Courtney Miller's Page

What is your interest and/or background in Humanitarian affairs?

Involved with NGO/Aid Agency, Journalist

Please tell us a little more about you:

I am a junior at Indiana University working toward a double major in Journalism and International Studies. My concentrations are in Broadcast and Human Rights. This summer, I spent two months in England working for a partner of Channel 4, Quicksilver Productions, and focused specifically on the series, Unreported World.

I want to work for a humanitarian news organization and address overlooked international issues in an in-depth, multi-media format. Eventually, I will found my own independent film company that focuses on promoting social awareness for human rights issues, particularly those involving women and children and post-conflict rehabilitation.

I will pursue my career goals with my senior thesis, which will focus on humanitarian aid and how it is affected by the coverage of the media. I will start the research process this fall by completing my independent study on the relationship between NGOs and the media. This summer I will do an internship for an international NGO that works with refugees or women. I will report on their projects and how they affect the people they help. After this summer, I will create a documentary and write a research paper on what I learned.

Are you a member of any specific organization(s)?

I am a member of Amnesty International and CARE as a lobbyist. I am also a member of AISEC, one of the world's largest internship and exchange programs, and Dark Hound Productions, a student-run production company.

Independently, I work on humanitarian reporting. In Summer 2008, I went to South Africa with a student-organization, One Here One There, that helps fund education for children in sub-Saharan Africa. It was titled "Breaking Boundaries."

I submitted it to the international student conference, Education Without Borders in Dubai in Spring 2009 and was accepted as a presenter. I was 1 of 36 selected out of 1054 applicants. This experience allowed me to show social entrepreneurs how to effectively interact with members of the media.

Organization website:

http://courtneymichelle.org

What causes are you interested in or advocate?

One of the most important issues for us to address in order to bring peace and development into this world, is women's issues. Women are the backbone to the developments of impoverished regions. Yet, they are today's prominent victim. Thousands of women around the world are brought into the sex trade, slavery, torture and death. For too long women have been oppressed by society, told they were inferior and expected to do whatever they were told. Some have fought back; most have remained silent. I want to help give women a voice. I want to show the world the progress women all around the world are doing and reinstall hope in the global community.

I chose to address this issue as a journalist not an activist. Although I am extremely passionate, I would reach far more people with the media. Also, I have come to find that showing people what is happening is far more effective than telling them. As a journalist, I would not tell people how they should address issues. If I did, the only people who would listen to me are people already looking to get involved. Rather, I would provide the subject with an outlet to tell their story and help others understand what life is like from their point of view. I think this would promote awareness because people would see past their differences and into the heart of the subject. They would see them as human beings who deserve basic human rights and respect.

Journalists can bring about long term effects. They may not provide immediate relief for those currently affected, but they can share stories that are timeless and influential. As a journalist, I can promote change that lasts.

What are your favorite musicians/films/books which are related to or inspired by humanitarian issues?

The Vagina Monologues, Born into the Brothels, Reading Lolita in Tehran, Three Cups of Tea, Mountains Beyond Mountains, Sold, Infidel, Beauty Salon in Kabul... the list goes on and on. Mostly, I love to read about humanitarian issues involving women.

Favorite link:

http://mediastorm.org

Other Link:

http://pulitzercenter.org