Parachute journalism has long been criticised for covering crises from a Western perspective. One newsroom is aiming to put communities at the heart of news coverage
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Traditionally, when Western media organisations report on Africa, the Middle East and South Asia, they send foreign correspondents in to cover the events from the ground as they unfold.
This practice has been dubbed 'parachute journalism'. It can be effective for breaking news but it often means you are telling stories from a Western perspective, bringing your own values, practices and ethical considerations to communities you are not connected with. This can lead to backlash when Western editors make contentious decisions about how to cover communities they do not know or understand.
Even specialists in this world of reporting are racking their brains about how to undo decades of Westernised status quo when covering the Global South - some are referring to this as 'decolonising the media'.
One of those leading the conversation is Heba Aly, the CEO of The New Humanitarian, a non-profit newsroom best known for its reporting on conflicts, disasters and crises. In this week's podcast, Aly shares the strategies to shape accurate narratives around these communities, make sure their stories are of service to them, and recognise the agency of affected people to improve their own lives.
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