On February 28, 2025, the Public Interest Journalism Lab hosted a public panel discussion titled “Rethinking Human Rights Journalism in a Polarized World” at RightsCon 2025 in Taipei, the world’s leading summit on human rights in the digital age.
The discussion brought together international experts to explore how human rights storytelling can remain impactful in an era marked by polarization and audience fatigue.
Executive Director of NKDB, Hanna Song, was invited to speak about the unique challenges of advocating for North Korean Human Rights. She highlighted how NKDB had to rethink its approach to advocacy, by restrategizing its messaging and placing a renewed focus on North Korean escapees and their stories.
By centering their voices and acknowledging North Korea not only as a site of repression but also as a place of origin and identity, NKDB is working to build more nuanced, human-centered narratives that resonate with broader audiences.
She also underscored the lack of public education tools in South Korea that allow citizens to engage with North Korean issues outside of a securitized lens. This gap is what led NKDB to launch initiatives like the North Korean Human Rights Museum, offering a new way to preserve memory, foster empathy, and encourage nuanced understanding across generations.
Through this evolving strategy, NKDB continues to challenge conventional narratives and explore innovative ways to engage with diverse audiences and support long-term thuman rights education.
You can rewatch Hanna Song’s contribution to the panel discussion by clicking below :
On February 28, 2025, the Public Interest Journalism Lab hosted a public panel discussion titled “Rethinking Human Rights Journalism in a Polarized World” at RightsCon 2025 in Taipei, the world’s leading summit on human rights in the digital age.
The discussion brought together international experts to explore how human rights storytelling can remain impactful in an era marked by polarization and audience fatigue.
Executive Director of NKDB, Hanna Song, was invited to speak about the unique challenges of advocating for North Korean Human Rights. She highlighted how NKDB had to rethink its approach to advocacy, by restrategizing its messaging and placing a renewed focus on North Korean escapees and their stories.
By centering their voices and acknowledging North Korea not only as a site of repression but also as a place of origin and identity, NKDB is working to build more nuanced, human-centered narratives that resonate with broader audiences.
She also underscored the lack of public education tools in South Korea that allow citizens to engage with North Korean issues outside of a securitized lens. This gap is what led NKDB to launch initiatives like the North Korean Human Rights Museum, offering a new way to preserve memory, foster empathy, and encourage nuanced understanding across generations.
Through this evolving strategy, NKDB continues to challenge conventional narratives and explore innovative ways to engage with diverse audiences and support long-term thuman rights education.
You can rewatch Hanna Song’s contribution to the panel discussion by clicking below :