This 3-credit course takes students to Guatemala for 10 days to study the role of media in historic and contemporary struggles for democracy. The class meets with Guatemalan journalists, human rights activists, Indigenous associations, women’s collectives and other community groups. Students visit news agencies, community radio and TV stations and the office of the country’s first and only feminist magazine. Using Guatemala as a case study, students will learn about the regional effects of colonization, US military intervention and neoliberal economic policies in the Central American region, as well as the key role of media in local struggles for political autonomy, human rights and democracy.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Examine the role of journalism in developing countries;
• Understand the powerful historical influence of the U.S. government and U.S. media institutions on Guatemalan media and politics;
• Research the constraints, risks and dangers faced by journalists and grassroots activists in Guatemala and other parts of Central America;
• Comprehend the history and legacy of colonialism and neocolonialism in Central America and their impact on the functioning of democracy;
• Examine the root causes of poverty and political repression in the region and the push factors of immigration from Central America to the US;
• Formulate effective interview questions;
• Write an article for future publication in venues such as the JMS student magazine KAIROS, The Targum or elsewhere, educating the public about Guatemala.