Visualizing advocacy
Project: This project was sparked by a unique course—Hostage Diplomacy—where I was challenged to turn a high-stakes global issue into a dynamic multimedia narrative. Over the course of this sixth month course, our class met and spoke with key individuals in hostage diplomacy including former hostages, family members, the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs (SPEHA) and experts in negotiation and diplomatic affairs. Halfway through the course we flew to Washington D.C. where I was able to collect these materials from former hostages and the Free Press Club.
Idea: Collect physical advocacy materials from families of current and former hostages to build and curate a digital archive that highlights the vital role loved ones play in the fight for freedom.
Insight: Family efforts are rarely documented as part of official diplomatic history.
Looking forward: This project is still in the works as I am continuing to gather hostage materials and grow the digital archive.
Bring Our Families Home is a family-led campaign advocating for the release of Americans wrongfully detained abroad through public pressure and awareness efforts.
Alsu Kurmasheva is a U.S.-Russian journalist who was wrongfully detained in Russia in 2023 while visiting her mother, later sentenced to six and a half years in prison, and freed in 2024 through an international prisoner swap.
Jason Rezaian is an Iranian-American journalist who was detained by Iranian authorities in July 2014 while working as The Washington Post’s Tehran bureau chief. He was held for 544 days and was freed in 2016.
Austin Tice is an American journalist and former Marine who has been detained in Syria since his abduction in 2012, making him the longest-held American journalist abroad for over 11 years.
Austin Tice is an American journalist and former Marine who has been detained in Syria since his abduction in 2012, making him the longest-held American journalist abroad for over 11 years.
Austin Tice is an American journalist and former Marine who has been detained in Syria since his abduction in 2012, making him the longest-held American journalist abroad for over 11 years.
The Hostage and Wrongful Detainee flag is the second flag ever to be officially recognized and adopted by the U.S. government (designed by my professor, David Ewald). It serves as the official symbol of U.S. commitment to Americans held hostage.
Evan Gershkovich is an American journalist for The Wall Street Journal who was detained in Russia in March 2023 on espionage charges, sentenced to 16 years, and released in August 2024 as part of a prisoner exchange.
January 20, 1981: After 444 days, 52 American hostages held in Iran are released the day Ronald Reagan is inaugurated.
The Free Press Club defends press freedom by spotlighting journalist detentions and mobilizing support for their release.
Jason Rezaian is an Iranian-American journalist who was detained by Iranian authorities in July 2014 while working as The Washington Post’s Tehran bureau chief. He was held for 544 days and was freed in 2016.
Austin Tice is an American journalist and former Marine who has been detained in Syria since his abduction in 2012, making him the longest-held American journalist abroad for over 11 years.
Emilio Gutiérrez Soto is a Mexican journalist who was detained twice by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in December 2017 and again in 2018 while pursuing asylum before being released and granted asylum in 2024.
Evan Gershkovich is an American journalist for The Wall Street Journal who was detained in Russia in March 2023 on espionage charges, sentenced to 16 years, and released in August 2024 as part of a prisoner exchange.
Jimmy Lai, a pro-democracy activist from Hong Kong, has been detained since December 2020 under the National Security Law and faces life imprisonment amid ongoing trial.
Austin Tice is an American journalist and former Marine who has been detained in Syria since his abduction in 2012, making him the longest-held American journalist abroad for over 11 years.
Austin Tice is an American journalist and former Marine who has been detained in Syria since his abduction in 2012, making him the longest-held American journalist abroad for over 11 years.
Alsu Kurmasheva is a U.S.-Russian journalist who was wrongfully detained in Russia in 2023 while visiting her mother, later sentenced to six and a half years in prison, and freed in 2024 through an international prisoner swap.
Austin Tice is an American journalist and former Marine who has been detained in Syria since his abduction in 2012, making him the longest-held American journalist abroad for over 11 years.