Visiting Murrow Program Journalists Discuss ‘Age of Disinformation, State of Journalism in Africa, and More

Emerson College recently welcomed a group of 22 international journalists as part of a program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program and the WorldBoston organization.

As participants in the Edward R. Murrow Program for Journalists, they engaged in a spirited discussion on “Media Responsibility In An Age of Disinformation” hosted by the Journalism Department. The discussion was led by Journalism Department Chair Janet Kolodzy, and participants included Associate Professor Tim Riley, affiliated faculty Richard Nangle and James McManus.

Separate from the larger event, Roger House, associate professor of American studies in the Emerson College Journalism Department, hosted a visiting delegation of six African journalists on June 12. The group discussed the state of journalism in Africa and social issues of mutual concern among Africans and Afro-Americans. The cultural exchange was aimed at the development of a new journalism course on the History of the Pan-African Press.

[Pictured: Front row, left to right: Edward Benjamin Kargbo, head of production, BBC Media Action, Sierra Leone; Keabetswe Loretta Mekgwe, digital media editor, Metro Salutem Magazine, Bostwana; Augusta de Jesus Dias Estevao, news reporter, Angola Public Television, and Alpha Abdalah Wawa, news reporter, Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation. Back row, left to right: Ogone Tlhage, business reporter, Namibian Sun, Namibia; Roger House, Department of Journalism, and Ochiaka Emeka Ugwu, features editor, Peoples Daily Newspaper, Nigeria.]

The Department of State outlined specific objectives for the program:

• Examine the rights and responsibilities of a free press in a democracy;
• Observe operational practices, standards, and institutions of the media in the United States;
• Gain insight into the social, economic, and political structures of the United States;
• Explore the impact of digital and social media on the availability and accuracy of news;
• Participate in professional development seminars highlighting current trends and challenges, new and traditional media, foreign affairs reporting, investigative journalism strategies, and editorial procedures.

The 22 journalists were from the following countries:

• Angola
• Botswana
• Costa Rica
• Guatemala
• Kazakhstan
• Kosovo
• Mongolia
• Morocco
• Namibia
• Netherlands
• Nigeria
• Poland
• Portugal
• Serbia
• Sierra Leone
• Singapore
• Slovakia
• Sri Lanka
• Suriname
• Tajikistan
• Tanzania