Portia Clark (BA’91) was introduced to check philosophy as a result of she enjoys the problem of debate, downside fixing, and is interested in relationships. Her Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Philosophy, at Dalhousie helped her develop the crucial considering expertise she wanted for her profession in broadcast journalism and internet hosting the CBC radio present. Info morning for mainland Nova Scotia.
“Usually I solely have a couple of minutes to arrange for an interview – to know the details, the important info, the lacking items, the way it suits into different conversations our viewers has heard and what could be of curiosity to them. “, says Clark. “The deductive expertise I realized whereas finding out philosophy at Dal are important to my day-to-day success.”
At “dwelling” on the radio in Nova Scotia
Clark grew up in rural Nova Scotia listening to Info morning on Radio Canada. She started to significantly contemplate pursuing a profession in broadcast journalism after assembly a overseas correspondent whereas touring after graduating from Dalhousie. She received a background in broadcasting, received a job at CBC Halifax, and her profession accelerated from there. She moved to Edmonton the place she labored in radio and tv with CBC for 18 years. Clark says her old flame is radio, so when she received the prospect in 2018 to return to Nova Scotia to host Info morning, she jumped on the likelihood.
“Other than the primary few hours, it appears like dwelling,” she says.
Motivated by her fixed interactions with a variety of individuals and backgrounds, Clark notes that there are occasions in interviews when she feels so privileged to converse with that particular person and be part of what they share with. the general public.
“I actually love the expertise of being dwell on the radio,” she says. “Whereas there may be quite a lot of preparation in each present we do as a crew, we then activate the mic and produce the subject material to life. That is the largest reward for me.
Go to Dalhousie as a moderator
Clark returns to his alma mater on Thursday, October 20 to reasonable the second annual Rt. Hon. Robert L. Stanfield Dialog: Speaking About Democracy at Dalhousie College. The dialog on “digital democracy” will characteristic audio system Dr. Kathleen Corridor Jamieson (College of Pennsylvania), Dr. Ron Diebert (College of Toronto) and Dr. Elizabeth Dubois (College of Ottawa), and can deal with the theme “Expertise , media fragmentation and the disaster of democracy in America”. Friends can RSVP to attend in particular person at McInnes Corridor on the Dalhousie Pupil Union Constructing or take part just about by way of a dwell stream which is able to embody closed captioning in addition to dwell American Signal Language and French translation. Members of the general public (each in-house and on-line) may also have the chance to submit inquiries to the audio system.
“I am thrilled to be a part of this yr’s occasion,” says Clark. “The principle purpose of a moderator is to get probably the most out of the dialog and acknowledge what the viewers is craving. I’ve quite a lot of questions, and I hope to assist everybody within the viewers interact too.
Clark is raring to study and acquire perception into the complicated topic of the present state of democracy. This occasion brings collectively a curated set of consultants who can assist the general public scale back the noise with evidence-based insights grounded in actual information.
“This yr’s Stanfield Dialog includes a educated group of panelists who’ve spent years monitoring modifications in media and democracy. They are going to give us meals for thought as we head right into a midterm election in america and watch a brand new dynamic play out in Canadian politics.
Digital democracy – a high-stakes dialogue
When requested if she believes democracy is in jeopardy, Clark agrees with many consultants that, world wide, democracy appears to be in a precarious second.
“Social media is an element, but in addition apathy and disengagement, and a basic mistrust of politicians and political guarantees. I see my position as bringing my curiosity to the topic, with the vested curiosity of a journalist who desires to know: if we lose democracy and our religion in it, what is going to substitute it?
“If we lose democracy and our religion in it, what is going to substitute it?
Clark acknowledges that this yr’s subject is a Pandora’s field kind downside and that will probably be troublesome to reasonable the dialogue in a method that continues to be targeted whereas overlaying numerous points, impacts and options. She thinks that even not too long ago, it could have been troublesome to foretell the impression of expertise on the political panorama.
“Stanfield’s conversations are going to be eye-opening as we study Russian affect within the 2016 election, how surveillance and hacking are used for subversive functions, and the way media fragmentation impacts how we elect governments. There’s a debate about whether or not accessing so many dynamic sources of knowledge and opinions introduces folks to extra perspective, or solely attracts them to info that reinforces the opinions they’ve. already. Our panelists have achieved the analysis, so I anticipate some eye-opening exploration of a few of these questions.
Be taught extra about this yr’s Dialog and tips on how to register for www.dal.ca/fass/stanfield-conversations.