Community Peace Journalism Article Series

We are launching a project called “Peace Journalism for a More Informed and Less Polarized America,” and we're looking for two U.S.-based freelance journalists to report original stories about political polarization, social division and the people whose experiences challenge common political stereotypes.

Political division in America is about differences in political views, but also about how people understand those on the other side. Research has shown that Americans often overestimate how extreme or hostile people from opposing political groups actually are. Through this project, we want to give audiences a more accurate picture of people and communities they may otherwise encounter mainly through partisan media coverage or political debate.

Your assignment will be to find and report stories that challenge these assumptions. This could include liberals and conservatives working together on a local issue, individuals who discover that people with opposing political views are not quite what they expected, or communities where political differences have led to confrontation but also created opportunities for dialogue and understanding.

We are particularly interested in stories that reveal the complexity of people's political identities and experiences. For example, we previously reported on an encounter between members of Black Lives Matter Greater New York and participants at a pro-Trump rally. What began as a protest led to members of the Black Lives Matter group being invited onto the stage and speaking directly with people they had expected to be hostile towards them.

The reporting should follow peace journalism principles. This does not mean avoiding disagreement, overlooking genuine political differences or presenting every story as a positive example of reconciliation. It means reporting fairly and accurately, examining different perspectives, questioning stereotypes and looking beyond confrontation and the most extreme voices to understand what is actually happening within communities.

We are looking for journalists who can identify interesting, under-reported stories, conduct interviews with people from different political and social backgrounds, and produce compelling, well-researched articles. You will work with Peace News Network (PNN) on story selection, editorial feedback and publication.

Deliverables
- Original, well-researched feature articles exploring political polarization, social division and experiences that challenge common political stereotypes.
- Interviews with relevant individuals and communities, representing different perspectives where appropriate.
- Accurate, balanced and engaging reporting, with sufficient context to help readers understand the people and issues involved.
- Supporting photographs, where available, and source information for editorial verification.
- A regular schedule of commissioned articles, with the number, length, deadlines and payment agreed in advance.

We welcome applications from journalists across the United States, including those reporting from smaller towns, rural communities and regions that receive relatively little national media attention.

Our aim is not to persuade readers to adopt one political position over another. We want to help people understand those with whom they disagree by telling stories that offer a fuller, more accurate picture of American communities and the people living within them.