How to lead a conversation between people who disagree | Eve Pearlman

TL;DR

This content discusses the concept of dialogue journalism and the importance of fostering genuine conversations between individuals with opposing views in order to bridge divides.

Transcript

Transcriber: Leslie Gauthier Reviewer: Joanna Pietrulewicz So in the run-up to the 2016 election, I was, like most of us, watching the rise in discord and vitriol and nastiness in our public spaces. It was this crazy uptick in polarization. It was both disheartening and distressing. And so I started thinking, with a fellow journalist, Jeremy Hay, a... Read More

Key Insights

• 📢 Key Insight 1: The rise in polarization and discord in public spaces is disheartening and distressing, highlighting the need for a different approach in journalism to bridge divides.
• 🤝 Key Insight 2: Dialogue journalism, involving careful vetting of information and fostering conversations between people on opposite sides of polarizing issues, can contribute to building relationships and understanding.
• 🌍 Key Insight 3: The challenge lies in a deeply divided world where people can't communicate with one another, live in separate news ecosystems, and dismiss those with different opinions.
• 🗣️ Key Insight 4: By challenging stereotypes and sharing perspectives, people begin to recognize the simplistic and mean-spirited caricatures they hold about each other, setting the stage for genuine conversation.
• 🥁 Key Insight 5: Real dialogue is possible and many citizens are willing to engage with those on the other side when given the opportunity and a structured environment.
• 🔎 Key Insight 6: Journalists often contribute to divisions by prioritizing drama or bias, but dialogue-based journalism offers a slower pace, transparency, and a focus on empathy and nuance.
• 👂 Key Insight 7: Genuine communication requires practice, effort, restraint, and self-awareness, and it is essential for a functioning democracy.
• 💪 Key Insight 8: Real human connection across difference is a salve for our democracy and can lead to lasting relationships and a greater appreciation for different perspectives.

Questions & Answers

Q: What inspired Leslie Gauthier and Jeremy Hay to practice their journalistic craft differently?

Leslie Gauthier and Jeremy Hay were inspired to practice their journalistic craft differently due to the rise in discord and polarization in public spaces leading up to the 2016 election. They wanted to find a way to go to the heart of divides, engage in dialogue, and use journalism to support conversations between people on opposite sides of polarizing issues.

Q: How did Leslie Gauthier and Jeremy Hay bring Trump supporters and Clinton supporters together for dialogue?

Leslie Gauthier and Jeremy Hay partnered with the Alabama Media Group right after the 2016 election. They brought together 25 Trump supporters from Alabama and 25 Clinton supporters from California in a closed, moderated Facebook group. This group was kept open for a month, allowing the participants to engage with genuine curiosity and openness.

Q: What were some of the stereotypes the Trump supporters from Alabama had about the Clinton supporters in California and vice versa?

The Trump supporters from Alabama believed that Clinton supporters in California thought of them as religious Bible thumpers, backward, hickish, stupid, racist, sexist, uneducated, and more. On the other hand, the Clinton supporters in California believed that the Alabamians thought of them as crazy, liberal, unpatriotic, snobby, elitist, godless, permissive with children, and focused on careers rather than family.

Q: What have Leslie Gauthier and Jeremy Hay learned about dialogue journalism and its impact on polarized conversations?

Leslie Gauthier and Jeremy Hay have found that real dialogue is indeed possible between people on opposite sides of contentious issues. Their dialogue-based process, which emphasizes genuine conversation, empathy, and nuance, has shown that many citizens are eager to engage with those they disagree with. Their work challenges the current state of discord and aims to support a functioning democracy by bringing people together for respectful and open conversations.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The speaker was concerned about the rising polarization and discord in public spaces leading up to the 2016 election.

• They developed a process called dialogue journalism, which involved bringing together people from opposing sides of polarizing issues to have respectful and open conversations.

• Through their work, they discovered that real dialogue is possible and that many people are eager to engage with people from the other side. They emphasize the importance of communication, empathy, and genuine human connection in healing our divided society.