Students in the Journalism and Strategic Communication Program at Northwestern University in Qatar are tackling global issues through rigorous, evidence-based storytelling. At a recent community research expo held alongside the Journalism in the Global South Conference, these students presented research-backed journalistic projects that uncovered overlooked issues across the Global South, showcasing their commitment to challenging dominant narratives and creating meaningful change.
Marwan M. Kraidy, dean and CEO of Northwestern Qatar, emphasized the significance of these projects, stating, “These students are setting an example of how journalism can make a real impact. Their research reflects our mission to cultivate a community that challenges dominant narratives and tackles global issues. This kind of storytelling is crucial in creating meaningful change and fostering a deeper understanding of the world around us.”
One notable presentation came from Maiara Lohmann, a fourth-year student from Brazil, who examined the role of samba schools in marginalized Afro-Brazilian communities. Drawing on research conducted during her fellowship at the Institute for Advanced Study in the Global South (#IAS_NUQ), Lohmann highlighted how samba schools, often viewed solely as cultural symbols, also serve as key economic drivers, offering jobs, education, and support during crises. "These are the stories we need to share, showing how samba schools truly make a difference, not just in culture, but in the everyday lives of people,” Lohmann said.
Reporting duo Fairuz Yosef Issa and Hissa Al Thani focused on the representation of global conflicts in mainstream media. Their research examined how famine-related atrocities in Ukraine’s Holodomor and the war in Gaza were framed by media outlets, revealing the ways media narratives shape public discourse. “We analyzed how famine-related atrocities were covered in Gaza and Ukraine, and it’s evident that media often frames one tragedy as more urgent than the other,” Al Thani explained. “This is why we need to decolonize the genocide narrative by addressing the role of media in perpetuating ignorance.”
“These students are setting an example of how journalism can make a real impact. Their research reflects our mission to cultivate a community that challenges dominant narratives and tackles global issues. This kind of storytelling is crucial in creating meaningful change and fostering a deeper understanding of the world around us.”
Farhan Saleh Rafid’s research addressed the barriers preventing women’s digital financial inclusion. Rafid found that, despite the growing adoption of digital mobile services, women’s ownership of mobile financial accounts had decreased between 2018 and 2023 due to limited SIM ownership, financial literacy, and patriarchal constraints. “As a journalist, it’s important for me to reveal these underlying issues because they challenge the narrative of empowerment and highlight the need for targeted policies to address the systemic barriers women face,” Rafid said.
These projects showcase the depth and rigor of the Journalism and Strategic Communication Program at Northwestern Qatar, where students investigate global issues through various perspectives and create documentaries, podcasts, video games, news packages, and other innovative media that challenge prevailing narratives and promote a deeper understanding of the world. Alongside creating journalistic content and engaging storytelling, students are trained in research methods and techniques.
"Our students in the Journalism and Strategic Communication Program receive a well-rounded education. They are equipped not only for reporting and news writing but also for academic research," noted Ilhem Allagui, professor and director of the Journalism and Strategic Communication Program. “Although they are undergraduates, the students have demonstrated their ability to produce high-quality research and present at poster sessions, usually associated with graduate work.”
