While We Watched Discussion Guide

A timely depiction of a newsroom in crisis, While We Watched follows Ravish Kumar for two years as he battles a barrage of fake news, falling ratings and the resulting cutbacks while struggling to maintain fact-based analyses. Will his show survive or become a swan song of reason - drowning out in sensationalism, misinformation, and ratings-driven editorial decisions? Co-presented with The Center for Asian American Media (CAAM).

This guide is an invitation to dialogue. It is based on a belief in the power of human connection and is designed for people who want to use While We Watched to engage family, friends, classmates, colleagues, and communities. In contrast to initiatives that foster debates in which participants try to convince others that they are correct, this document envisions conversations undertaken in a spirit of openness in which people try to understand one another and expand their thinking by sharing viewpoints and listening actively.

The discussion prompts are intentionally crafted to help a wide range of audiences think more deeply about the issues in the film. Rather than attempting to address them all, choose one or two that best meet your needs and interests. And be sure to leave time to consider taking action. Planning the following steps can help people leave the room feeling energized and optimistic, even in instances when conversations have been difficult.

For more detailed event planning and facilitation tips, visit https://communitynetwork.amdoc.org/.

About the Author, Reiya Bhat

Reiya Bhat (she/her) is a PhD student in political science at the University of California, Irvine, where she specializes in comparative and American politics. She has conducted fieldwork in India, collecting the oral histories of women who lived through India’s 1947 Partition. She is passionate about the role of oral histories and storytelling in affirming the autonomy of and sharing the lived experiences of marginalized communities. Currently, she is continuing to expand on oral history work to examine perceptions of belonging and political engagement within immigrant communities.

DISCUSSION GUIDE PRODUCERS

Courtney B. Cook, Phd | Education Manager, POV 

Jordan Thomas | Education Assistant, POV

C. Rees | Education Assistant, POV

THANKS TO THOSE WHO REVIEWED AND CONTRIBUTED TO THIS RESOURCE

Natalie Danford | Copyeditor