Peace Journalism as a Tool for Reconciliation Blog: Journalists Consider Their Role in the

A group of journalists from the southwestern region of Kenya gathered at Rongo University last week for a three-day peace and reconciliation journalism seminar.

The key focus of the seminar, one I hadn’t explored extensively in my 100 or so previous peace journalism workshops and seminars around the world, was reconciliation. The radio journalists agreed that there is certainly a need for reconciliation here in Kenya between ethnic groups, regional interests, and political parties. (Especially in light of ethnically charged, radio-fueled post-election violence in Kenya in 2007-08.) We also agreed on the vital role of media in helping to tell stories and foster dialogues that encourage reconciliation.