The New Humanitarian

How to change reporting | Decolonise How? 23.06.2026 39мин

We've diagnosed the problem. What comes next? On the podcast: what it takes to change how crises are spoken about in newsrooms and aid organisations. Researcher Jess Crombie and journalist Chika Oduah encourage "uncomfortable conversations" to confront colonial legacies. "Really, what we're talking about is about acknowledging power and making efforts to undermine existing power structures," Crombie says. Decolonise How? is a new podcast by The New Humanitarian that examines the stories we tell about humanitarian crises.

Event | Who owns the narrative? 19.06.2026 1ч 5мин

Across newsrooms, stages, screens, and funding tables, there's a growing movement to reshape how migration and displacement are understood. So what does it look like when the people at the heart of these crises tell their own stories, and could it influence the systems that shape their lives? The New Humanitarian hosted a night of film and conversation with journalists, artists, and cultural funders to explore these very questions. This event was moderated by Eric Reidy, Migration and Special Coverage Editor at The New Humanitarian, and featured: Bridgit Antoinette Evans | Artist, culture change strategist, and CEO of the Pop Culture Collaborative Arian Moayed | Actor, writer, director, and co-Founder of Waterwell Mazin Sidahmed | Co-Founder and Executive Director, Documented Annie Slemrod | Journalist, storyteller, and Middle East Editor at The New Humanitarian _____ This event was presented in partnership with the New York Office of the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation.

Crisis comms: donations vs. dignity | Decolonise How? 09.06.2026 44мин

NGO ads don't have to be a balance between dignity and donations. A look at the ethics and power dynamics of crisis communications, and how humanitarian agencies can do better for the communities they serve, with Levis Nderitu, a Kenyan DEI specialist, and Marie-Rose Romain Murphy, a Haitian-American community development expert. "At the core of your communication should be people, should be dignity, should be: how would I want to be portrayed myself?" Decolonise How? is a new podcast by The New Humanitarian that examines the stories we tell about humanitarian crises.

Event | Humanitarianism in the West Bank 04.06.2026 1ч 40мин

Humanitarianism in the West Bank: Structures, Power, and the Limits of Aid ___ What does it mean to "do no harm" in a context where aid can both alleviate suffering and entrench the very systems that produce it? In this critical conversation on the state of humanitarianism in the West Bank today, we examine what it means for humanitarian actors to operate within a broader landscape of occupation, violence, and structural injustice. This event was moderated by Layth Hanbali, Researcher at Institute for Palestine Studies and PhD candidate, who was joined by: Tammam Aloudat | CEO, The New Humanitarian Matiangai Sirleaf | Nathan Patz Professor of Law, University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law Bushra Khalidi | Global Humanitarian Policy Lead, Oxfam Lubnah Shomali | Palestinian human rights defender and activist, BADIL ____ Want to find out about future live events?? Subscribe to our newsletter at www.thenewhumanitarian.org/subscribe This event was convened by The New Humanitarian in collaboration with BADIL Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights, The Third World Approaches to International Law Review, Birzeit University Muwatin Institute for Democracy and Human Rights and Birzeit University Ibrahim Abu-Lughod Institute of International Studies.

Decolonising the newsroom | Decolonise How? 26.05.2026 38мин

The first African to lead the BBC's African service, Joseph Warungu, and The New Humanitarian's Head of Editorial, Andrew Gully, have over half a century's worth of experience working in and leading newsrooms. Why do both use the word "battle" to describe their efforts to produce decolonised journalism with local perspectives? Decolonise How? is a new podcast by The New Humanitarian that examines the stories we tell about humanitarian crises.

Diaspora aid: the lifeline we don't talk about enough | Rethinking Humanitarianism 21.05.2026 48мин

Every year, people in the diaspora send hundreds of billions of dollars home. It is one of the single most important streams of assistance, far outweighing all official foreign aid. So why does it get less attention when it outpaces aid flows? And can it – or should it – better complement international humanitarian response? Host Tammam Aloudat discusses the wide-reaching role of diaspora aid in Gaza, South Sudan, and beyond, its strengths and potential in crisis response, and its limitations. Guests: Hala Sabbah, co-founder of The Sameer Project Daniel Mayang Mayen, researcher at the Sudd Institute Got a question or feedback? Email podcast@thenewhumanitarian.org or post on social media using the hashtag #RethinkingHumanitarianism.

Who gets to tell the story? | Decolonise How? 12.05.2026 39мин

Does it really matter whether a journalist is a local or a foreigner? The distinction between "local" or "international" journalists raises questions about trust, credibility, and control in global news. In this episode of Decolonise How? Patrick Gathara sits down with The New Humanitarian's Ali Latifi and Ahmer Khan to discuss power dynamics in crisis reporting, and why it matters. Decolonise How? is a new podcast by The New Humanitarian that examines the stories we tell about humanitarian crises.

