Researching and Teaching about Forced Migration in Berlin: Deborah Amos, Journalism

I was struck by Deborah’s warm and approachable character as soon as I stepped into her office in P24. She greeted me with a smile, shaking my hand with an ease of a woman who has spent a lifetime connecting with people around the world, capturing and sharing their stories. “Journalism is based on trust,” she told me, and I felt the trust from her immediately. Deborah Amos, a Ferris professor at Princeton University since 2012, came to Bard College Berlin for a semester to teach a class on reporting forced migration while simultaneously working on her own research in Berlin. She is currently focusing on accountability efforts and conducting research on universal jurisdiction. Additionally, she is collaborating with activists who specialize in gathering evidence of war crimes through OSINT, which stands for Open Source Investigation. This approach, as described by Eyal Weissman of Forensic Architecture, involves "making public what is already public."

In this day and age, “anyone anywhere can be a journalist,” says Deborah, “but you don’t get to just say stuff, you need to know where it comes from.” Her seminar is practice based, and students are expected to write a series of articles, developing their own style through different forms of journalistic pieces, from profile writing to deeply reported long-form articles. The seminar will visit courtrooms, communal kitchens, and other locations where they will learn the fundamentals of narrative reporting. “The format of journalism works for all kinds of communication,” says Deborah, “and students will take away skills that they can apply anywhere in their lives.” From pitching creative ideas to writing compelling stories, the assignments throughout the seminar transcend the field of journalism and will prove useful in years to come.  

The small seminar classes offered by Bard College Berlin have allowed Deborah to keep learning inside the classroom, most notably due to the fact that about half of her students are forced migrants themselves. “This has definitely been new to me,” she says, “I learn as much as they do,” she expressed about the small seminar setting. Students are all encouraged to share their personal experiences and their own responses to the readings, many of which delve into narratives of recent forced displacement stemming from global conflicts and wars. In this unique classroom setting, Deborah has continued learning, and in light of observations made by students regarding their personal stories, has examined the ways in which the syllabus can be modified for when she returns to Princeton. 

Through her expertise, warmth, and dedication to the craft of journalism, she has not only imparted invaluable skills to her students but has also fostered a deeper understanding of the complex issues surrounding forced migration. Her seminar, grounded in practical experience and enriched by the diverse backgrounds of its participants, serves as a testament to the power of storytelling and the importance of ethical journalism in an interconnected world. In a community as small and diverse as BCB’s, these stories come together in ways that keep everyone learning. 

By: Renata Álvarez León, ‘24

Post Date: 03-01-2024