The Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL) international workshop on peace journalism has called on journalists around the world to move beyond conflict-centered reporting and embrace solutions-oriented storytelling that promotes peace, social tolerance, and human dignity.
The HWPL International Workshop on Peace Journalism Studies, held online, brought together about 220 journalists from across the globe under the theme, “Reporting Solutions in the Age of News Avoidance: Strengthening Audience Agency through Media-Civil Peace Collaboration.” The discussion focused on how journalism can help reduce conflict, address news avoidance, and contribute to peacebuilding efforts.
The workshop featured presentations from three journalists who contributed to Volume 4 of the Journal HWPL Peace Journalism Studies. Their presentations highlighted the need for journalism that does not only report events, but also points audiences toward conflict resolution, hope, and constructive engagement.
Among the speakers was Achmad Yani, a journalist with the editorial team of Indepthnews.id in Indonesia, who presented research on international media narratives in the Thailand-Cambodia conflict. He said the framing of conflicts in the media strongly influences public perception, noting that a review of 19 articles from major global outlets showed that about 64 percent of the coverage focused on military clashes and political tensions, while the plight of more than 200,000 displaced civilians received little attention. He called for victim-centered reporting and greater focus on peaceful solutions.
Ida Yusnita of mediabanjarmasin.com, also from Indonesia, spoke on peace as a human right, saying peace should be understood not only as the absence of war but as a condition rooted in security, equality, and justice. She underscored the shared responsibility of the state, society, and media in promoting peace through fair governance, tolerance, anti-discrimination measures, and independent reporting.
José Nicolás Arroyo Ramos, a journalist, lawyer, and professor from the Dominican Republic, examined how today’s media environment can deepen polarization through what he described as “discursive violence.” He warned that emotionally charged and unverified content spreads quickly in the digital age, often reducing complex issues into hostile, one-sided narratives. He said peace journalism offers an alternative by examining root causes, including diverse perspectives, and presenting constructive solutions.
Despite being held virtually, the workshop encouraged active participation, with breakout sessions exploring topics such as hope-inspiring news and the role of positive narratives in conflict reporting. The event also introduced the Media and Global Peace Platform (MAGP), a Substack-based network designed to connect journalists and NGOs across borders and support the expansion of peace journalism globally.
The organizers said the workshop reaffirmed that the media are not just messengers of information, but key actors in shaping public perception and building peace. They pledged to strengthen international cooperation and expand the practice of peace journalism through global networks.
