The Unravelling: Crisis reporting and the impact of digital storytelling

Synopsis

Human Rights Watch invites you to a cocktail reception and special program in Miami on crisis reporting and the impact of digital storytelling with Marcus Bleasdale, Peter Bouckaert, and Shazna Nessa. The event is supported by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. The event will begin with a cocktail reception at the first floor gallery, followed by the official program at 7:00pm upstairs at Ted’s.

In November 2013, Peter and Marcus began a journey to draw attention to a humanitarian crisis in a country that few people in the world even knew existed. The aim was to document the war crimes and horrific bloodshed that was taking place in the little-known country of the Central African Republic. Culminating in the multimedia project The Unravelling, their investigations have become the most important source of information on a crisis that continues today. This program includes documentary footage from as well as discussions on how the project was produced and disseminated. We will learn how Peter and Marcus used every tool available to put the story on the map and the methods they used to capture photographs, videos and satellite imagery. We will also learn how they crafted their material into a compelling narrative for the public and policy-makers. Guests will also hear insights from Shazna Nessa, Director of Journalism, Knight Foundation, on trends and tools in digital storytelling and journalism and learn about the various ways that Knight Foundation is advancing excellence in journalism. Moderating the conversation will be Andrea Holley, Strategic Director, Human Rights Watch Film Festival.

Marcus Bleasdale is one of the world's leading photojournalists and has collaborated with Human Rights Watch for over a decade. He is dedicated to covering under-reported issues and uses his images to influence policy makers around the world. In April 2015, Marcus won the Robert Capa Gold Medal from the Overseas Press Club, which recognizes exceptional courage in published photojournalism, for his work in the Central African Republic.

Peter Bouckaert is Human Rights Watch's emergencies director and an expert in humanitarian crises. He is responsible for coordinating the organization's response to major wars and other human rights crises. Peter has worked on a large number of fact-finding missions to places including Lebanon, Kosovo, Chechnya, Afghanistan, Iraq, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Macedonia, Indonesia, Uganda, and Sierra Leone, among others.

Shazna Nessa is the Director of Journalism at Knight Foundation. She joined Knight Foundation in September 2014. Nessa has more than 17 years of journalism experience with beginnings in Internet technology and interactive design. Previously she was a deputy managing editor at the Associated Press in New York, where she supervised editorial products and innovation. She was also part of the team that launched the website of the monthly business magazine Conde Nast Portfolio, and was later a consultant with the organization’s product group. Nessa has taught at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism in New York. 

Special thanks to The Frank Karel Grant for Multimedia Reporting