In a private presentation, Elina Noor, Director of Political-Security Affairs and Deputy Director for the Washington D.C. Office at the Asia Society Policy Institute, talked about the opportunity for Southeast Asia to redefine inclusive development for the region by raising standards for data and ethical AI.
In a report co-authored by Noor, she and her collaborator Mark Bryan Manantan, examined policy frameworks in five countries in the region and their impact on governance and economies. The authors surmised that the region’s digital future begins with proactively shaping a path in its own image. Noor spoke about the report’s recommendations for principles and practices that fuel development while advancing human dignity.
Moderated by Dr. William Youmans, IPDGC Director, the event also was attended by directors of the collaborating organizations, Dr. Gregg Brazinsky, the GW Sigur Center of Asian Studies, and William Wise, The Stimson Center’s Southeast Asia Forum.
Virtual discussion on the “other issues” of reporting on sporting events
By Yvonne Oh, IPDGC Program Coordinator
With the FIFA 2022 World Cup kicking off in Qatar on November 20, the conversation was about if, and how, sports journalists covering the men’s world cup in Qatar should report on human rights. According to FIFA, the sport’s governing body, the World Cup in 2018 drew more than 3.5 billion viewers and the championship game was seen live by more than one billion people.
However, countries that host the tournament will draw attention as well – and not all of that is positive. This year’s tournament has raised questions about human rights in Qatar, and “sports washing” in general.
IPDGC collaborated with the Project on Ethics in Political Communication for a virtual discussion on the topic of the World Cup, Sports Journalism and Human Rights. Joining this conversation were international soccer journalist Grant Wahl and Prof. Neha Vora, an anthropologist with Lafayette College.
Moderating the event was Silvio Waisbord, the Director of the School of Media and Public Affairs at the George Washington University.
Brief bios of the speakers:
Grant Wahl is one of the top soccer journalists in the US. His pre-World Cup writing includes the need to pay attention to the human toll of constructing the stadia, hotels and infrastructure the World Cup requires. He has covered World Cups for Sports Illustrated, CBS and Fox Sports. His books include The Beckham Experiment and Masters of Modern Soccer.
Prof. Neha Vora, is an anthropologist at Lafayette College. Her writing includes the books Impossible Citizens: Dubai’s Indian Diaspora; Teach for Arabia: American Universities, Liberalism, and Transnational Qatar; and Beyond Exception: New Interpretations of the Arabian Peninsula (co-authored with Ahmed Kanna and Amelie Le Renard).
Presentation by IPDGC Visiting Scholar Udane Goikoetxa-Bilbao
IPDGC Visiting Fellow Udane Goikoetxea-Bilbao presented her research into the influence of the Internet on journalism; the impact of immediate information, in particular, social media. Her research takes looks into not just what we read, but how we read. And considers that while readers can be digitally literate, they must be media literate as well. She notes that having a good understanding of civic values is also important to act in harmony with the deontological necessity of journalism.
Goikoetxea-Bilbao is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Journalism of the University of the Basque Country, where she teaches undergraduate subjects related to specializations in journalism (Specialized Journalism, Communication Theories, Ethics (Deontology and Media) and Spokesperson Training.
Her research with IPDGC and GW was conducted over the Fall 2022 semester.
Senior Foreign Service Officers Christopher Teal and Sean O’Neill share information about the opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students looking to have careers in Civil or Foreign Service as officers or specialists. Teal, who is also the Public Diplomacy Fellow with IPDGC, and O’Neill are both on detail to the George Washington University.
Teal (left) teaches Public Diplomacy at the School of Media and Public Affairs. O’Neill is with the Department of Organizational Sciences and Communication, Columbian College of Arts and Sciences.
Both talked about their motivations for joining the Service, and about their experiences at assignments overseas and in the US. They explained the various programs available for students to have those experiences – internships, fellowships, study abroad – and how these help a person determine if they are ready for a profession to represent the United States overseas.
Teal pointed out that there was also a Civil service track for professionals who work stateside in all areas of the Department – providing the same support for U.S. citizens and interests overseas.
The event was well attended by both graduate and undergraduate students from different programs, with a lengthy Q&A session to cover their queries.
Many students stayed after the presentation to speak with Chris and Sean about their experiences in Foreign Service and the programs offered by the State Department.
IPDGC screens documentary on Ambassador Ebenezer D. Bassett
By Yvonne Oh, IPDGC Program Coordinator
The film, A Diplomat of Consequence, tells the story of a groundbreaking diplomat and pioneer on international human rights and examines the legacy of racial diversity today, 150 years after his appointment. This documentary was written, directed and produced by Christopher Teal. He is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service with the U.S. State Department and currently a Public Diplomacy Fellow with IPDGC at the George Washington University.
Ebenezer Don Carlos Bassett was appointed United States Ambassador to Haiti in 1869. He was the first African-American diplomat and the fourth U.S. ambassador to Haiti since the two countries established relations in 1862. Bassett was appointed as new leaders emerged among free African Americans after the American Civil War.
He was among the earliest advocates to promote human rights in foreign policy. His courage in the face of threats during his tenure place him among the greats of diplomatic and American history. Along with public archives on Bassett’s life, newly found information from family members and never before seen material from his four-decade relationship with Frederick Douglass are explored in the documentary.
This is not just an historical documentary, however. Bassett’s legacy demonstrates to broader audiences what diplomats have accomplished and what they do in today’s complicated environment. Bringing in contemporary voices of minority diplomats is a crucial component of why diversity in foreign affairs still is imperative for successful engagement today.
FILM SCREENING: A Diplomat of Consequence; Tuesday, October 18,
IPDGC, in collaboration with LEAP and the Office of Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and student organization, Young Black Professionals in International Affairs (YBPIA), invites you to the screening of the film, A Diplomat of Consequence.
IPDGC will host a virtual webinar on the Global Pandemic and Press Freedom in Southeast Asia on Tuesday, February 23 from 5:30pm-6:30pm.
As the regional governments struggle to contain the spread of COVID-19 and its variants, some of the more authoritarian regimes are imposing stricter restrictions to stop misinformation and have also taken this opportunity to rein in the media in their countries. Our panel will share their views and experiences of what has been happening in the region.
The panel will have Dr. James Gomez, Executive Director of Asia Center, Thailand; Gayathry Venkiteswaran, Assistant Professor with University of Nottingham, Malaysia; and Adrian Ayalin, Senior Journalist with ABS-CBN News in the Philippines.
From left: James Gomez, Gayathry Venkiteswaran and Adrian Ayalin
The event will be moderated by Dr. Janet Steele, Director of IPDGC. There will be a short Q&A session following the presentations.
