Who owns the story? | Decolonise How? episode artwork

EPISODE · Mar 17, 2026 · 40 MIN

Who owns the story? | Decolonise How?

from The New Humanitarian

"The first place that people are dehumanised is in stories." - Sophie Otiende The way we tell stories about humanitarian crises can distort the realities of the people living through them. From news coverage and research to aid donation appeals, there is a tendency to simplify, decontextualise, and even dehumanise – to portray locals as suffering and helpless, and the outsiders riding to their rescue as heroic and selfless.  In Decolonise How? host Patrick Gathara brings together journalists, humanitarians, researchers, and affected communities, to understand why this happens, and how to change it. For his first podcast, Gathara is joined by Kenyan teacher, activist and advocate for survivors of human trafficking, Sophie Otiende, and Kelsie Kilawna Marchand, a Syilx journalist from Canada. They discuss community, consent, what to do differently – and just what is a "coyote" move?  Decolonise How? is a new podcast by The New Humanitarian that examines the stories we tell about humanitarian crises.

NOW PLAYING

Who owns the story? | Decolonise How?

0:00 40:47

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of The New Humanitarian?

This episode is 40 minutes long.

When was this The New Humanitarian episode published?

This episode was published on March 17, 2026.

What is this episode about?

"The first place that people are dehumanised is in stories." - Sophie Otiende The way we tell stories about humanitarian crises can distort the realities of the people living through them. From news coverage and research to aid donation appeals,...

Can I download this The New Humanitarian episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!