Mercy College Hosts Ukrainian Delegation for Politics & Journalism Program

In early November, Mercy College hosted a delegation of young journalists and media professionals from Ukraine to learn about transparent election coverage. The event was held as part of the Open World program, an organization affiliated with the US Congress and housed in the Library of Congress that promotes institutional growth and professional leadership in post-Cold War south and eastern Europe.

The itinerary encompassed many aspects of the American political system. They attended a political breakfast where they watched delegates respectfully debate issues in local elections and visited polling places in Dobbs Ferry on election day. They also attended lectures at Mercy, such as “History of American Journalism and Politics: An Overview,” taught by Mercy College history professor Robert Murray and “Media Coverage by African-American Newspapers of African-American Women Political Candidates,” taught by Dr. Aiisha Harden Russell.

The Open World program also included visits to New York City, where delegates met with journalists at Buzzfeed News, producers at CBS and sat in on editorial board meetings at The New York Times and the Journal News.  The delegates also attended a New York University class on sensationalism in journalism and met representatives from the League of Women Voters.

“We are delighted to host these young media professionals and introduce them to the ways their peers are trained in the American media and political systems,” said Dr. Sheila Gersh, Director of the Center for Global Engagement at Mercy College, which hosted the program. “Events like these provide participants with great experiences they can take back to their home countries, and the College community is enriched by their presence.”