Even though we no longer all watch the same news broadcast, crowding around the one TV to watch the dramatic moments of our lives unfold, from our newsroom at The Conversation Canada, we have deeply felt the collective impact of our 2018 news moments.
Where were you when the news broke of the “decision by an all-white jury, presided over by a white judge, to acquit the killer of Colten Boushie, a young Indigenous man from the Red Pheasant Cree Nation?” I was in my car, listening to the radio and I had to pull over to process the news. As a journalist in Canada, these are moments of both privilege and great responsibility: as the Culture + Society editor, I have access to scholars who helped me, and our audiences, explore this tragic and severe test of the Canadian legal system.
News of the way Hollywood’s veneer continued to crumble and reveal toxic masculinity and racism also unfurled on The Conversation. The rise of #MeToo comes from many directions. In the newsroom, we tuned in to listen to Christine Blasey Ford’s testimony during the U.S. Supreme Court hearings (along with millions of others) and reflected on its impact.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s war on immigrants marches on, and scholars have shared their analysis, using all kinds of research methods to counter Trump’s inaccuracies.
We also looked closely this year at how climate change and politics impact our social and cultural lives. One article explains: “we are living in a time of extraordinary ecological loss” which can lead to grief and mourning. And another poignantly illustrates how racism impacts our health.
The legalization of cannabis was big news, and we looked at it from many perspectives – including one that challenges the Canadian government.
As someone who spent years working in fashion journalism, I am fascinated by the way we dress and how that can impact politics.
These are just a small sample of the Culture + Society articles published by a crew of dedicated academics who help to infuse our collective moments with in-depth analysis. I’m looking forward to exploring more with you from our newsroom in 2019.
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