Two professors in Rider's department of communication and journalism traveled to Rwanda this past summer on different missions.

For Dr. Thomas Simonet, who teaches print journalism, it was an opportunity to write about health care in a rural area, and for Dr. E. Graham McKinley, who teaches journalism, print and Web design, and audio production, it was a time to devote to her research on the role radio has played in the country’s recovery from the 1994 genocide.

Dr. Thomas Simonet showing local children digital images.

Invited to join a family trip to visit his nephew, Dr. Michael Rich, a physician in charge of a local hospital in Rwinkwavu, Simonet jumped at the chance to do what comes naturally: to write about what strongly affects him. “I like to keep my skills in journalism and photography alive, so usually about once a year I travel someplace and do a newspaper story on a subject that interests me,” said Simonet, who stayed part of the time at the Hotel Des Milles Collines, the venue where the events of the movie, “Hotel Rwanda” took place.

“I kind of shuddered when I saw the logo of the hotel,” he said. “I felt very uneasy about what kind of situation I might find 12 years after ‘Hotel Rwanda.’” Simonet wrote a story about a dedicated pediatrician from St. Louis, Dr. Sara Stulac. Her hometown newspaper, -- “The St. Louis Post-Dispatch,” – published Simonet’s article, “Rwanda: A time for healing” with two of his photos on Sunday, August 13. He and his family spent three days at the hospital, where they were welcomed “like dignitaries.” Simonet also visited a game park and saw the legendary mountain gorillas of the eastern mountains.

Dr. McKinley interviewing local residents.

McKinley, a researcher in television and radio, was awarded a summer fellowship to examine the role of radio in Rwanda’s recovery. It was “eye-opening” to realize the power of radio in Africa, she noted after interviewing local residents.

“Many, even among the very poor, it could afford batteries and all interviewees regarded radio as an important part of daily life,” said McKinley. Although she found that many Rwandans had little trust in radio immediately after the genocide because some broadcasters had actively encouraged the killing, a few stations sprang up in positive response to the violence, offering listeners “comfort and information.”

According to McKinley, listeners have a choice of about a dozen stations -- international, governmental, local and privately owned. Many broadcast in all three of the country’s three official languages, Kinyarwandan, French and English.

“The local stations I visited strove to improve the lives of listeners,” she said. “Radio professionals saw themselves working to help their fellow Rwandans, offering everything from health tips, such as how to prevent AIDS, to social commentary. I have collected a treasure trove of data thanks to the fellowship.”

During the World Cup soccer matches, which were telecast outdoors at the rural hospital, Simonet felt much optimism. “Even though malnutrition, AIDS and other diseases are rampant, this place was a real island of hope,” said Simonet. “I saw a lot of hugging and heard a lot of laughter.”