New Series at Whitman Explores the Global Role & Impact of Journalism

The Center for Global Studies at Whitman College recently launched its investigative journalism series—the Press in Times of Peril—designed to explore the critical intersection of media, democracy and global issues. It aims to illuminate the role of journalism in understanding and addressing the systems that connect and divide the world.

Director of the Center for Global Studies Nicole Simek says learning the broad structures of how different fields of study make a global impact is why she encourages all students to consider a Global Studies Concentration at Whitman.

The yearlong series invites thought leaders and experts from a variety of backgrounds to share their insights on the evolving media landscape and the ethical responsibilities and challenges of journalists today.

“Students considering careers in journalism must navigate the intricate local contexts and broader global structures that shape our world and narratives,” says Simek. “This year, 2024, is witnessing elections that affect nearly half the world’s population, alongside a disturbing spike in killings and jailings of journalists and emerging modes of digital governance, surveillance and control that together create a sense of unsettlement and uncertainty. ”

Navigating New Media Landscapes 

A roundtable discussion, featuring Gabriela Martínez and Deepa Kumar, was the first event in the series and was moderated by Simek and Nazaaha Penick ’25, Editor-in-Chief of The Wire. 

Gabriela Martínez is a Professor of Journalism and Communications at the University of Oregon, an award-winning documentary filmmaker and the co-founder of the Latino Roots in Oregon Project, a grassroots digital repository. 

Deepa Kumar is a Professor of Journalism and Media Studies at Rutgers University. She is the author of more than 80 publications and is internationally recognized as a leading scholar on race and anti-Muslim racism.

The discussion centered around the changing media landscape and touched on the panelists’ personal modes of journalism and how their work has changed their views of global systems. They also spoke on the structural and ethical environment that student journalists face and encouraged students to take advantage of all they have at their fingertips.

“You have a unique opportunity, unlike people from our generation, which is technology,” said Martínez. “You are all super connected. You all have, in our hands or in our pockets, a device that gives you a voice.”

The panelists explained that despite our world’s new interconnectivity, the mainstream media can be difficult to navigate and can, at times, silence stories that need to be told. Kumar reflected on how journalism brought her to social justice work and how she uses her platform as a scholar to educate readers about Islamophobia in the wake of the War on Terror. She urged students to turn toward advocacy as well. 

“The privilege of being an academic, of having time to research, can be useful in social movements,” said Kumar. 

During the Q&A portion, Kumar and Martínez advised students on issues like resisting censorship, avoiding misinformation and finding financial stability as a journalist. 

Upcoming Events

Next in this series is a film screening of the sci-fi documentary “Lyd” on Thursday, Oct. 17, followed by a discussion led by Lauren Osborne, Associate Professor of Religion, and Tarik Elseewi, Associate Professor of Film and Media Studies and Director of South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies. 

Details on other upcoming events—such as a keynote address on “Censorship, Silence and Resistance” by M. Gessen and a discussion with Salvadoran poet Javier Zamora—can be found online.