The New Humanitarian

There's more than one way to cover crises, says Professor Martin Scott. In the second episode of Decolonise How?, host Patrick Gathara sits down with Scott, who studies media and global development, to discuss the ethics, practice, and impact of media coverage of crises. Scott popularised the term "humanitarian journalism". He explains what makes it different from mainstream journalism, and why the labels matter. Decolonise How? is a new podcast by The New Humanitarian that examines the stories we tell about humanitarian crises.

"The first place that people are dehumanised is in stories." - Sophie Otiende The way we tell stories about humanitarian crises can distort the realities of the people living through them. From news coverage and research to aid donation appeals, there is a tendency to simplify, decontextualise, and even dehumanise – to portray locals as suffering and helpless, and the outsiders riding to their rescue as heroic and selfless. In Decolonise How? host Patrick Gathara brings together journalists, humanitarians, researchers, and affected communities, to understand why this happens, and how to change it. For his first podcast, Gathara is joined by Kenyan teacher, activist and advocate for survivors of human trafficking, Sophie Otiende, and Kelsie Kilawna Marchand, a Syilx journalist from Canada. They discuss community, consent, what to do differently – and just what is a "coyote" move? Decolonise How? is a new podcast by The New Humanitarian that examines the stories we tell about humanitarian crises.

Heidi Mogstad, senior researcher at the Chr. Michelsen Institute who studies humanitarian language and crisis politics, explores how well-meaning words can harm. She examines how terms like "tragedy" erase political responsibility. Short takes cover securitization of refugees and Palestinians, three linguistic harms, and alternatives that insist on rights, agency, and naming complicity.

Decolonise How? is a new podcast by The New Humanitarian that examines the stories we tell about humanitarian crises. Join host Patrick Gathara as he gathers journalists, humanitarians, researchers, and affected communities into the same conversation. They debate the crisis in crisis reporting – and talk about how things could be done differently.

AI and new tech in crises: When is technology a force for good, and when are we piling on the problems in humanitarian response? In this episode, experts unpack why technology is never neutral, the fallback on "techno-utopian" solutions, and the risk of "techno-colonialism" and why it matters. Guests: Mirca Madianou, professor in the School of Media, Communications and Cultural Studies at Goldsmiths, University of London, and author of "Technocolonialism: When Technology for Good is Harmful". Nathaniel Raymond, executive director of the Humanitarian Research Lab at the Yale School of Public Health. Rana F. Sweis, journalist and founder and managing director of WishBox Media. Got a question or feedback? Email podcast@thenewhumanitarian.org or post on social media using the hashtag #RethinkingHumanitarianism.

Humanitarians have a "burnout culture", experts say. They work long hours in difficult environments. They're trying to help people in the worst moments of their lives. In the middle of today's funding crisis, they're also deciding who gets aid and who does not. In this episode, humanitarians and experts in mental health or wellbeing talk about what's driving high rates of burnout, how people can identify it and take action, and what organisations must do better to help their staff. Guests: Javid Abdelmoneim, international president of Médecins Sans Frontières Nancy Nyambura, regional staff counsellor at Médecins Sans Frontières Gemma Houldey, author of The Vulnerable Humanitarian: Ending Burnout Culture in the Aid Sector Got a question or feedback? Email podcast@thenewhumanitarian.org or post on social media using the hashtag #RethinkingHumanitarianism. Show notes: The Vulnerable Humanitarian: Ending Burnout Culture in the Aid Sector https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0010440X24000920

Myanmar's persecuted Rohingya community are waiting for justice. A landmark genocide case at the International Court of Justice is a major step. In this episode, Noor Azizah, a survivor who heads a Rohingya civil society group, tells her family's story of being driven from their homeland. She explains why today's Rohingya trial paved the way for other atrocity crime cases, and discusses humanitarians' complex role delivering aid in Myanmar. Guests: Noor Azizah, co-executive director of the Rohingya Maìyafuìnor Collaborative Network Got a question or feedback? Email podcast@thenewhumanitarian.org or post on social media using the hashtag #RethinkingHumanitarianism. Show notes: The Rohingya: The exodus isn't over

Protests have spread across Iran, and the fallout is rapidly evolving. In this episode, Hamid Dabashi, Iranian-American author and professor of Iranian studies and comparative literature at Columbia University, explains the wider historic context and evolution of these protests. He helps host Tammam Aloudat think through the nuance of opposing an abusive government while also rejecting imperialism – whether that be in Venezuela, Iran, or the al-Assad regime in Syria. And Dabashi discusses what humanitarians might pay attention to as events unfold. Guests: Hamid Dabashi, Iranian-American author and professor of Iranian studies and comparative literature at Columbia University Got a question or feedback? Email podcast@thenewhumanitarian.org or post on social media using the hashtag #RethinkingHumanitarianism.

The crisis of illiberalism. The global gender backlash. Aid blind spots. Gaza and the failure of international law. Our guests have taken on difficult topics, but they've also come up with ideas on how to move forward. In this episode: Key takeaways to navigate today's challenges, and the issues driving conversations in 2026. Guests: Anjali Dayal, assistant professor of international politics at Fordham University Saskia Brechenmacher, senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace's Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program Sana Bég, executive director, Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Canada Hourie Tafech, director for refugee leadership and partnerships at Refugees International Tammam Aloudat, CEO of The New Humanitarian Levi Sharpe, Rethinking Humanitarianism producer Got a question or feedback? Email podcast@thenewhumanitarian.org or post on social media using the hashtag #RethinkingHumanitarianism.

The UN has a new refugee chief: Barham Salih is the former president of Iraq. He takes over as high commissioner for refugees in January 2026. Salih may be a surprise pick. The head of UNHCR, the UN's refugee agency, has almost always been a European. Just as rare: The new refugee chief has actually been a refugee. But does a change at the top really address the power imbalances refugees face in the aid sector? Revisit our series, Power Shift, which puts decision-makers – and those affected by their choices – at the same table. In this episode, Hafsar Tameesuddin, a Rohingya activist and refugee, speaks to Raouf Mazou, a senior UNHCR official. They talk about passports and privilege, and try to find common ground. ––– Power Shift is an experiment in dialogue that puts decision-makers in aid and philanthropy and those affected by their decisions in honest, one-on-one conversations about the aid sector's inequalities. ___ Subscribe on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube, or search "The New Humanitarian" in your favourite podcast app. You can find transcripts of all podcasts on our website. Are you or anyone you know interested in participating in future Power Shift conversations? Email us with the subject line 'POWER SHIFT".