Building Capacity for Peace Journalism: A Participatory Action Research Study in the Central African Republic

Abstract

This participatory action research study examines the effectiveness of capacity building for peace journalism among journalists at Réseau des Journalistes pour les Droits de l’Homme (RJDH) in the Central African Republic. Through collaborative inquiry, it addresses gaps in conflict-sensitive reporting within CAR’s fragile media landscape. Mixed-methods data collection revealed RJDH journalists’ commitment to ethical reporting, yet gaps in peace journalism implementation remain. The intervention, combining training and mentorship, enhanced understanding of peace journalism principles. Participants reported changes in reporting practices, including better source diversity and community-focused narratives. However, structural barriers like editorial pressure and political constraints impede systematic implementation. While participatory approaches address individual capacity gaps, sustainable transformation requires institutional reforms. The study concludes that peace journalism promotion in post-conflict settings must combine consciousness transformation with efforts to change organizational cultures and systemic constraints. These findings contribute to literature on media development and offer insights for building journalism capacity in fragile contexts.