What’s So Funny? The Role of Comedy in Social Change
Speakers
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Political Satirist, Bassem Youssef
Bassem Youssef was the host of AlBernameg - the first of its kind political satire show in the Middle East. Originally a 5-minute show on YouTube, AlBernameg was the most watched show across the region.
Youssef received wide acclaim around the world with coverage in some of the biggest media outlets. Throughout its three seasons the show remained controversial through its humorous yet bold criticism of the ruling powers, which led to tens of lawsuits being filed against the show and its host. Youssef was issued an arrest warrant in March 2013 where he was released on bail after questioning. In 2013 he was named among Time Magazine’s most influential list, awarded the International Press Freedom Award by the CPJ, and chosen by Foreign Policy magazine as one of the global thinkers. In June 2014 AlBernameg team held a press conference where Youssef announced the show’s termination due to overwhelming pressures. Youssef majored in cardiothoracic surgery, passed the United States Medical License Exam, and is a member of the Royal College of Surgeons. He is currently a resident fellow at the Institute of Politics at the John F Kennedy School of Government.
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Director, Center for Media & Social Impact, American University
Caty Borum Chattoo is Director of the Center for Media & Social Impact (CMSI), an innovation lab and research center at American University that creates, showcases and studies media designed for social change; and Assistant Professor at the American University School of Communication in Washington, D.C. She is an award-winning documentary producer, scholar, professor and strategist working at the intersection of social change, documentary and entertainment storytelling. Her book about the role of comedy in social change, with co-author Lauren Feldman, "A Comedian and An Activist Walk Into a Bar: The (Serious) Role of Comedy in Social Justice," is forthcoming from University of California Press. Her documentary book, "The Blackfish Effect & Other Stories: Documentaries & Social Change in the Information Age," is forthcoming from Oxford University Press. In 2017, she launched The Laughter Effect, a research and creative initiative that examines the role of comedy in social justice. Her social-justice documentaries have aired internationally and nationally on the Sundance Channel, Pivot, NDTV (India), PBS World, Link TV, KCET, DirectTV and theatrically. CMSI's biennial national convening, "Story Movements," brings together creative producers, social justice activists, scholars and others to illuminate civic media and social change. A former collaborator with TV producer Norman Lear and former SVP in social impact communication at global agency FleishmanHillard, her peer-reviewed research on the intersection of storytelling, creativity and social change is featured in leading journals, including Journal of Communication, Journalism, Mass Communication and Society, and more. Borum Chattoo's creative and research work in media and social change has been supported by more than 25 grants from media foundations, including the MacArthur Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, Gates Foundation, Ford Foundation, Unbound Philanthropy, and others.
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Founder, World Toilet Organization
Specialise in Neglected Agendas, Guerilla Marketing and Mass Mobilization Movements.
Founded World Toilet Organisation in 2001 to improve quality of Global Sanitation. Its founding day 19 Nov adopted as UN World Toilet Day by all 193 countries members of UN General Assembly.
Founded BOP HUB to transform 4 billions poor into vibrant efficient marketplaces and self sustaining economies.
Ashoka Global Fellow, Schwab Fellow of the World Economic Forum, Synergos Senior Fellow. Time Magazine Hero of Environment 2008. Channel News Asia Asian of the Year 2010.
Village Chieftain of Samoa with Honorary title of Tuifalevao.
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Board member of Marie Stopes International and Kickstarter. Chief Executive of Doc Society (formerly BRITDOC)
Doc Society gives funding and support to Oscar nominated documentaries such as CITIZENFOUR, Virunga, Whose Streets, Hooligan Sparrow, The Square and The Look of Silence. Doc Society is well known for backing films with a social change potential and training filmmakers and Impact Producers to devise and deliver engagement campaigns (impactguide.org). In partnership with the Ford Foundation and The Sundance Institute, Doc Society created and runs The Good Pitch which partners films with NGOs, foundations and brands. Events take place around the world - India, Colombia, Indonesia, Argentina, Australia, Kenya and across the US and Europe. Next stop Amsterdam and Detroit.
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Mechai Viravaidya began his non-profit work in 1974 to address the unsustainable population growth rate in Thailand. A variety of humorous and innovative methods were utilized in conjunction with mobilizing and educating a network of rural schools and village communities to make contraceptives available throughout Thailand. When HIV/AIDS first appeared in Thailand in the mid-1980s, similar methods were used to launch a major prevention program.
Following his success at promoting family planning and HIV prevention, Mechai has aggressively approached the problem of rural poverty by empowering the poor to build sustainable entrepreneurial capacity, community empowerment for health, and income generating activities at the village level.
In 2008, he established the Mechai Bamboo School in Northeast Thailand, to re-engineer rural education. The school acts as a life-long learning center for all members of the surrounding communities as well as a focal point of social and economic advancement. Through partnerships with the private sector, the Bamboo School assists over 50 rural schools to become centers for community development.
