Steven Youngblood Addresses Journalists at the Uganda Journalists Association

Steven Youngblood addresses journalists in Kampala

Steven Youngblood, the director of the Peace, Development and Electoral Journalism project in Uganda, spoke to approximately 200 journalists at the Uganda Journalists Association meeting at Kampala City Hall on Saturday, September 18, 2010.  In advance of elections in 2011, the U.S. Mission is promoting additional journalist training throughout Uganda.

Youngblood discussed the basics of peace journalism and stressed how these fundamentals are important especially during an election cycle.  He stressed that a free and independent media is vital for a successful democracy and highlighted the responsibilities of journalists to report accurate information without inciting violence.  Project assistant Gloria Laker also addressed the crowd and encouraged the assembly to develop more female leadership.

The Peace and Electoral Journalism Project is funded by the U.S. Government through collaboration with the State Department and USAID.  Supporting democracy, good governance, and accountability is the cornerstone of the U.S. mission in Uganda.  This project is part of the U.S. Government’s ongoing partnership to support democracy, peace, and security in Uganda.