19/04/2024
The politics of time with Carolyn Smith
What led you to become a Press Fellow at Wolfson College?
I was interested in researching censorship in Iranian media prior to the Islamic Revolution, and comparing coverage of censorship before and after 1979 in Western Media. The Wolfson Press Fellowship offered a unique opportunity to do that, especially given the shockingly rich material available at the University Library.
What is your current occupation and how did you get into this role?
I am the Global Politics Reporter at ThinkProgress in Washington, DC. Basically, I cover the Trump administration's foreign policies. I was working for Al Jazeera prior to this, but they weren't really interested in covering this administration, and I wanted to be in a newsroom where I didn't have to carve out the space to do the kind of work I wanted to do. So here I am!
What do you most enjoy about your job?
This is a tough job, I won't lie. I've worked covering disasters and wars, but this is quite something else. What I love about it, though, even on the worst days, is the fact that I have a front seat covering a very unique time in American history, and, in fact, global politics. And I hope that I'm using that opportunity to provide the kind of context to stories that serves our readers best.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
Never fall in love with an idea.
Which female (living or historical) has inspired you the most?
My paternal grandmother, Homaytaj. Her refusal to get married young, opting to pursue an education an education instead paved the way for other women in the family. She also raised two sons to respect women and to see us as equals. She was brave, brilliant, and one hundred percent true to herself.
In line with this year’s International Women’s Day theme #balanceforbetter, how would you define balance?
Balance is being able to pursue the things that you want without having someone's boot on your neck, while not feeling the need to put your boot on someone else's neck in order to do the same.
