Accountability in the Syrian conflict will be the focus of a daylong event hosted by the Newhouse Center for Global Engagement in Syracuse University’s  S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. “Running for Cover: Politics, Justice and Media in the Syrian Conflict” will take place Oct. 6 beginning at 9 a.m. in the Joyce Hergenhan Auditorium, Newhouse 3.

The event will be streamed live at http://newhouseglobal.syr.edu. Follow on Twitter at #SUSyria.

The event will analyze the international community’s response to the Syrian conflict and its effects, as well as the challenges to reporting the war, developing political solutions and seeking justice for victims. The interactive event is designed as a “fishbowl” conversation among academics, policy makers, human rights advocates, journalists and the audience. Participants will explore how the international community captures news and images from the conflict, investigates alleged war crimes and human rights violations and protects refugees. They also will discuss lessons learned from this conflict that might inform the response to future conflicts.

“Our aim is to critique the failures of the international response to the Syrian conflict and introduce ways in which we can collectively achieve positive change,” says Ken Harper, director of the Newhouse Center for Global Engagement and chief organizer of the event. “We are crafting the event to be less of a ‘sage on the stage’ and more of a ‘guide on the side’ experience. We hope it’s a useful event that speaks to the seriousness of the situation and honors those suffering with an honest conversation.”

A series of five panel discussions will cover a range of topics. An empty chair will allow audience members to join and rotate through each panel. Syrian activists on the ground and around the world will be invited to participate anonymously via social media.

For more info: http://newhouseglobal.syr.edu/event/syria/