New models, same practices? Examining professional values and peace journalism training.

This article examines how journalists from Uganda, South Sudan, and Kenya ascribe value to peace journalism training, particularly when they are already familiar with or practicing peace journalism—a normative reporting model developed by Johan Galtung that emphasizes non-violence, structural conflict causes, and multiparty perspectives. Drawing on interviews with ten East African journalists, the study finds that these journalists often perceive peace journalism principles as aligned with local norms of "good" journalism or as necessary adaptations to conflict reporting, and thus not entirely novel. Despite this familiarity, participants valued peace journalism trainings for reasons beyond new content, including opportunities to build professional networks, enhance general journalistic skills, and fulfill social or organizational expectations. The findings highlight how peace journalism and other professional models are adapted within specific journalism cultures, shaped by local socio-political contexts and resource constraints, and suggest that training programs may be most effective when they address these broader professional and social needs.