Two powerful stories with two powerful messages.

 

‘Social media helps black lives matter fight the power’ by Bijan Stephen (Bijan Stephen 2015) and ‘Ghost Boat’ by Eric Reidy (Eric Reidy 2015), both journalistic pieces aimed at highlighting political unrest, global change and shifting public opinion. 

 

Each article has a strong visual awareness. When discussing harsh realities about people fleeing from strife images are placed showing exactly what was lost and what happened. Especially compelling in Ghost Boat where images taken by photographer Gianni Capriano are used which show tattered clothes and items thrown overboard by refugees. Similarly images of protests and confrontation with police are placed by Bijan Stephen to show the harsh reality of the struggle.

 

The context of both stories is fairly different. 

 

Black lives matter is a movement mostly in the United States of America. The movement is aimed at empowering African Americans through social and political change. Currently the movement is in recession but at its peak saw mass protests in response to primarily black deaths as a result of clashes with law enforcement.

 

Ghost Boat is centred around the European immigraition crisis. During the crisis, millions of refugees and economic migrants fled the Middle East and Africa for a better life. During their journey many died and throughout the article we follow the stories of Segan and partner Yafet, who, starting in Libya traveled across the Medeteranian to never make it back to shore again.

 

While Ghost Boat was primarily aimed at an international and very European audience, Black Lives Matter targeted for US readership, eager to push for imminent change. The story of Ghost Boat, though highlighting the struggle focuses primarily on getting the message out and encouraging people to find more about something they perhaps knew very little about. 

 

The stories are saddening, and despite their differences, Ghost Boat and BLM provide a vivid commentary through the vista of active journalists.