What’s So Funny? The Role of Comedy in Social Change
Speakers
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Political Satirist, Bassem Youssef
Bassem Youssef was the host of AlBernameg - the first of its kind political satire show in the Middle East. Originally a 5-minute show on YouTube, AlBernameg was the most watched show across the region.
Youssef received wide acclaim around the world with coverage in some of the biggest media outlets. Throughout its three seasons the show remained controversial through its humorous yet bold criticism of the ruling powers, which led to tens of lawsuits being filed against the show and its host. Youssef was issued an arrest warrant in March 2013 where he was released on bail after questioning. In 2013 he was named among Time Magazine’s most influential list, awarded the International Press Freedom Award by the CPJ, and chosen by Foreign Policy magazine as one of the global thinkers. In June 2014 AlBernameg team held a press conference where Youssef announced the show’s termination due to overwhelming pressures. Youssef majored in cardiothoracic surgery, passed the United States Medical License Exam, and is a member of the Royal College of Surgeons. He is currently a resident fellow at the Institute of Politics at the John F Kennedy School of Government.
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Mechai Viravaidya’s work centered on reducing births (family planning), reducing deaths (fighting the spread of HIV), reducing dependency (establishing social enterprises), eradicating poverty (community empowerment) and reducing ignorance (reinventing Thai education).
He was also appointed to key positions as Thailand’s Cabinet spokesperson, Deputy Minister of Industry, Minister of the Office of the Prime Minister, and Chairman of several of Thailand’s largest government-owned enterprises.
Mechai was presented with the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Public Service (1994), recognized as one of Asiaweek’s “20 Great Asians” (1995), the United Nations Population Award (1997), one of TIME Magazine’s “Asian Heroes” (2006), the Bill and Melinda Gates Award for Global Health (2007), the Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship (2008). He was honoured with the Prince Mahidol Award for Public Health (2009). More recently, the Global Humanitarian Award from the Bill and Melinda Gates Institute (2022)
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Jess is a founder of Doc Society, which has funded and championed the work of independent documentary filmmakers around the world since 2005. Writing with Fire, I Am Softie, The Edge of Democracy, CITIZENFOUR, The Territory, The Square, Virunga etc Currently obsessed with Climate and Democracy narratives and protecting the space for independent storytelling.
Jess is also a trustee of MSI Reproductive Choices, the world's most effective family planning and abortion provider in 37 countries. Jess is also chair of UK think tank IPPR and a board member of crowdfunding innovator Kickstarter.
Jess is a big fan of the Skoll World Forum.
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Founder, World Toilet Organization
Prof Dr Jack Aim aka Mr Toilet. Creator of the UN World Toilet Day 19 Nov. Created the World Toilet Movement that brought access to sanitation for 2.4 billion people over the last 20 years through effective policy influence.
Serial entrepreneur turned serial social entrepreneur.
Founder of the World Toilet Organisation and BOP HUB.
Time Magazine Hero of the Environment. Ashoka Global Fellow. Schwab Fellow of the World Economic Forum.
Now focus on ending global poverty for 4 billion earning less than USD 5.50 a day, through creating efficient marketplaces empowering the poor to increase their income and value-addedness sustainably.
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Director, Center for Media & Social Impact, American University
Caty Borum Chattoo is Director of the Center for Media & Social Impact (CMSI), an innovation lab and research center at American University that creates, showcases and studies media designed for social change; and Assistant Professor at the American University School of Communication in Washington, D.C. She is an award-winning documentary producer, scholar, professor and strategist working at the intersection of social change, documentary and entertainment storytelling. Her book about the role of comedy in social change, with co-author Lauren Feldman, "A Comedian and An Activist Walk Into a Bar: The (Serious) Role of Comedy in Social Justice," is forthcoming from University of California Press. Her documentary book, "The Blackfish Effect & Other Stories: Documentaries & Social Change in the Information Age," is forthcoming from Oxford University Press. In 2017, she launched The Laughter Effect, a research and creative initiative that examines the role of comedy in social justice. Her social-justice documentaries have aired internationally and nationally on the Sundance Channel, Pivot, NDTV (India), PBS World, Link TV, KCET, DirectTV and theatrically. CMSI's biennial national convening, "Story Movements," brings together creative producers, social justice activists, scholars and others to illuminate civic media and social change. A former collaborator with TV producer Norman Lear and former SVP in social impact communication at global agency FleishmanHillard, her peer-reviewed research on the intersection of storytelling, creativity and social change is featured in leading journals, including Journal of Communication, Journalism, Mass Communication and Society, and more. Borum Chattoo's creative and research work in media and social change has been supported by more than 25 grants from media foundations, including the MacArthur Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, Gates Foundation, Ford Foundation, Unbound Philanthropy, and others.