What it means for humanitarians to be political | Rethinking Humanitarianism 07.05.2026 28мин

Saving lives is a choice, and that makes it hard for humanitarianism to be completely apolitical despite long-running debates about neutrality and impartiality. But what does being political look like? On this episode: Flotillas and White Helmets, the difference between speaking out as individual humanitarian actors or as a unified collective, moving beyond simply being in "solidarity with communities", and finding a diversity of voices to build a future version of humanitarianism. Guests: Shatha Elnakib, faculty and deputy director of the Center for Humanitarian Health at Johns Hopkins University, and lead author of The Lancet's article, The humanitarian system: politics can not be avoided. Jonathan Whittall, executive director and founder of the KEYS Initiative Got a question or feedback? Email podcast@thenewhumanitarian.org or post on social media using the hashtag #RethinkingHumanitarianism.

Ethical principles vs institutional realities | Decolonise How? 28.04.2026 37мин

In the latest Decolonise How? podcast, we ask whether ethical journalism is possible when individual ideals collide with institutional realities. "In school, we are taught: Don't be too close to the story, because then how do you maintain objectivity?" says Kenyan journalist Njoki Chege. "But on the ground, things are very different." Decolonise How? is a new podcast by The New Humanitarian that examines the stories we tell about humanitarian crises.

Surviving war while delivering aid | Rethinking Humanitarianism 16.04.2026 22мин

Like many local aid workers living through war, Hind Obeid is surviving a crisis while responding to it. Obeid works for an NGO that supports refugees in Lebanon, but since 2024 Israeli attacks have forced her to fulfill her obligations while experiencing multiple displacements, the fear of airstrikes, and the constant sound of drones. Obeid, who wrote about her experiences for The New Humanitarian, joins the podcast to reflect on the mental anguish of delivering aid under Israeli bombardment, how the humanitarian system can better support local staff, and why showing up in a crisis feels like resistance. Guest: Hind Obeid, safeguarding officer and PSEAH focal point at Basmeh & Zeitooneh Got a question or feedback? Email podcast@thenewhumanitarian.org or post on social media using the hashtag #RethinkingHumanitarianism.

Should there be foreign correspondents? | Decolonise How? 14.04.2026 39мин

In this episode of Decolonise How?, host Patrick Gathara sits down with journalist Jane Ferguson to debate what role foreign correspondents should have in telling stories from crises, and why she now describes herself as a "recovering war reporter". "I had grown up with this sense of what a foreign correspondent was… but what I learned early on was that my impression was very self-absorbed," Ferguson says. Decolonise How? is a new podcast by The New Humanitarian that examines the stories we tell about humanitarian crises.

An exit talk with UNRWA's Philippe Lazzarini | Rethinking Humanitarianism 02.04.2026 45мин

Philippe Lazzarini has ended his term as head of UNRWA, the UN agency that provides essential services to Palestinians. In an exit interview, Lazzarini describes "the most brutal experience" of his career, his anger when atrocities are met with silence, and the "slippery slope" waiting for humanitarians in Gaza. Guest: Philippe Lazzarini, departing commissioner-general of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) Got a question or feedback? Email podcast@thenewhumanitarian.org or post on social media using the hashtag #RethinkingHumanitarianism.

What is humanitarian journalism? | Decolonise How? 31.03.2026 36мин

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.

Who owns the story? | Decolonise How? 17.03.2026 40мин

"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.

Tragedy? When humanitarian language becomes oppressive | Rethinking Humanitarianism 12.03.2026 29мин

Is it problematic to call human suffering a "tragedy"? Even well-intentioned humanitarian language can harm, says Heidi Mogstad, senior researcher at the Chr. Michelsen Institute in Norway. She argues that the language humanitarians use can perpetuate systems of violence that cause crises. In this episode, Mogstad gives examples of counter-productive language, and discusses ways to improve. Guests: Heidi Mogstad, senior researcher at the Chr. Michelsen Institute in Norway. Got a question or feedback? Email podcast@thenewhumanitarian.org or post on social media using the hashtag #RethinkingHumanitarianism. Show Notes: Oppressive Language and Humanitarian Complicity: Reflections on Gaza and European Border Violence

Introducing a new podcast on crisis storytelling | Decolonise How? 10.03.2026 2мин

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.

The aid sector's techno-colonialism problem | Rethinking Humanitarianism 26.02.2026 46мин

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.

Burnout in the aid sector and how to respond | Rethinking Humanitarianism 12.02.2026 52мин

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

Don't forget about the Rohingya | Rethinking Humanitarianism 29.01.2026 30мин

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

What's happening in Iran? The wider context | Rethinking Humanitarianism 12.01.2026 48мин

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.