria

This time, the cliché is true: I really was back in the USSR.

It was infuriating and disheartening to see the Russian flags in Transnistria, given Russia’s unjustified, brutal war against Ukraine and Ukrainians. These visible pro-Russian sentiments are evidence of the success of Russian propaganda that justifies Putin’s brutality, and the acute need for more media literate Transnistrians (and others Moldovans who consume Russian language media) who are able to more critically analyze media messages, their sources, and the motivations behind them. Putin and his anti-democratic henchmen are already hard at work spreading disinformation to stop Moldovans from approving EU membership during a referendum this fall. Media literacy is needed help blunt these attacks, which the Moldovans call a hybrid war.

Upon entering Transnistria, as an American, I was told to expect some scrutiny or even harassment at the “border.” This did not happen, and we were through the checkpoint, armed by Russian and Transnistrian soldiers, in 2 minutes. I’m guessing the fact I was with a UN delegation in a big white SUV with “UN” stenciled on the side may have had something to do with that.

The occasion for my visit to Bender was a UN Media Brunch, gathering reporters from Transnistria and the rest of Moldova to discuss responsibly reporting about refugees using a peace journalism framework. The UN Human Rights office arranged an expert array of panelists who presented statistics about the number and status of refugees and discussed how NGO’s here help refugees. Noteworthy were our discussions about Roma refugees, who face a double stigma of being refugees and being discriminated against as Roma. 

A Ukrainian refugee spoke to the group about the struggles she’s endured since coming to Moldova in 2022. She discussed how she has battled uncertainty and depression, fought to obtain health care, and struggled to find a job. “You can’t understand how much it hurts until you experience it,” she said. (I am withholding her name for her protection).

I closed the event by asking the journalists to scrutinize their own work using a number of questions that I presented. These are:

--Am I framing stories as “us vs. them?”
--Am I dehumanizing, demonizing, or stereotyping “them?” (refugees)
--Am I spreading propaganda?
--Does my media outlet serve politicians or a political agenda, or the public?
--Do my stories build brides between refugees and their hosts, and between Transnistria and the rest of Moldova?
--Do I ever publish positive stories about “them?”

The session was interesting and useful, and indicative of the excellent bridge-building work being done by the UN Human Rights office here in Moldova. It’s an honor working with them.

(NOTE: The views expressed here are my own, and don’t represent the views of UN Human Rights, which of course must strictly maintain its neutrality. --SY)

Media Brunch, Bender

Harvard event posted
The webinar "How do media find room for peace" sponsored by Harvard University (see previous blog) was recorded, and has been posted online. You can find it at https://www.pon.harvard.edu/events/kelman-seminar-media-find-room-for-peace/ .

Fulbright Update:
Moldovan students learn to "Navigate the Media Storm"
Finding your way through a storm of bad information in the media is a daunting task anywhere, but especially so here in Moldova, which is trying to keep its head above water in the midst of a flood of Russian disinformation.

To help young Moldovans do this, I presented a seminar over two days for high school students that offered a guide on how to use the tools of media literacy, peace media, and peace journalism to “Navigate the Media Storm.”

At America House, students discuss disinformation

The event, organized by and held at America House, began with definitions of mis and disinformation, fake news, and deepfakes. I showed the students a hilarious deepfake of Donald Trump speaking Romanian, and talking about mamaliga, a beloved local dish similar to polenta. Then, the 20 participants and I discussed the corrosive impact of disinformation in Moldova, and its ability to further polarize the population while sewing confusion and discord.

I was joined by two of my favorite Moldovan colleagues, both of whom gave brief presentations. Petru Macovei, executive director of the Independent Press Association (Asociatia Presei Independente), talked about fact checking generally and about Moldova’s exemplary fact checking platform StopFals. He told the students about Russia’s “hybrid war” being fought online against Moldova, discussed types of bad information, and reminded the students about the importance of always asking questions about any information they come across.

We were also joined by Alexandru Ghetan, program manager for the Youth Media Center (Centrul Media pentru Tineri). He and the students discussed current examples of disinformation—for example, the viral falsehood that Moldova is going to send troops to Ukraine. The discussion also included the motivations behind fake news, which, in this election year in Moldova, boil down to, “they want our votes,” according to Ghetan.

I urged the students to practice peace media when they create or share content. Peace media, I explained, is when content creators, media consumers, and social media users make choices that can create an environment more conducive to peace. For the students, this means not creating or sharing content that includes stereotypes or hate speech, not sharing mis or disinformation, carefully choosing the words and images they use, and creating and sharing content that builds bridges and encourages peaceful dialogue.

The students seemed to enjoy the sessions, but not as much as I did. 

Alexandru Ghetan discusses fake news