In this episode of the Media and Marketing Show, Hasanain sits down with Shanaaz Ebrahim Gire. With a background in broadcast journalism and a current role leading communications for Mothers 2 Mothers, Shanaaz has a perspective on storytelling.
The discussion touched on holding power to account and shaping an organisational narrative. The persistent use of “poverty porn” in the aid sector, finding the ethical line between a dignified story and exploiting trauma, and whether traditional aid models are actually keeping communities dependent.
About Our Guest:
Caryn is a Senior Journalist at Daily Maverick whose work focuses on investigative journalism, deep research and source cultivation. She documents the murky underworld in granular detail, specifically the intersection where government, SAPS officials, lawyers and gang overlords meet.
We explore the evolution of her media career, the reality of leading key investigative stories, and what it takes to report on powerful underworld figures while holding power to account.
In this conversation, we discussed:
The Journalist’s Dilemma: Shanaaz reflects on the shift from asking difficult questions to shaping a narrative. Does she ever feel torn between her training as a watchdog and her duty to her employer?
Why “Poverty Porn” Persists: Despite years of criticism, dehumanising imagery is still used to tug at donor heartstrings. Shanaaz explains why this trend is so hard to kill and asks a tough question: Are communications professionals actually part of the problem?
The Ethics of Storytelling: At Mothers 2 Mothers, telling stories is a daily task. Shanaaz breaks down where she draws the line between a story that inspires action and one that exploits someone’s trauma for a check.
Breaking the Cycle of Dependency: We discuss the subtle ways well-intentioned relief organizations might actually be keeping communities dependent rather than empowered. How do we shift the paradigm?
stationing in Zambia alongside current calls for payment or favour from those who once supported the movement.
Connect with Shanaaz Ebrahim:
LinkedIn: / shanaaz-ebrahim-gire-7002b01a7
Mothers 2 Mothers: https://m2m.org/
Media & Marketing Show
About the Show
The Media and Marketing Show features in-depth conversations with media professionals, academics and industry leaders in communications, PR and marketing. In an ever-evolving media landscape, guests share their rich professional experience and explore how they navigate change.
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Hosted and produced: Hasanain Abdullah
Videography & Post-production: Aghmat Achmad
