Scholars at Work: Steven Youngblood: Home

Associate Professor of Communication

Parkville Campus, Copley-Thaw, Office 210
steve.youngblood@park.edu
(816) 584-6321

Steven's impressive career has included published scholarship on a wide variety of topics. Browse selected highlights from his research, and view his CV below.

Americans say that reading, watching, or listening to the news is a leading cause of stress. Of course journalists, as watchdogs and public informants, must disseminate information that is inherently negative, but experts argue that the news media's emphasis on the problem has had a negative effect on the public, the press itself, and democracy. At the same time, the past sixty years have seen a rise of journalistic practices that purport to cover the news beyond the typical problem-based narrative. These genres of journalistic reporting are not positive news or fluff reporting: They are rigorous reporting philosophies and practices that share a common goal - reporting beyond the problem-based narrative, thereby exemplifying a commitment to the social responsibility theory of the press, which asserts that journalists have a duty to consider society's best interests. However, there is little academic or professional understanding of these journalistic approaches. As such, this book provides an in-depth examination of socially-responsible news reporting practices, such as constructive journalism, solutions journalism, and peace journalism. Each chapter focuses on one reporting form, defining it and detailing its evolution and status among scholars and practitioners, as well as discussing its known effects and future direction. This edited volume is the first academic book published on these forms of reporting in the United States. It provides a comprehensive resource that explores the theoretical underpinnings of these journalistic genres that grounds these approaches and allows for a coherent line of research to follow as these approaches evolve.

Check out the book from the Park Library.

Steven Youngblood is the founding director of the Center for Global Peace Journalism at Park University in Parkville, MO, where he is a communications and peace studies professor. He has organized and taught peace journalism seminars and workshops in 43 countries/territories (30 in person; 13 via Zoom). Youngblood is a three-time Fulbright Scholar (Moldova 2023-24, Azerbaijan 2007, Moldova 2001). He also served as a U.S. State Department Senior Subject Specialist in Ethiopia in 2018. Youngblood is the author of “Peace Journalism Principles and Practices” and “Professor Komagum.” He edits “The Peace Journalist” magazine, and writes and produces the “Peace Journalism Insights” blog. He has been recognized for his contributions to world peace by the U.S. State Department, Rotary International, and the World Forum for Peace, which named him a Luxembourg Peace Prize laureate for 2020-21.

Steven, a beach enthusiast, loves to travel with his wife Barbara, a Park alum, and son Alex. Steven also likes to hang out with his shi-poo Annie, pictured here demanding that dad remove a hanger that’s somehow attached itself to her posterior.

"I still can’t believe that I have visited 30 countries professionally, connecting with colleagues and making friends. I am the luckiest academic in the world."

In August-December 2020, Steven organized and co-taught middle school, high school, community college, and university students basic media literacy. The project, sponsored with a grant from U.S. State Dept. Alumni and Partners for the Americas, culminated with production of a student-produced, media literacy-themed magazine.

View the magazine here.

Steven conducted four Zoom seminars on peace journalism and collaborative reporting for 80 Indian/Pakistani journalists in October, 2020, with follow up seminars in February, 2021 and April, 2021 (on reporting and journalists’ safety during COVID-19). He also conducted a panel presentation at the East-West Center International Media Conference in Honolulu, HI, in June 2022. The project was sponsored by East-West Center/U.S. Dept. of State. As a final component to the project, Steven led face-to-face seminars with journalists in October, 2022 in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Learn more at the Journalists for Change website, and view the training at the East-West Center's website.

Long-time peace journalist Steven Youngblood presents the foundations of peace journalism in this exciting textbook, offering readers the methods, approaches, and concepts required to use journalism as a tool for peace, reconciliation, and development. Guidance is offered on framing stories, ethical treatment of sensitive subjects, and avoiding polarizing stereotypes through a range of international examples and case studies spanning from the Iraq war to the unrest in Ferguson, Missouri. Youngblood teaches students to interrogate traditional media narratives about crime, race, politics, immigration, and civil unrest, and to illustrate where―and how―a peace journalism approach can lead to more responsible and constructive coverage, and even assist in the peace process itself.

Check out the book from the Park Library.

Steven produces and edits this semi-annual magazine. He serves as the acquisitions editor, designer, lay out artist, copy editor, and distributor, and writes 1-2 articles per each edition.

View current and past issues of the magazine here..