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IN THIS ISSUE • Covering Covid-19 in N. Macedonia • PJ seminars on Zoom educate Sudanese, Yemeni journalists • Words Heal the World project New platform provided voice to the voiceless in Uganda A publication of the Center for Global Peace Journalism at Park University Vol 9 No. 2 - October 2020 October 2020 October 2020 Contents Refugee media network launches in Uganda Uganda South Sudan By Judith Atim and Cindy Kalita 3 13 In this special report, Judith Atim and Cover photo--In an example of Refugee media network launches Peace Journalist of the year award Cindy Ayebare Kalita look into the ‘voice of the voiceless’ reporting, journey, trials, hope and goals that Ugandan journalists intterviewed 5 Uganda 14 Brazil led to the establishment of Uganda Willy hairstylist Adelaine Kakule and Stories from Refugee Online News Words Heal the World leads Refugee and Migration Media Net- Chowo is a her two children Tsumba (r) and campaign against online hate work-Refugee Online News (RM-RON), journalist Busa about the Covid-19 lockdown. 7 Yemen a network for refugee journalists living with the (Photo by Mosos Mbulula). PJ platform springs into action 16 Israel in Uganda. Refugee The Peace Journalist is a semi- PJ unites Arabs, Jews and Media Uganda is home to thousands of Migration annual publication of the Center 8 Yemen refugees from countries like South Network in for Global Peace Journalism at Park Cambridge, Mass. Seminar held over Zoom 18 Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda. University in Parkville, Missouri. The Biased BLM coverage explored Burundi, Rwanda, Eritrea and Somalia. Peace Journalist is dedicated to dis- seminating news and information 20 Sudan By virtue of Uganda’s favorable refu- for teachers, students, and Zoom conference reaches 255 gee policy and the generally acclaimed practitioners of PJ. hospitality, a number of refugees are World running successful businesses and Refugee Journalists attribute eco- refugee journalists were forced into Submissions are welcome from all. 22 some are even employing Ugandans. nomic hardships for their inability to exile because of their passion to give We are seeking shorter submissions Alfred Fried, PJ pioneer Despite their immeasurable contribu- acquire reporting gadgets or get fur- coverage of human rights abuse and (300-500 words) detailing peace tion to the economy, there are still ther training. With no media organiza- champion the cause for justice for journalism projects, classes, propos- 23 North Macedonia skills among refugees which are yet to tion to support them, it has been hard citizens who were being ill-treated by als, etc. We also welcome longer 10 World Targeting Covid misinformation be tapped. for refugee journalists to carry on with state agencies turned them into ‘state submissions (800-1200 words) Civil society platform raises voices their media profession. enemies.’ about peace or conflict sensitive 24 World Refugee journalists for example have Exiled and Jobless Having been labeled political dis- journalism projects or programs, as Update-War Stories, Peace stories lived in Uganda for many years with- 12 South Sudan out finding media outlets to practice “We have spent between 5 to 15 sidents and state adversaries, many well as academic works from the looks to continue in Brussels Youth battle hate speech their profession. “We were forced years in Uganda but have not been journalists sought refuge in Uganda. field. We do NOT seek general sub- out of our home because of wars and able to get any jobs here as refugee missions about peace projects, but What is Peace Journalism? violence, it is disheartening to realize Journalists,” says Moses Mbulula from On the other hand, other refugee are instead focused only on articles that you cannot easily practice your DR Congo. journalists fled their native countries with a strong media angle. Peace Journalism is when editors and reporters make choices that improve in the face of chronic violence-just like the prospects for peace. These choices, including how to frame stories and profession in another country,” Dicken Ojo, a South Sudanese journalist, said. “For many years of living in Uganda, other refugees-while a few of them Deadlines: March 3 (April edition); carefully choosing which words are used, create an atmosphere conducive to no media house can either hire or give had to run for safety for being impli- September 3 (October edition). peace and supportive of peace initiatives and peacemakers, without compro- us jobs,” Zabel Bridget who fed from cated in involvement with rebel com- mising the basic principles of good journalism. (Adapted from Lynch/McGold- Judith Atim North Sudan to Uganda shares her manders or opposition leaders. Editor: Steven Youngblood, Director, rick, Peace Journalism). Peace Journalism gives peacemakers a voice while is an Advisory plight of joblessness as a journalist. Prior to the eatablishment of RM-RON Center for Global Peace Journalism, making peace initiatives and non-violent solutions more visible and viable. Consultant with She is corroborated by Muhammad no one brought out the predicament Park University with Uganda Ali from Somaliland who concurs that of these ‘exiled souls.’ The amazing Proofreading: Carol Getty, Ann A number of valuable peace journalism resources, including curriculum Refugee and there’s no platform to articulate the skills and talents of these ‘colleagues Schultis, Park U. emeritae faculty packets, online links, as well as back issues of The Peace Journalist can be found refugee voice or highlight their plight Migration Media Network. She is in the profession’ were not being at www.park.edu/peacecenter. as refugee journalists. an experienced Ugandan Award tapped into for their own transforma- Contact/Social Media: winning journalist, and an advisory From their own testimonies, it be- tion and contribution to their host [email protected] Center for Global Peace Journalism consultant ant with Uganda Refu- came evident that the passion of refu- societies. Twitter-@Peace Journ gee and Migration Media Network. The Center for Global Peace Journalism works with journalists, academics, and gee journalists in Uganda to practice It is against this multiple background students worldwide to improve reporting about conflicts, societal unrest, rec- their trade is largely constricted by Cindy Ayebare lack of a platform. that RM-RON was established to bring onciliation, solutions, and peace. Through its courses, workshops, lectures, this Kalita is a youth a ray of relief to refugee journalists. magazine, blog, and other resources, the Center encourages media to reject journalist based in Political Persecution and Exiling of sensational and inflammatory reporting, and produce counter-narratives that Kampala, Uganda Journalists The founders believed that through offer a more nuanced view of those who are marginalized—ethnic/racial/ Due to reporting that is construed as RM-RON, they will be able to give religious minorities, women, youth, and migrants. A Park University Publication politically subversive, a number of Continued on next page pg 2 www.park.edu/peacecenter Vol 9, No. 2 pg 3 By Steven Youngblood October 2020 Reporter’s Showcase: Uganda from Pg 3 insightful coverage of the refugee journalism program with International LRA war, it became clear that bring- Stories from Refugee Online News in Uganda situation and bring out the much- Youth Peace Group (IYPG) and in most ing refugees and native Journalists needed reforms. of their presentations my colleagues together would contribute to laying a Poor Ugandans struggle with Covid extolled Uganda’s outstanding hospi- foundation for peace, reconciliation lockdown and food insecurity Modeling a Platform on the Concept tality towards refugees. In my presen- and unity among refugees here in By Gloria Laker of Peace Journalism tation about the role of the media in Uganda. Besides, it would go a long According to Gloria Laker, the Uganda building peace in northern Uganda, way in the pursuit of peace back in Rachel Namaganda is an unemployed mother of five. Refugee and Migration Media Net- I realized that the plight of refugees their countries of origin,” concludes Her children are four to 13 years old. The family lives in work (RM-RON) is conceived on could be reported much better by Gloria Laker. Wakiso District, which surrounds the capital city, Kam- a model of peace journalism that refugee Journalists themselves.” pala. Rachel says she is finding it hard to feed her kids: envisions creating a peaceful society Initial Mentorship of “Every sunrise, I am not sure what my children will eat.” through the media. The childhood and journalistic back- Refugee Journalists They currently eat two meals per day – and both consist ground of Laker has significantly A year before the establishment of of porridge. Many people share that fate. This multimedia Community-Based shaped her passion for refugee and the refugee media body, Laker had Organization (CBO) is registered in peace reporting. “In further thought, met a group of Somali reporters who Soldiers delivering maize flour to needy people in a Kam- Uganda as a non-profit and non-parti- I also mirrored on the fact that today approached her for training in peace pala suburb. san entity that focuses on highlighting I am standing here because of my reporting. “Together with top broad- the plight of refugees, migrants and According to Hillary Onek, Uganda’s minister for relief background in covering the LRA war- cast journalists David Rupiny and Children at play in the Bibi Bidi resettlement camp in north- other vulnerable groups in Uganda us- and refugees, 30 % of the urban population currently from conflict to peace reporting. Thus Judith Atim, we met the first group western Uganda. ing peace journalism. RM-RON’s style I felt that bringing refugee Journalists but not much could be done in terms needs humanitarian aid. The background is the lock- of reporting incorporates develop- together would improve the coverage of training due to lack of funding until down.