The Pivotal Role of Media and Academic Spaces post Beirut Blast: Between Responsibilities and Challenges

​The Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs (IFI) at the American University of Beirut (AUB) in partnership with the United Nations Development Program in Lebanon (UNDP) organized a virtual panel discussion (Webinar) on Wednesday, November 11, 2020, titled: “The Pivotal Role of Media and Academic Spaces post-Beirut Blast: Between Responsibilities and Challenges”

The panel discussion focused on the role media and academic institutions are playing after the Beirut blast, whether in terms of covering events and conveying an impartial image about them, or gathering information and analyzing the impact of the multiple crises on the Lebanese population and their livelihood. The discussion tackled the challenges these institutions are facing in light of a reality full of political tension especially after the economic collapse and the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In addition, the discussion shed light on the articles of the Peace Building in Lebanon News Supplement titled “Beirut Explosion: Healing the Wounds" produced by the UNDP «Peace Building in Lebanon» project and published in local newspapers. The supplement covered the explosion from different angles and perspectives that touch upon several aspects of the Lebanese lives.

​Speakers:
Celine Moyroud, UNDP Resident Representative for Lebanon
Nasser Yassin, Associate Professor of Policy and Planning at AUB
Ghassan Hajjar, Journalist and Managing Editor at Annahar
Emilie Sueur, Editor in Chief of L’Orient Le Jour
Moderator:
Fatima Moussawi, Civil Society Actors and Policymaking Program Coordinator at the Issam Fares Institute