Cronkite School hosts international journalist speaker series

The Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University is holding a series of discussions featuring international journalists giving firsthand accounts from some of journalism’s most dangerous frontiers.

The “Cronkite Global Conversations” series is led by the Cronkite School’s Humphrey Fellows – 10 international journalists and communicators from Bangladesh, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Croatia, El Salvador, Malawi, Pakistan, Trinidad and Tobago, and Turkey.

The series kicks off Feb. 5 with a discussion on terrorism’s impact on the global environment, and ends March 19 with a talk on success stories from developing countries. Other topics include social media’s role as a global change agent and how international journalists can avoid stereotypes in their reporting.

“Communication is the beginning of understanding,” said associate professor Bill Silcock, director of Cronkite Global Initiatives. “As we hear from the Cronkite Humphrey Fellows on these timely topics, our minds are educated and our hearts enlightened. These fellows draw from amazing personal experiences to share truths that need to be told. They do so in new and exciting ways.”

The fellows are at the Cronkite School as part of the prestigious Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program, a U.S. State Department-funded initiative that brings mid-career professionals to take classes, pursue leadership development and engage with professionals in their fields. 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 discussions, which are open to the public, begin at noon on select Wednesdays, in room 444 at the Cronkite School on the ASU Downtown Phoenix campus.

Spring 2014 “Cronkite Global Conversations” schedule:

Feb. 5, “Terrorism’s Impact on the Global Environment,” Issa Napon, an RTB News anchor from Burkina Faso; Javaria Tareen, a Balochistan Times reporter from Pakistan.

Feb. 19, “Journalism and Social Media as Change Agents,” Maja Čakarun, a public relations professional from Croatia; Rhonda Jaipaul-O’Garro, a marketing and communications professional from Trinidad and Tobago; Derya Kaya, a social entrepreneur and development professional from Turkey.

March 5, “Avoiding Stereotypes in Media Coverage Around the World,” Fernando Aguilar, a social communicator from El Salvador; Hina Ali, a documentary filmmaker from Pakistan; Ivana Braga, a social change agent and journalist from Brazil.

March 19, “Success Stories From Developing Countries,” Wahida Ifat, a health communications manager from Bangladesh; Steven Kapoloma, deputy director of corporate affairs at the Malawi Revenue Authority.