The New Humanitarian

Philippe Lazzarini has ended his term as head of UNRWA, the UN agency that provides essential services to Palestinians. In an exit interview, Lazzarini describes "the most brutal experience" of his career, his anger when atrocities are met with silence, and the "slippery slope" waiting for humanitarians in Gaza.
Guest:
Philippe Lazzarini, departing commissioner-general of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)
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There's more than one way to cover crises, says Professor Martin Scott. In the second episode of Decolonise How?, host Patrick Gathara sits down with Scott, who studies media and global development, to discuss the ethics, practice, and impact of media coverage of crises. Scott popularised the term "humanitarian journalism". He explains what makes it different from mainstream journalism, and why the labels matter. 
Decolonise How? is a new podcast by The New Humanitarian that examines the stories we tell about humanitarian crises.

"The first place that people are dehumanised is in stories." - Sophie Otiende
The way we tell stories about humanitarian crises can distort the realities of the people living through them. From news coverage and research to aid donation appeals, there is a tendency to simplify, decontextualise, and even dehumanise – to portray locals as suffering and helpless, and the outsiders riding to their rescue as heroic and selfless. 
In Decolonise How? host Patrick Gathara brings together journalists, humanitarians, researchers, and affected communities, to understand why this happens, and how to change it.
For his first podcast, Gathara is joined by Kenyan teacher, activist and advocate for survivors of human trafficking, Sophie Otiende, and Kelsie Kilawna Marchand, a Syilx journalist from Canada. They discuss community, consent, what to do differently – and just what is a "coyote" move? 
Decolonise How? is a new podcast by The New Humanitarian that examines the stories we tell about humanitarian crises.

Is it problematic to call human suffering a "tragedy"? Even well-intentioned humanitarian language can harm, says Heidi Mogstad, senior researcher at the Chr. Michelsen Institute in Norway. She argues that the language humanitarians use can perpetuate systems of violence that cause crises. In this episode, Mogstad gives examples of counter-productive language, and discusses ways to improve.
 
Guests: 
 
Heidi Mogstad, senior researcher at the Chr. Michelsen Institute in Norway.
 
Got a question or feedback? Email [email protected] or post on social media using the hashtag #RethinkingHumanitarianism.
 
Show Notes:
 
Oppressive Language and Humanitarian Complicity: Reflections on Gaza and European Border Violence

Decolonise How? is a new podcast by The New Humanitarian that examines the stories we tell about humanitarian crises.
Join host Patrick Gathara as he gathers journalists, humanitarians, researchers, and affected communities into the same conversation. They debate the crisis in crisis reporting – and talk about how things could be done differently.