I attended the panel on Journalism in the Global South Expanding Epistemological Frameworks: Decolonizing Journalism and it really made me think about the connection between media, politics, and power structures. Before attending, I assumed the discussion would focus on ethics and representation in journalism. Instead, I left with a deeper understanding of how journalism is shaped by colonial legacies and continues to function as a political tool that influences public perception and global power dynamics. One of the most compelling ideas was that journalism is never truly neutral, it has the power to reinforce or challenge dominant narratives, depending on who is telling the story and how they frame it. This realization made me see journalism as an active participant in politics rather than just a passive observer. One of the moments that really stood out to me was the debate about positionality. The panelists had different takes on whether journalists can ever be truly neutral, and that conversation made me question my own assumptions. One speaker argued that all journalists bring their own perspectives, shaped by their backgrounds and political contexts, while another countered that journalists should still strive for a kind of objective balance, even if true neutrality isn’t possible. This debate stuck with me because it made me think about the way I consume news. I’ve always assumed that objective journalism exists, but the more I listened, the more I realized that even the news sources I trust are shaped by who is telling the story. For example, the way protests in the Global South are labeled as "riots" while similar movements in the West are framed as "democratic expressions" highlights how deeply positionality affects media coverage. This discussion forced me to reconsider my own media literacy and be more critical of the sources I rely on.
The panelists discussed how the framing of conflicts in Western media often downplays or distorts certain events to serve geopolitical interests. That conversation stuck with me because I started thinking about how often I see vague headlines that remove accountability. One example they gave was the coverage of genocide, where Western media often avoids direct blame or responsibility, shaping public perception in ways that align with dominant power structures. This made me realize that journalism plays an active role in shaping political discourse, influencing policy decisions, and even determining which crises receive global attention. Reflecting on this panel, I now see journalism as an active political force rather than just a neutral source of information. The discussion on positionality made me realize that recognizing bias is not about dismissing journalism but about understanding its role in shaping political realities. Decolonizing journalism is not just about including more diverse voices; it is about challenging the structures that determine whose perspectives are prioritized. I left the panel feeling unsettled but also more aware. It made me want to be more intentional about the media I consume and the perspectives I prioritize because in the end, who tells the story determines whose truth gets heard and that is a political act in itself.