It has been 10 days now since our experience (or should I say experiment?) started at Cronkite, here in Phoenix, Arizona. I like round numbers because they’re a great excuse to overthink our relationship with time and space. The weather…
Z, Y, X and… Boom(ers)!
“Who is media literacy for?” was the opening question of this 9th study day as part of the SUSI program for scholars organized by the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University. Among the answers,…
My Dear Diary…
My Dear Diary, Morning as usual, Juan knocking on my door to wake me up, one liter of liquid before even opening my eyes (disclosure: Lipton Ice Tea. Diet. 100% daily allowance of antioxidants and vitamin C per 12 fl…
From Historic Flagstaff to Symbolic Cacti: A Sublime Beauty
Sunday morning, 11:00, in front of a hotel in Flagstaff. Sunny weather with a blue sky, 74°F, fresh with a gentle breeze. The green tree leaves are swaying softly. Mountain views in the near distance with fluffy white clouds draw…
The Grand Canyon, an Overwhelming Experience from a Sacred Place
As the sun goes down, the Grand Canyon transforms. The sunlight is like brushstrokes on a canvas of rocks, drawing shapes and textures. These natural paintings are ephemeral, changing from one minute to another, showing magical landscapes, an echo from…
Brainstorming
Today we completed a week with brainstorming and refreshing dialogues. Everybody discussed their own projects with great enthusiasm. We have been learning a lot from each other every day. Different perspectives from various countries have been creating a rich intellectual…
Full Throttle
It was an energetic start to the fourth day of the SUSI program on Thursday. And I am not yet talking about the classes. The thing is: Argentinian scholar Soledad finally acquired a thermos and was able to drink mate…
Layered Mysteries & a Phoenix-Inspired Future
Phoenix is a city of mysterious aura. In mythology, Phoenix symbolizes renewal as well as the sun. As an anthropologist, I was always fascinated by the imaginary representations and the construction of realities. What journalists do is give meaning and…
My 2022 SUSI Scholars Participation and a Sense of Duty
I’m writing this from Romania after the end of the first 2022 SUSI Scholars Orientation Zoom meeting. I am one of the lucky scholars who will participate this year in the program at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass…
Volcanic rumbles
There’s something about Taal Vulcano in Tagaytay, Philippines. Early January last year, after 42 years of being silent, it erupted–which almost canceled my flight from my province to the capital, Manila, en route to the Netherlands for a short course in media…