International journalists to speak on global media issues at ASU speaker series

International journalists from nine countries will explore important issues impacting journalism at the annual “Cronkite Global Conversations” speaker series at Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

The talks are led by participants in the Cronkite School’s Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program, a U.S. State Department-funded initiative bringing up to 10 mid-career professionals to attend courses, pursue leadership development and engage with professionals in their fields.

This year’s series begins Feb. 10 with an inside look at reporting on the Nepal earthquake and ends March 2 with an exploration of the refugee crisis in Europe. Other topics include Russia’s changing media landscape and the media’s coverage of LGBT issues in Asia and Eastern Europe.

“These conversations enrich opportunities for our students and the public to gain insight on vital issues facing our world, directly from those working closest to the stories,” said B. William Silcock, who is director of Cronkite Global Initiatives and curator of the Humphrey Program. “It helps students obtain a vivid sense of the realities of international reporting, and speakers return to their home countries with an expanded understanding of their global connectedness through networking and the exchange of journalistic best practices.”

This year’s Humphrey fellows are from Benin, Bhutan, Gabon, Latvia, Moldova, Montenegro, Nepal, the Philippines and Russia. During their 10 months at Cronkite, the fellows offer a global perspective as they interact with students through “Cronkite Global Conversations” and informal talks.

The one-hour “Cronkite Global Conversations” are open to the public and begin at noon on select Wednesdays in room 444 at the Cronkite School on the ASU Downtown Phoenix campus.

Wednesday, Feb. 10

Seismic Change: Life in Nepal After a Devastating Earthquake, and How Modern Russian Media Is Shaking Things Up

Similar to forecasting when an earthquake will strike, social change can be hard to predict. Rajneesh Bhandari, a multimedia journalist from Nepal, and Alla Nadezhkina, a journalist and public-relations expert from Russia, discuss how life and journalism are changing in their countries.

Wednesday, Feb. 17

Unknown Africa: How Smaller African Nations Are Quietly Transforming the Continent

The modernization and development of West Africa is leading to new exciting opportunities for journalists and communicators. Joseph Mayombo, a communication practitioner from Gabon specializing in conservation, and Vitalien Adoukonou, a health-promotion and behavior-change specialist from Benin, discuss the past and future of their countries.

Wednesday, Feb. 24

The Global Rainbow: LGBT Expressions in Asia and Eastern Europe

Journalists and social-justice activists Natalia Ghilascu of Moldova and Namgay Zam of Bhutan are at the forefront of LGBT-rights movements in their countries. Their talk covers the LGBT experience and provides an insider's look at the media coverage, laws and lives of LGBT people in Bhutan and Moldova.

Wednesday, March 2

A Journey to Hope: Prisoners and Refugees, Helping Their Plights

Criselda Marie Z. Caringal, a documentary producer from the Philippines; Marta Cerava, a managing editor and digital-content planner from Latvia; and Darko Ivanovic, a veteran journalist and producer from Montenegro, explore today’s refugee crisis in Europe and how people find ways to cope in the worst of environments.