The Forum

Suzgo Chitete didn’t know how far his stories would travel. From Malawi, Africa, to St. Louis, MO, USA. 

Chitete is an Investigative Journalist from Malawi, Africa. He has a bachelor’s degree in communication and cultural studies. He is currently a Hubert H. Humphrey Fellow at Arizona State University in the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. He and other Fellows are sharing their experiences and perspectives while continuing their studies that can take him and his work further. 

He has more than 16 years of experience in radio, television, and both print and online media. He was an assistant bureau chief in Lilongwe for Nation Publications Limited and previously served as a senior reporter at Malawi Broadcasting Corporation. His work has appeared on BBC, Al Jazeera, and CGTN. His Al Jazeera report on the killings of people with albinism inspired the book Out of the Shadows by Azad Essa and Sorin Furcoi. He has also produced an award-winning documentary on intersex rights. Advocacy groups use this documentary in their work. 

Suzgo came to visit the Florissant Valley campus of STLCC on March 25. He visited radio station KCFV where he went live on air with Paul Huddleston talking about his work and his life. He visited the Mass Media Club where Professor and Faculty Club Advisor Mariah Richardson showed him what her students do and the equipment they work with. Afterward he visited the offices of the Forum, where Professor and Forum Faculty Advisor Mary Horner talked about The Forum and the reporting they do and frequency of publication. 

Then, Professor Horner, Professor Richardson, Huddleston, Chitete, and a couple of students involved in these clubs sat down and talked about the difficulties today’s journalists face, by both professional and citizen journalist alike. Regardless of what form it takes, journalism is important. 

Later, after he met with Chancellor Jeff Pitman to continue the conversation, he posted on his LinkedIn profile about his day. 

Like ripples on the water after a pebble or a leaf, one never knows what impact one’s story will have. It might take 12 years or 12 weeks to see one’s impact, but journalism has a big impact.