Seventeen Northwestern University in Qatar students participated in a three-day photojournalism workshop hosted in collaboration with the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting, designed to merge evidence-based storytelling with real-world application. Students honed their ability to craft powerful visual narratives that address global challenges while engaging in ethical and impactful journalism.
This initiative exemplifies Northwestern Qatar’s commitment to holistic education by combining theoretical knowledge with practical expertise. The workshop emphasized storytelling that goes beyond capturing moments to producing evidence-based stories, a hallmark of the University’s mission to provide experiential opportunities that align with academic excellence.
The workshop on crafting character-driven stories through photography offered students hands-on experience in visual storytelling, blending technical skills with journalistic ethics. Pulitzer Center's Lexi Parra and Pablo Albarenga guided students in developing photojournalism projects that explored human experiences through compelling narratives and impactful visuals.
The workshop began with an introductory session where Parra and Albarenga shared their expertise on framing stories through photography. They emphasized the importance of storytelling that respects the dignity and context of subjects, as well as the balance between technical proficiency and narrative depth. Following the session, students participated in a photowalk at Souq Waqif, where they put these lessons into practice by capturing images and engaging with the local environment and its people, learning how to approach subjects and navigate the challenges of fast-paced photojournalism.
On the second day, the focus shifted to editing and refining the students’ work. With guidance from Lexi and Albarenga, students reviewed their photographs, made editorial decisions, and learned post-production techniques such as color correction and layout design. The workshop concluded with an exhibition of the students’ projects, where each participant presented their work, explaining the creative and technical decisions behind their images.
“This collaboration is an important part of our commitment to providing students with real-world opportunities to grow as journalists and storytellers. Through our collaboration with the Pulitzer Center, Northwestern Qatar students are empowered to develop the skills, insights, and networks that will allow them to make a global impact with their work.”
This workshop is a key part of a long-standing collaboration between Northwestern Qatar and the Pulitzer Center, with Northwestern Qatar being the only international university in Pulitzer’s Campus Consortium network. As this collaboration evolves, Northwestern Qatar students will continue to benefit from on-campus visits by Pulitzer Center journalists, creating opportunities for direct engagement with leading professionals in the field of photojournalism and storytelling.
The collaboration also supports a student fellowship program, where one Northwestern Qatar student each year is selected to report on a significant global issue. Northwestern Qatar fellows receive mentorship from Pulitzer Center professionals and editorial feedback on their project, culminating in a presentation at the annual Reporting Fellows Weekend in Washington, D.C.
“This collaboration is an important part of our commitment to providing students with real-world opportunities to grow as journalists and storytellers,” said Marwan M. Kraidy, dean and CEO of Northwestern Qatar. “Through our collaboration with the Pulitzer Center, Northwestern Qatar students are empowered to develop the skills, insights, and networks that will allow them to make a global impact with their work.”
In addition to the workshop, this year’s program included a community talk by Parra and Albarenga, where they shared insights into their work with the Pulitzer Center, highlighting how photojournalism can raise awareness of critical global issues.
“This workshop reflects the Journalism and Strategic Communication Program’s commitment to preparing students for an evolving media landscape that demands innovative and ethical storytelling,” said Ilhem Allagui, director of the Journalism and Strategic Communication Program at Northwestern Qatar. “By engaging with professionals from the Pulitzer Center, our students gain the skills and insights needed to navigate the complexities of contemporary journalism and create stories that inform, inspire, and drive change.”
Together, Northwestern Qatar and the Pulitzer Center are continuing to build a platform for students to engage in global journalism, providing hands-on learning experiences and fostering the development of responsible, ethical storytellers.
Northwestern Qatar students have received numerous grants for international reporting projects as the only international partner in Pulitzer Center’s Campus Consortium. Previous projects have focused on issues at the intersection of society, culture, politics, and economics across the Global South.
Past projects include documentaries on Pakistan’s community of scrap collectors working, Yemeni refugees in South Korea, the impacts of the refugee crisis on refugee children in Malaysia, and many more projects on issues around the world.
