In this video, I sit down with journalist and author Anjan Sundaram to explore the crisis of journalism, the emotional strain of witnessing trauma, and the uneasy coexistence of catastrophe and daily life. We discuss how the news is shaped, the search for the “perfect victim,” and the geopolitical narratives that demand palatable symbols of justice. Anjan’s insights are paired with an essay on the story of Josh Gibson and Jackie Robinson as an analogy for the West’s desire for “safe” exits from guilt.
Anjan’s site with links to books, TED Talks, Journalism on Congo/CAR/Mexico/Cambodia : https://anjansundaram.com/
Jay Shapiro’s Film OPPOSITE FIELD (Uganda Little League Baseball) : https://www.primevideo.com/region/na/detail/0G6JGS036H3RX0YN1WIRSESFPO/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r
Anjan and Lindsy Hilsum in conversation: https://granta.com/in-conversation-anjan-sundaram-and-lindsey-hilsum/
James Baldwin Essay "The Devil Finds Work": https://www.are.na/block/28328065
The Defiant Ones (1958) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Defiant_Ones
Jay's website with essays, archive, and contact information: whatjaythinks.com
00:00:00 Intro: Anjan’s Path and My Philosophical Lane
00:04:50 Intro: Journalism’s Role and Letters with Lindsey Hilsum
00:13:10 From Ivy League Mathematics phd to Congo Stringer
00:16:46 Running From or Running To?
00:22:35 Broken Journalism after October 7th
00:29:28 The Neocolonial Journalistic Informational Flows
00:37:51 Guns to my Head Multiple Times is Part of the Job
00:45:43 A Mind in Two Worlds: War and Home
00:53:20 Putting Ourselves in the Story
00:56:23 Journalism in Crisis the Ruins of Neoliberalism
01:05:28 Five Seconds to Tell the Story
01:11:39 The Intersection of Activism and Journalism
01:19:09 What Should We Know About the People We Never Hear About
01:26:20 Holding Power to Account… Who Are you Really Talking To
01:31:05 “Where is the world?”
01:37:38 “True Human Cost of the Phone” versus “Radical Change” through Inspiration
01:41:43 Immortal Stories and Art
01:44:36 Outro: The Defiant Ones (1958)
01:49:28 Outro: Josh Gibson, Jackie Robinson and The “Perfect Victims” of Racism
02:15:28 Outro: The Silent Cry of the Imperfect Victims
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