The CRISIS of Journalism with Anjan Sundaram

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