Colby-Sawyer College Hosts Screening of 'Reporter,' Featuring New York Times' Writer's Investigation of Second Congo War
NEW LONDON, N.H., Jan. 10, 2011 – Colby-Sawyer College will host a screening of “Reporter,” an independent documentary of New York Times' reporter Nicholas Kristof's investigation into the devastating effects of the Second Congo War.
The film follows the two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist for on an investigative journey to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. “Reporter” gives audiences an intimate look at Kristof's methods of exposing this humanitarian crisis, which has taken 5.4 million lives in the last decade.
“Reporter” will be presented in Clements Hall at the Curtis L. Ivey Science Center on Monday, Jan. 31, 2011, at 7 p.m. The event is sponsored by the Cultural Events Committee, and the public is invited to attend. Admission is free.
Kristof, who played a major role in putting the crisis in Darfur on the global agenda, represents a brand of investigative journalism that is largely disappearing in world that relies on blogs, opinion and infotainment. He seeks out real issues and brings them to the world's attention through thoughtful investigation and honest reporting.
After reporting on Darfur, Kristof came to see that news audiences had become numb to the constant flow of statistics about the world's tragedies. He realized that by telling stories of individuals who were struggling with effects of the Second Congo War he could more effectively capture an audience's attention.
“Reporter” follows Kristof through the Democratic Republic of the Congo as he interviews people ranging from starving victims to confident warlords. His approach to reporting on the crisis provides audiences with a spectrum of experiences and opinions from those who have experienced the Second Congo War firsthand. Despite the devastation that has resulted from the war, Kristof encourages his audience to consider all sides of the story, as he explains that victims often lie as much as perpetrators.
Hank Stuever of The Washington Post wrote that “A certain futility overshadows this film's ruminative nature, which mourns the math of genocide, famine and war, and yet celebrates the soul, the individual.”
While the documentary exposes a reality that many people will find hard to grasp, it presents this human tragedy in a way that helps them relate to the individuals in the Democratic Republic of the Congo who experienced it firsthand.
-Jessica McLavey '10
Colby-Sawyer College is a comprehensive college that integrates the liberal arts and sciences with professional preparation. Founded in 1837, Colby-Sawyer is located in the scenic Lake Sunapee Region of central New Hampshire. Learn more about the college's vibrant teaching and learning community at www.colby-sawyer.edu. Colby-Sawyer College, 541 Main Street, New London, N.H. 03257 (603) 526-3000
