A trapeze without a net: the life of the UN Spokesperson, with Stéphane Dujarric | Awake at Night

Every day at noon, Stéphane Dujarric steps on stage to field questions about the United Nations from international journalists. As spokesman for the Secretary-General, he must be ready to talk on all aspects of the organization’s work at a time of unprecedented financial and political strain. “There is no way we can move forward in this world without multilateralism, without an organization like this one. It's like a plant, right? It needs to be watered. We can't let it wither away.” An alumnus of the United Nations International School, Stéphane Dujarric was immersed in the world of international diplomacy from an early age. In this episode, he shares why his own family owes everything to the actions of two courageous diplomats, and reflects on how being a procrastinator can be a superpower when faced with the challenge of the 24-hour news cycle. [00:00] Introduction [01:02] A look behind the curtain [05:36] Facing the Press Corps [07:24] When you just don’t know [08:23] Supporting journalists off-camera [09:36] The importance of slowing down [11:03] How his journalism background guides him today [14:06] Navigating the press and leaving social media behind [17:15] Highlighting forgotten crises [19:17] Humanizing the facts [21:29] What keeps Steph awake at night [23:44] When funding disappears [24:53] Ensuring that we are not numb [27:52] Announcing colleagues’ deaths [29:56] “If we can’t help one…” [31:40] Early lessons from an international childhood [38:00] Ways to relax and looking toward the future [39:59] A message for young people [40:37] Closing remarks Listen to more Awake at Night episodes: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwoDFQJEq_0b6hu1e8oxsch9W0D7vkNqt #podcast #unitednations #awakeatnight #UNSpox #Media About Awake at Night Hosted by Melissa Fleming, UN Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, the podcast ‘Awake at Night’ is an in-depth interview series focusing on remarkable United Nations staff members who dedicate their career to helping people in parts of the world where they have the hardest lives – from war zones and displacement camps to areas hit by disasters and the devastation of climate change.


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