SUSI Experience – Page 2 – Journalism, Technology & Democracy

Experiences on Flights to the Gateway of Knowledge

I am a special scholar among the 18 SUSI 2024 fellowship recipients, one who does not have a graduate degree in journalism and media. Nearly all of the scholars are journalism lecturers, journalists, researchers, and professors from eighteen different countries gathering…

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The Cronkite News studio during a newscast, with student anchors at the desk and another student operating the camera in the foreground

Defying news deserts from within the Sonoran desert

Innovation is key; journalism is not dead. The crisis of America’s “news deserts” (counties that have 0 local newspapers or digital sites) resonated with me strongly when I first heard the concept. Out of curiosity I jumped onto Northwestern University…

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The Scholars pose for a group selfie at Busboys & Poets restaurant in Washington, D.C.

The End of SUSI 2023: Celebrating Freedom, Diversity and Friendship

Eighteen scholars of journalism, communication and the media, researchers and journalists from eighteen different countries entered the Cronkite School of Journalism, at Arizona State University in Phoenix on June 4, 2023. It was a hot day in Phoenix and the…

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The scholars sit around a conference-style table as they debrief their experience

You Know What’s Beautiful? A Real Conversation

One of the greatest experiences I will treasure from the 2023 SUSI program are deep meaningful conversations. The ability to sit back and talk about life, love, goals and dreams. The ability to articulate our deepest fears, desires and at…

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The entrance lobby and sign with the name of the National Museum of African American History and Culture

Visiting the National Museum of African American History & Culture in Washington

The National Museum of African American History and Culture is one of the most exquisite, explicit and accurate museums about Black history & culture. Standing in line to visit this huge brown building evoked all kinds of expectations. “This will be…

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A white heart is outlined in the blue California sky

L.A.: The SUSI Bridge Between Phoenix and Washington

July 8, 2023, the 18 SUSI musketeers are having their last morning in downtown Los Angeles (L.A.). Everyone is finishing packing and getting ready to depart for Washington, D.C., which will take all day. After four weeks in Phoenix, Arizona and with…

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Three scholars sit at a dining table overlooking the coast

And Then the Magic Happened…

Nothing can be usual when you are in the city of dreams. For us, it was surely an unusual day in Los Angeles when we started to explore America’s westward expansion. It was a day of stories unfolding — stories…

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Scholars at Santa Monica Pier

Diversity and contrast in LA

On our first full day in Los Angeles, the second most populous city in the country, on the 5th of July, we had a free day to explore its famous landmarks and diverse areas. Most of the scholars decided to…

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A shot of the desert from a plane window behind the wing

From 41 degrees Celsius to 21, and Celebrating Independence Day

On July 4, the SUSI ’23 Scholars headed West. Early in the morning at 7 a.m. the Scholars began their travels to Los Angeles, California. It was a short flight from Phoenix to LA. From the window of the plane,…

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Two scholars embrace affectionately

Phoenix: Oh, what a time!

I have a confession to make. I struggled quite a bit in putting together this blog post. I struggled, not because I did not have anything to write about. Rather, it was because there were several ideas running through my…

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Five Facts about the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication

For almost a month now, SUSI scholars from 18 countries have been meeting within the walls of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, one of the country’s leading educational institutions in the field. In this post I share what I…

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Shining a Light: The Power and Necessity of Investigative Journalism

“There is a folk law that crooks say to themselves: don’t kill a policeman or a journalist. That would only, as American reporters put it, ‘bring too much heat?”— Hugo de Burgh, Investigative Journalism The Killing of Don Bolles On a…

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Reshaping Communication in the Digital Age

On Wednesday, June 26, 2024, I attended several workshops and sessions as part of our SUSI Scholars program that focused on providing insights into narrative & strategic communication, generative AI & the role of journalism. Ultimately, I was left with…

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Mis- and Disinformation, Privacy and Technology

Managing information, on a personal, community and national level, is an intricate element of human organization. Today, however, it’s more unpredictable than ever. Understanding how the management of information and the narratives that distribute such information underpin capacities to influence…

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