Chantal Da Silva has always had a love of finding the truth. Since she was a child, she was a detective, watching her family members and rummaging through their garbage to unravel the tales taking place in her own house. The curiosity of her childhood led to her a job in the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, where she started her career in the investigative department.
Since then, she has been as a guest on BBC World and MSNBC, worked for the Independent and was awarded an Migration Media Award for reporting on a community of migrant women who strive to make themselves stronger and one another. In her current role as the Chief Correspondent of Newsweek, her reporting continues to be focused on the issue of asylum seekers and immigration freedom of movement, as well as human rights.
Chantal met with Photographers Without Borders (PWB) founder Danielle Da Silva as part of the ongoing ” Storytelling for Change” webinar series. Below are edited portions of their conversation that examined the complexities of finding the truth behind telling stories, the reasons why certain stories are more prominent than others, and the best way to make newsworthy content in a time of uncertainty.
Chantal was interviewed by Photographers Without Borders (PWB) founder Danielle Da Silva as part of the ongoing ” Storytelling for Change” webinar series. Below are edited portions of their conversation that focused on the intricate aspects of determining the truth behind telling stories, the reasons why certain stories are more prominent than others, and the best way to make newsworthy content in the current climate.
Danielle Da Silva: What inspired you to become a journalist? And why did you decide to do the type of journalism you cover?
Chantal Da Silva: The way I’ve been raised has led me to have an interest in finding the Truth and becoming a detective. I was always interested in finding the core of people, what they believe, and how they came to the conclusion that their societies have become the way they are. This is why I chose to study an anthropology degree at the university level, as Anthropology is the study of human nature. I’m fascinated by the reasons why people do what they do.
One of the biggest questions that have shaped my professional career is one I found in a book written by Chris Kraus: who has the right to speak, and for what reason? This is, to me, the essence of everything I do. What voices are heard, and what’s the reason? How can I raise the voices that don’t get heard? What could I do to make an opportunity for those who aren’t being heard? I’ve always been awed by justice and how it helps certain people but doesn’t give other people the same advantages. This is what eventually led me to pursue a degree in journalism.
Danielle Da Silva: I have known you as someone who fights to open an environment for the under-served. Why do you need to fight for those kinds of stories? Why is it that something about the general public or the production aspect of media that make it hard to advance these stories?
Chantal Da Silva The list is endless factors to this. In the production aspect, I would not say that I’m always fighting for the rights of these authors. It differs from publication to publication. I am unable to speak for the profession in general however, I can offer my own experiences. I have the opportunity and advantage of having the ability select a large portion of the stories I write. I decided to write about what I feel is relevant and significant. These will be the tales I strive to share. Most often, they are about asylum seekers, immigration or human rights.
I don’t believe that many magazines have an agenda, but some believe that they have an agenda. For Newsweek, For instance, there’s no agenda. Sometimes, I have to argue if I’m interested in reporting on the story and usually achieve my goals. Sometimes, they’ll say, “Well, there’s not going to be any interest in it,” or, “What’s the point of writing something in the first place if nobody will take the time to read it?” The absence of interest is the reason for the lack of interest. The way that coverage is determined by what the public is looking for and what the public wants may not be the best option.
He was worried about contracting coronavirus during detention since no one is able to socially isolate themselves, and these are hotbeds. Then he killed himself. His story has been shunned aside since the crime was committed however, I believe it raises some interesting questions. When someone has served their sentence, do they deserve an opportunity to integrate into society? Should they be handed the death penalty, which for him was indefinite confinement in ICE and a fear for his life because the health issues that he suffered from were underlying. I would like to see stories like this are able to attract more attention to have a bigger impact.
