Speaker: Candis Callison, Associate Professor, First Nations and Indigenous Studies, University of British Columbia
Arctic and northern journalism provides us with insight into how the North represents itself, serves its own diverse audiences, and responds to global attentions. Crucially, it’s not only climate change or curiosity that draws audiences beyond the local or regional. The war in the Ukraine is having enormous impacts on Arctic states who share borders with Russia, the Arctic Council and other forms of cooperation, Arctic scientific research, and the ability of journalists to report on communities and industries formerly in era of “deep peace” and cooperation that spanned the last 30 years.
Drawing on a multi-year research project spanning a decade that includes ethnographic fieldwork with journalists in Alaska, the Canadian territories, and Norway, this talk offers insight into how Arctic and sub-Arctic journalists are envisioning their roles and their audiences, integrating digital and social media into journalistic norms and practices, and facilitating local and global public discussion related to massive environmental, economic, and social changes.
Understanding these challenges and transformations in a region whose population is a high percentage or majority Indigenous in varying relations with their lands, waters, states and media also provides insight into how media might become more responsive to Indigenous publics.
This seminar can also be viewed via our live stream.
Hosted by the Climate, People and the Environment Program (CPEP).