Kent State University’s School of Communication Studies will host its Global Issues Forum on Human Trafficking: A Global and Local Epidemic at 7 p.m. on April 6 in the Moulton Hall Ballroom. The forum will feature a panel discussion on human trafficking and its global and local occurrence.
The panelists for the evening include:
- Kathleen Chandler, who is currently serving on the Board of Portage County Commissioners. She was elected in 2005 to the Ohio House of Representatives where she crafted legislation to make human trafficking a crime.
- Eric Heisig, who is a federal courts reporter for cleveland.com. He wrote a series of articles about a human trafficking ring that brought young Guatemalans to the U.S. and forced them to work on egg farms in central Ohio. He also has written about other cases involving sex and labor trafficking.
- Jason Motlagh, who is an award-winning writer, photographer and filmmaker. Formerly TIME Magazine’s Kabul correspondent, he has reported from more than 40 countries for leading U.S. and international media. He also is a Pulitzer Center for Crisis Reporting journalist. His work for the Pulitzer Center focused on many topics including human trafficking.
Human trafficking is now considered the third-largest international crime industry, falling behind only illegal drugs and arms trafficking.
“The scope of this issue is truly global,” said Paul Haridakis, professor in Kent State’s School of Communication Studies. “We want to address the worldwide effect of trafficking and discuss how the topic is covered by the media. We are fortunate to have a panel of speakers who can share their insights and help educate our students and community.”
The School of Communication Studies’ ongoing Global Issues Forum brings to campus Pulitzer Center reporters who offer personal and professional perspectives on how a news story is covered. The ongoing forum is an integral part of the school’s curriculum, which includes a global communication major that prepares students to think critically and communicate globally. Previous forums have focused on the topics of fracking, women and children’s issues, and the refugee crisis.
Kent State is part of the Pulitzer Center’s Campus Consortium network that includes more than 20 colleges and universities. The Campus Consortium initiative is a core component of the center’s effort to create awareness campaigns around global systemic issues that affect us all. The Pulitzer Center promotes in-depth engagement with global affairs through its sponsorship of quality international journalism across all media platforms and an innovative program of outreach and education.
The Center for International and Intercultural Education at Kent State is a co-sponsor for this event. The forum is free and open to the public, but seating is limited. For those unable to travel to campus, the forum will be livestreamed at http://bit.ly/22h2nRJ.
# # #
Media Contacts:
Lindsay Kuntzman, lkuntzm1@kent.edu, 330-672-0283
Emily Vincent, evincen2@kent.edu, 330-672-8595