Last month, a delegation of eight journalists and media professionals from Gabon traveled to convene at Converge's Black Media Matters Studio to engage in an insightful discussion centered around harnessing the power of digital media and utilizing it as a tool that creates impactful reporting within local communities.

“It was like a warm hug! When they first arrived, I wasn't sure what to expect, but the moment I opened the door, I just knew this experience would be memorable,” Besa Gordon, host of Back2Besa, said. “It was something about communicating with them, like although we didn't speak the same language, we definitely understood each other.”

The visit, organized by the U.S. Department of State under the International Visitor Leadership Program, is part of an ongoing agenda of inviting "current and emerging foreign leaders in various fields" to meet with U.S. counterparts to delve into pertinent industry topics and build international connections. The Global Leadership Exchange (GLE) program, part of the World Affairs Council, orchestrates the comprehensive agenda for the visitor's journey, creating a series of programs, cultural exchanges, and community activities throughout Seattle, offering an insightful overall experience for visiting delegates.

"These are interactions that, outside the program, would never happen where people from all these different countries can interact with Seattle community members," Rhiannon Rasaretnam, program coordinator of the GLE, said. "Then, in turn, our Seattle Community members are exposed to so many new perspectives from around the globe."

While here, the exchange participants interacted with various local media, building a more extensive understanding of integrating digital content into their professional practices in Gabon. At Converge's Black Media Matters Studio, the conversation covered a broad range of topics, from using tools outside of traditional print media to emphasizing video production, podcast production, and how to incorporate visual media into local reporting.

“Some of the things I talked about were how we use social media to get our long-form and short-form content out, why it's so important to meet your audience where they are, and how radio is still huge for advertisers when it comes to finding a medium to get their products and or messages out,” Gordon said. “Which is always fun to talk about, because most assume radio isn't really a factor anymore when it comes to advertising, but that couldn't be further from the truth.”

Moreover, the discourse highlighted Converge's role in empowering Seattle's Black community through its impactful reporting and various outreach throughout Seattle.

"They learned about our approach of uplifting the narratives within our community," Trae Holiday, host of The Day With Trae, said. "They got to hear details about our reason for doing this work and how we continue to center our culture as Black Americans- essentially gaining an understanding of how we do that and why it's important."

While at the studio, the participants could share insights into the unique challenges Gabonese journalists face within their local communities. This exchange of perspectives fostered mutual understanding and appreciation for the various domains of journalism across borders.

"It was great to learn from the experiences of the journalists from Gabon," Holiday said. "Getting the chance to hear directly from them about the challenges they face in journalism showcased some similarities while highlighting differences. It was impactful indeed."

This recent visit to Converge's headquarters continued our commitment to global reach and collaboration. In November last year, Converge hosted a group of aspiring media professionals from Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador. These students, preparing to embark on careers in media, visited Seattle as part of a two-week exchange program where they explored different strategies to fight misinformation and disinformation in modern media.

"Just having the opportunity to meet someone in person and have those conversations," said Rasaretnam. "You realize a lot of the global differences. You find a lot of personal points of connection, and I think that's the most important part [of these exchanges]."