For the first time, the 2024 instalment of the annual Peter Stursberg Foreign Correspondent’s Lecture takes the form of a two-part lecture series that examines the gravity of the role of journalism during the Israel-Gaza war.

“Dying to Tell the Story” will feature separate lectures by Palestinian journalist Shrouq Al Aila and Israeli journalist Gideon Levy. Al Aila’s talk will take place Tuesday, November 12 from 1:00-3:00 pm. In it, Al Aila will focus on her brutal experience covering the Israeli military campaign in Gaza which took the life of her husband.

The 2024 Stursberg Lectures will be moderated by former foreign correspondent Nahlah Ayed, now host of the daily CBC Radio program Ideas and a long-time partner with Carleton in airing the Stursberg lectures. Due to the near impossibility of travel to and from the region, both lectures will be held virtually. We encourage you to register so that we can keep you up to date with any last-minute changes. By registering in advance, you also have an early opportunity to submit questions to the speakers.

About the speaker: SHROUQ AL AILA is a Palestinian journalist, producer, and researcher reporting from the Gaza Strip. She has recently been recognized by the Committee to Protect Journalists with one of its International Press Freedom Awards for 2024. Al Aila took charge of Ain Media, an independent production company specializing in professional media services, after her husband Roshdi Sarraj – a co-founder of the company – was killed in the ongoing Israel-Gaza war. She continues to cover the war and its devastating impact on Gaza’s residents despite having been displaced several times in an effort to evade Israeli attacks.