Navigating the Intersection of Media and Politics: Reflections on a Transformative Educational Journey

As I reflect on my journey through the Media and Politics minor program, I am struck by the profound and interdisciplinary ways in which media and politics intersect and influence each other. From the role of social media in facilitating political change to the impact of journalistic practices on public opinion, the relationship between media and politics has emerged as a central theme across my coursework, shaping my understanding of the world and my aspirations as a journalist.

One of the most striking examples of this relationship came from my research on the Arab Spring in the Comparative Political Systems course at Georgetown in Spring 2022 for my final paper. As I analyzed the successes and failures of the Arab Spring in different countries while focusing on Tunisia, the “lone success story” of the Arab Spring according to scholars and political scientists., I was particularly intrigued by the role of social media in facilitating political change. Platforms like Facebook and Twitter allowed protesters to organize, spread information, and garner global support in ways that would have been impossible just a decade earlier. The ability to connect and mobilize across borders and in real time was a game-changer for political movements, playing a crucial role in the overthrow of authoritarian regimes, whether it was Zine El Abidine Ben Ali’s rule in Tunisia, or Hosni Mubarak’s dictatorship in Egypt.

However, I also observed how governments responded to this new threat by seeking to control and manipulate social media for their own ends. From monitoring internet traffic to shutting down access entirely, such as in the case of Egypt, political actors demonstrated a keen awareness of the power of these platforms and a willingness to use any means necessary to maintain their grip on power. This tension between the liberating potential of social media and its vulnerability to co-optation and repression is one that continues to shape political struggles around the world, and it underscores the complex and contested nature of the relationship between media and politics.

Another key insight from my coursework was the way in which media can serve as a reflection and amplifier of political agendas and public sentiment. In my research on Syrian refugees in Turkey for the Refugees in/from the Arab World course at Northwestern in Fall 2022, I analyzed how the media’s portrayal of Syrian refugees shifted in lockstep with President Erdogan’s government’s changing policies and rhetoric. The Syrian War which has been raging on for 12 years now has caused the forced displacement of 13 million Syrians – more than half of the country’s population. Nearly 4 million of these refugees found temporary homes in Turkey which hosts the largest refugee population worldwide. However, ahead of the 2023 elections in the face of a tough opposition critical of Erdogan’s refugee policy, Turkey’s political stance towards Syrian refugees started evolving from one of welcome to one of hostility and deportation. The media followed suit, framing Syrian refugees as a burden and a threat rather than as human beings in need of protection and support.

This experience underscored for me the power of media to shape public opinion and the way in which it can be used as a tool for political manipulation. As the fourth estate, the media has the potential to hold those in power accountable and to promote informed and inclusive public dialogue. Yet, it can also be weaponized to manufacture consent, stoke fear and division, and advance narrow political interests.

At the same time, my research on the depiction of Syrian refugees in the media also highlighted the media’s potential to generate empathy and awareness. The Syrian civil war started in 2010 but did not receive global attention until 2015 when the harrowing photograph of three-year-old Syrian refugee child, Alan Kurdi, made headlines and was circulated around the globe. The photograph showed Kurdi’s lifeless body as he lay face-down on a beach in Turkey after the rubber boat carrying his family to Greece capsized. His tragic death, captured in a single haunting photograph, cut through the noise of political rhetoric and statistics to reveal the human cost of the refugee crisis. The emotional resonance of that image was a reminder of the unique power of visual media to connect us to the stories and experiences of others, even across vast distances and differences.

As I continued my minor, I also became increasingly aware of the ways in which journalistic practices and biases can contribute to the perpetuation of stereotypes and the marginalization of certain communities. In Professor Abraham Abusharaf’s Media and Religion course that I am currently taking, I learned how orientalist beliefs and a focus on sensationalism and conflict can lead to the proliferation of Islamophobic attitudes in mainstream discourse. The lack of nuanced and contextual reporting on issues related to Islam and Muslims has real-world consequences, fueling discrimination and violence against these communities. 

One of the case studies we have looked at is the 2010 “Ground Zero Mosque” controversy in the United States. In 2010, plans were announced to build an Islamic community center called Park51, a few blocks away from the former site of the World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan, which was destroyed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Despite the center not actually being a mosque and not located at Ground Zero itself, the proposal sparked immense public backlash and opposition. Media coverage overwhelmingly portrayed the planned construction in a very negative light, frequently referring to it as the “Ground Zero Mosque.” This framing activated long-standing Orientalist stereotypes that associate Islam and Muslims with terrorism and a threat to Western values.

Though organizers insisted Park51 was meant to promote inter-faith dialogue and serve as an open community space, it was widely seen in media narratives as offensive and insensitive given its perceived associations with 9/11.  The virulent negative reactions exemplified how journalistic practices can perpetuate problematic framings that depict Muslims and their institutions as inherently suspicious, foreign, and tied to extremism. This stems from deeper ideological roots of Western discourse casting Islam as the uncivilized, alien “Other” in contrast to the enlightened West. Ultimately, the overwhelmingly negative media portrayals and public backlash led to the Park51 project being indefinitely stalled.

This realization was a wake-up call for me as an aspiring journalist. It underscored the importance of being critically aware of our own biases and the ways in which our work can shape public opinion and political discourse. It also highlighted the need for more diverse and inclusive media that amplifies marginalized voices and challenges dominant narratives.

