By Gillian Adkins
Hannah Allam, an award-wining national security reporter, combats the rising public distrust in journalism by promoting media literacy in both her public appearances and work.
On March 11, Allam gave an inspiring lecture at the Shaffer Silveri Atrium in Parmer Hall. The lecture is a part of the Georgie Anne Geyer Initiative, which allows celebrated journalists to come to campus and speak about their experiences.
Allam aspired to work as a foreign correspondent due to her upbringings in the Middle East and United States.
She worked for National Public Radio as part of the national security team and joined The Washington Post in 2021, where she has written extensively about extremism, domestic terrorism, and national security.
When the 2016 election was approaching, she noticed the increase of tensions in the United States as well as changes in attitudes towards people of color. By what she was witnessing, she believed the rise in political extremism needed to be addressed.
“This was having the same kind of zeal and resonance that I was seeing with militant movements in the Middle East,” she said. “I can see from the region the kind of consequences that can [be brought].”
Allam wants to use journalism to help readers understand what this extremism means for them as well as to the future of democracy. She also visited the Cusack Board Room to talk to students.
John Jenks, professor of communication arts and sciences, asked how Allam applies the lessons she learned covering extremism overseas to the United States.
She explained that covering extremists has taught her to understand their backgrounds but believes you should not praise what they do. Allam also thinks journalists must maintain a critical distance while covering the impact on communities.
Students were curious to what Allam thinks about the increasing mistrust feelings against the media.
Jakhan Dixon, a senior majoring in political science, asked Allam a question about the 2016 election.
“Since the 2016 election, there’s been a rise of mistrust against the media,” he said. “How has that impacted reporting?”
Allam replied to Dixon by explaining what needs to be fixed for reporting.
“Vilification of the press is different from the mistrust,” she explained. “We need to do better at news literacy and showing people it is a rigorous process.”
Allam also discussed the importance of language in journalism.
“When I write about these extremely polarizing issues, I do think a lot about language,” she said. “We are in the business of starting conversations, not stopping them.”
Allam believes in showing your audience what’s happening rather than telling them what to think because it allows communities to tell their own story without losing their audience. She also thinks journalists must be ready to have difficult conversations and stand up to scrutiny.
Audience members felt engaged during both Allam’s lecture and student discussion.
Jorge Zarco, a sophomore majoring in international relations, said he enjoyed listening to Allam’s lecture.
“I learned a lot relating to journalistic integrity,” he said.
Members of the audience were engaged in Allam’s discussion and nodded in agreement with what she was saying. When Allam concluded her lecture, she was met with a round of applause and gratitude for her visit.
