Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions and depictions of war, including themes of conflict and war photography, which some listeners may find distressing. Welcome to Media in the Mix, the only podcast produced and hosted by the School of Communication at American University. Join us as we create a safe space to explore topics and communication at the intersection of social justice, tech, innovation & pop culture. This week on Media in the Mix, we're joined by AUSOC's very own, Bill Gentile! Bill Gentile is an Emmy-winning independent journalist and documentary filmmaker whose career spans over four decades, five continents, and nearly every aspect of mass communication. Author of Wait for Me: True Stories of War, Love and Rock & Roll, he is a full-time professor at American University’s School of Communication (SOC) in Washington, DC, and the founder of the Backpack Journalism Project. A pioneer in “backpack video journalism,” Gentile authored the Essential Video Journalism Field Manual and its Spanish counterpart, and has conducted workshops worldwide. He is the creator and host of the documentary series FREELANCERS with Bill Gentile and has engineered key partnerships, such as SOC’s collaboration with the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting. Gentile has reported from Central America, the Persian Gulf, Iraq, and Afghanistan, among other regions, documenting conflicts, cultural shifts, and global challenges. His notable works include Afghan Dreams, Fire and Ice on the Mountain, and a three-part series on religion and gangs in Guatemala. Early in his career, he covered the Sandinista Revolution and U.S.-backed Contra War in Nicaragua as Newsweek’s Contract Photographer for Latin America. His book of photographs, Nicaragua, earned an Overseas Press Club Award. Gentile’s work has also examined topics like the U.S. nursing shortage, the effects of climate change, and Cuba’s unique cultural traditions, solidifying his reputation as a masterful storyteller and educator. If you'd like to donate to the School of Communication, go to giving.american.edu. Learn more about SOC in the links below. Graduate Admissions: http://www.american.edu/soc/admissions/index.cfm Undergraduate Admission: https://www.american.edu/admissions/ Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ausoc/ Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/au_soc Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ausoc/?hl=en
