There is power in the pen — and that’s a power that everyone with a platform must learn to wield responsibly. In regions where the radio is still the main media format, grassroots journalism becomes a force to be reckoned with. Moved one way, it can instigate conflict and inflame a region to war. But used correctly, ethical journalism can become a powerful force for peace, a bulwark against misinformation, polarization, and othering.

In this episode, host Ann-Elisabeth Samson talks with Dr. William Tayeebwa. Dr. Tayeebwa’s research draws on the body of work written by giants of peace journalism — Johan Galtung, Jake Lynch, Annabel McGoldrick, and Ross Howard — to create courses that promote ethical journalism within war-torn regions of Africa. Far from being an academic locked away in a university, he performs fieldwork that has reduced violence while elevating the standards of media giants in the country.

Resources

• UNESCO: Website
• Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD): Website
• Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA): Website
• United States Agency for International Development (USAID): Website
• “Peace Journalism” by Jake Lynch and Annabel McGoldrick
• “Journalism in Conflict and Post-Conflict: Worldwide Perspectives” edited by Dr. William Tayeebwa and Rune Ottosen
• Uganda Radio Network: Website
• Renzori Media Development Foundation: Website

About Dr. William Tayeebwa

Dr. William Tayeebwa is a Senior Lecturer in Journalism and Communication at Makerere University and Managing Editor of Makerere University Press. A 2008 Trudeau Foundation Scholar, he holds a Ph.D. in Communication from Concordia University, where his research focused on peace journalism and the transformative role of community radio in post-conflict Uganda. With over two decades of experience across academia, civil society, and international organizations like UNESCO, NORAD, and the EU, Dr. Tayeebwa designs media training programs for journalists and influencers throughout Africa. His work spans conflict-sensitive reporting, climate change communication, refugee and migration coverage, and ethical media practices in an AI-driven era. From grassroots radio stations in the Great Lakes region to UN-backed broadcasts across Central Africa, his research investigates how media can shift public discourse from violence to reconciliation. Through both university teaching and hands-on fieldwork, he equips a new generation of journalists to center truth, peace, and justice in their storytelling.

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