This is a lesson I have encountered throughout my experience at Northwestern and one that I have tried to put into practice in my own work. For our final project for Refugees in/from the Arab World, my group looked at the concept of home as imagined by third-generation Palestinians. Our project dealt with questions such as how important is narrative history, what are the effects of displacement on different displaced generations of Palestinians, what the right of return means for different people and how can people build a connection with a place they have never seen before. By producing a podcast featuring stories from interviews with Palestinian expats living in Qatar, we sought to create a platform for sharing experiences and perspectives that are often overlooked or suppressed in mainstream media. It was a small step, but one that felt meaningful in terms of using media as a tool for empowerment and self-representation.

My experience with this minor has also made me deeply cognizant of the importance of using media with sensitivity and ethical considerations. In sophomore year, I got selected as a fellow with the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting. Along with my colleague (a fellow Nu-Q student), I produced a compelling documentary and published a feature article highlighting the personal and professional journeys of female survivors of acid attack violence in Pakistan. The women we interviewed were deeply traumatized but resilient individuals, refusing to let this heinous act of violence define their lives. One of our sources, Raheela, was only 16 when she was attacked with acid by her neighbor after her parents turned down his marriage proposal for her. The acid burns disfigured her face, resulting in the permanent loss of her left eye, and she spent the next six years in and out of hospitals while also fighting a legal battle to put her perpetrator behind bars. As much as she wanted to share our story with the world, she was still terrified of him and asked if she could wear a mask to conceal her face before the camera. Instead, I told her she doesn’t need to appear on camera altogether. 

Working with such sources required a delicate balance between telling their stories and respecting their well-being. We had to prioritize the comfort and safety of our interviewees, ensuring they had control over their narratives which meant being flexible in our approach, such as allowing Raheela to opt-out of appearing on camera when she expressed fear. It also meant being mindful of how we framed their experiences, focusing on their resilience and agency rather than victimhood. My experience with the media and politics minor has shown me the power of media to shape perceptions and drive change and the immense responsibility that comes with this power. In my professional life, I have learned to approach storytelling with empathy, cultural awareness, and a commitment to uplifting voices while minimizing further trauma. 

The relationship between media and politics took on new dimensions for me in the Politics and Society in Modern South Asia course which I took at Georgetown last semester . As I engaged with scholarship across disciplines, from history to anthropology to political science, I began to see how media both reflects and shapes the complex political and social realities of the region – my region. The persistence of ethnic conflict, the marginalization of minorities, and the politics of development are all issues that are deeply intertwined with questions of representation and discourse in the media.

My interdisciplinary learning in this course equipped me with the tools to situate my understanding of these issues within a broader historical and cultural context. It also highlighted the importance of engaging with diverse sources of knowledge and perspectives, beyond the narrow lens of mainstream media. As a journalist, this is a lesson I will carry with me, seeking out voices and stories that are often left out of dominant narratives and striving to provide nuanced and contextualized reporting on complex political and social issues.

Perhaps the most troubling aspect of the relationship between media and politics that I encountered in my studies is the way in which media can be used as a tool of propaganda and manipulation in the service of foreign policy objectives. In the Foreign Policy Analysis course that I am currently taking at Georgetown, we use different theories of international relations such as realism, constructivism, and liberalism, to make sense of different foreign policy decisions of different countries and entities (such as the EU or the African Union).

I am able to examine how the U.S. media has acted as a mouthpiece for American foreign policy, particularly in the context of the ongoing war on Gaza. The vilification of Hamas and the dehumanization of Palestinians in American media coverage is a stark reminder of how media can be used to manufacture consent for political and military interventions. By obscuring the reality of Israeli-perpetuated violence and American complicity, the media helps to build public support for policies that have devastating consequences for the people on the ground. This is not a new phenomenon, of course. The parallels with the media’s role in the lead-up to the 2003 Iraq War are impossible to ignore. But it is a sobering reminder of the immense power and responsibility that comes with shaping public discourse on issues of war and peace.

As I reflect on all of these experiences and insights, I can better understand the different facets of the relationship between media and politics. It is a relationship that is shaped by a wide range of factors, from technological innovation to cultural biases to the machinations of power on a global scale. But it is also a relationship that is deeply human, one that is shaped by the stories we tell and the voices we amplify. As an aspiring journalist, I feel a deep sense of responsibility to approach my work with critical awareness, empathy, and a commitment to social justice.

This means being willing to challenge dominant narratives and to seek out perspectives that are often marginalized or ignored. It means being attentive to how my own biases and privileges may shape my reporting, and working to counteract them through inclusive and equitable practices. It means engaging with scholarship and knowledge from diverse disciplines and contexts, to provide reporting that is both nuanced and contextually grounded.

Above all, it means recognizing the immense power of media to shape the world we live in, and using that power in the service of a more just and humane society. This is the challenge and the opportunity that lies before me as I embark on my career in journalism, and it is one that I am deeply grateful to have been prepared for through my studies in the Media and Politics program.

The relationship between media and politics is one that will continue to evolve and shift in the years to come, shaped by new technologies, changing political landscapes, and the ever-present struggle for power and influence. As a journalist, I know that I will be a part of this unfolding story, with a responsibility to bear witness, to hold the powerful accountable, and to amplify the voices of those who are too often left out of the conversation. Whether it is through reporting on the frontlines of political struggles, producing in-depth multimedia projects that challenge dominant narratives, or using my platform to amplify marginalized voices and perspectives, I am committed to using the power of media to make a positive difference in the world. As I set out on this journey, I do so with a sense of purpose, passion, and hope – hope for a media that is more inclusive, more accountable, and more committed to the pursuit of truth and justice in all its forms.