Onlykashmir.in News Desk
To commemorate World Press Freedom Day on May 3, Aaghaz-e-Dosti, an Indo-Pak peace initiative organised a virtual lecture by internationally acclaimed peace journalist and scholar Prof. Steven Youngblood. The session focused on the evolving role of media in times of political crisis and conflict, and on the principles of peace journalism as a tool for conflict transformation.
The session was moderated by Sahil Gera with Dr Devika Mittal as discussant. The lecture is part of Aaghaz-e-Dosti’s ongoing Lecture Series, which aims to orient peace practitioners, activists, students, and citizens to foundational and contemporary themes in peacebuilding and conflict resolution. The series hosts global experts and aims to promote informed and sustained dialogue on peace. The next lecture is scheduled for June and will be around the topic of disarmament.
Prof. Youngblood is associated with the East West Center, Hawaii (USA). He has been a peace studies professor for 27 years. He is the author of the book “Peace Journalism Principles and Practices”.
In the lecture, Prof Youngblood emphasized that peace journalism is not about promoting positive news or peace advocacy, but about objective, ethical, and context-sensitive reporting that avoids sensationalism and contributes to a deeper understanding of conflicts. Through compelling examples, Prof. Youngblood discussed how media narratives, imagery, and language can either fuel tensions or foster understanding. He called for greater editorial responsibility, particularly in the use of photographs, urging that their purpose and potential impact be critically examined to avoid provocation or bias.
The lecture drew a diverse audience including peace activists, journalists, academics, students, and members of civil society. Notable attendees included Ela Gandhi (granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi), activist Dipak Dholakia, Ms. Susan Kreifels from the East-West Center, Fr Cedric Prakash (Jesuit Catholic Priest and peace advocate), and Bilal Bashir Bhat, editor of Srinagar Jang, among others.
Participants raised pressing questions on the feasibility of peace journalism in today’s capitalist and click-driven media landscape, and how news consumers themselves can cultivate greater media literacy and awareness.
Aaghaz-e-Dosti, launched in 2012, is committed to nurturing peace and friendship between India and Pakistan through citizen diplomacy and peace education. Its initiatives include letter exchanges, art-based activities, peacebuilding workshops, and public dialogues.
