Academic from Park University Honored with Luxembourg Peace Accolade
**Steve Youngblood Honoured with the 2020 Luxembourg Peace Prize for Outstanding Peace Journalism**
Steve Youngblood, a resident of Parkville, Mo, has been awarded the prestigious 2020 Luxembourg Peace Prize for Outstanding Peace Journalism. The award recognises journalists or media publications that have used their craft to contribute to peace.
Youngblood, a two-time J. William Fulbright Scholar, travelled to Moldova in 2001 and Azerbaijan in 2007, is a peace journalism expert and the founder of the Center for Global Peace Journalism at Park University. He has dedicated his career to promoting peace through journalism, supporting journalists who focus on reporting that contributes to peacebuilding and conflict resolution.
The award ceremony was initially scheduled to take place during the 5th annual Transatlantic Dialogue Conference in May 2020 but has been rescheduled to May 28, 2021, due to the coronavirus pandemic. The event is organised by the Schengen Peace Foundation and the World Peace Forum and will take place at the University of Luxembourg in Esch-sur-Alzette.
Youngblood's work has been validated by this award, which acknowledges his significant contributions in the specialized field of peace journalism. The award also highlights the impact of the Peace Journalist publication, dedicated to disseminating news and information for and about teachers, students, and practitioners of peace and conflict sensitive journalism.
Since 1997, Youngblood has been a member of Park University's faculty and currently serves as an associate professor of communication arts and the director of the Center for Global Peace Journalism. He also serves as editor of The Peace Journalist, a semi-annual Park University publication.
Throughout his career, Youngblood has taught peace journalism in 27 countries and territories worldwide, including conflict areas. He has been recognised for his service to global peace by the U.S. Department of State, Rotary International, and the United Nations Association of Greater Kansas City.
Upon receiving the award, Youngblood expressed his feelings, stating it is the honour of his professional lifetime. The award not only acknowledges his personal achievements but also the work of his colleagues at the Center for Global Peace Journalism, which has likely had a global impact by equipping journalists to make peace visible through their reporting.
Steve Youngblood's dedication to promoting peace through specialized education and self-development in peace journalism has led to significant personal growth, culminating in his receipt of the 2020 Luxembourg Peace Prize for Outstanding Peace Journalism. His work with the Center for Global Peace Journalism at Park University, which disseminates news and information for peace and conflict sensitive journalism practitioners, further underscores his commitment to education-and-self-development and personal-growth in the field of peace journalism.
