IIJ to hold fourth consecutive SUSI summer program

By Lindsay Boyle

This summer, the Institute for International Journalism administers the fourth annual Study of the U.S. Institute (SUSI) on Journalism and Media.

The SUSI summer institute — in which scholars from all over the world come to the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University to study journalism and media — is funded by an annual renewable grant from the U.S. Department of State’s Study of the U.S. Branch in the Office of Academic Exchange Programs.

Following the 2012 conclusion of three successful programs held in Athens — where more than 50 scholars from more than 40 countries attended numerous sessions covering an array of media-related topics, visited various media outlets and garnered several cultural experiences — the U.S. State Department renewed the program for the IIJ, meaning that this summer’s program is the first of three more.



Sixteen scholars are participating this year, from the following countries: Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Chile, Ecuador, Honduras, India, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nepal, Romania, Ukraine, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

They will travel near and far, being immersed in diverse cultural and media environments. Destinations include the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, The Budget newspaper in Amish Country, Google headquarters in San Francisco, CNN Global Headquarters in Atlanta, the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., and many more.

Additionally, daylong excursions, such as the Tecumseh! Outdoor Historical Drama in Chillicothe or the Little Cities of Black Diamonds tour that spans multiple towns in Southeast Ohio, allow the scholars to further understand the region.



Sessions held in Athens will continue to cover topics such as electronic and new media, media systems in scholars’ countries and the role of news in a democracy, generating intriguing discussions and evoking thoughtful and lasting reactions.

Overall, the purpose of SUSI is to foster mutual understanding and respect between the people of the United States and citizens of other countries around the world.

The program will conclude after the scholars spend nine days in Washington, D.C., including three full days at the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) conference.