Murrow Symposium > The Murrow Standard with Roger Nyhus: Communication for Social and Political Change

The Murrow Standard with Roger Nyhus: Communication for Social and Political Change

Speaker: Roger Nyhus

Length of Lesson: 90 minutes

  • 10 minute warmup
  • 50 minute video
  • 30 minute discussion
  • Optional Activities:
    • Crisis Communication Role Play (15 minutes)
    • Media Message Deconstruction (20 minutes)

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

  • Analyze how communication strategies are used in diplomacy and crisis response
  • Identify ethical challenges in government communication
  • Evaluate how public narratives shape international perception and trust
  • Recognize how bias and misinformation influence foreign affairs reporting
  • Reflect on their own potential as future communicators in civic or governmental roles

1. Pre-Video Activity (10 minutes)

Diplomacy is…?

Instructions

  1. On the board, write the word “Diplomacy.”
  2. Ask students to write down:
    • Three words they associate with diplomacy.
    • One example of a diplomat or diplomatic event (real or fictional).
  3. Facilitate a brief group discussion:
    • What skills do you think diplomats need?
    • How might communication play a role in diplomacy?

This primes students to think of diplomacy as a communication-intensive field before hearing Ambassador Nyhus’s stories.

2. Play Video

3. Post-Viewing Discussion Questions

Ask students to discuss these in pairs or small groups before sharing key takeaways with the class:

  1. How did Ambassador Nyhus use communication to build relationships and trust during a crisis?
  2. What role did storytelling and narrative play in his success as a diplomat?
  3. How can effective communication help combat misinformation in international relations?
  4. Why is listening as important as speaking in a diplomatic setting?
  5. What ethical dilemmas might a government communicator or diplomat face?
  6. Nyhus emphasized the need for diverse voices in diplomacy. Why is representation important in global communication?
  7. What techniques did Ambassador Nyhus use to advocate for climate action and regional security?
  8. How can media bias influence perceptions of international aid or diplomacy?
  9. What does this panel teach us about the intersection of communication and power?
  10. What surprised you most about the ambassador’s career path or approach to communication?

Optional Activity 1: Crisis Communication Role Play

Scenario:

A fictional Caribbean nation has just experienced a major hurricane. Students role-play as a U.S. Embassy communications team tasked with crafting a public message.

Instructions:

  • Break into groups of 3–4.
  • Each group drafts a brief press release or social media statement addressing:
    • Human impact
    • U.S. support
    • Next steps for recovery
    • A call for global cooperation
  • Share a few examples aloud and discuss how tone, clarity, and audience awareness affect trust.

Optional Activity 2: Media Message Deconstruction

Choose a real-world diplomatic news clip or government press release related to disaster response or foreign aid. Ask students to:

  • Identify the main message
  • Spot persuasive techniques
  • Evaluate its transparency, ethics, and potential for bias

Instructors

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Lesson Developers

Ryan Thomas

Director of Graduate Studies
Associate Professor
Graduate Faculty