A Project of the San Jose State University School of Journalism and Mass Communications

2017 Summer - International Journalism Study Abroad Program to Greece & Italy

In May and June 2017, SJSU Journalism Professors Diane Guerrazzi and Halima Kazem-Stojanovic led 14 university students to Athens and Lesvos in Greece, as well as Palermo, Riace and Naples in Southern Italy to study the refugee crisis. We interviewed people at the refugee centers, camps, offices of local and international NGOs, residents of various towns, government officials and many others affected by this growing crisis. Canon USA loaned us five high-end cameras to videotape our interviews and document our journey. Some of the interviews have been produced into cinéma vérité style video vignettes, where interviewees tell their story in their own voice. The result is a series of interviews that show the desperation and struggles of refugees coming from the Middle East and Africa and also the challenges and emotions felt by residents of Greek and Italian towns where refugees are arriving.