United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications Melissa Fleming visited the University of Dubrovnik on September 1, where she was a guest on UNIDU Interview at UNIDU Television. The conversation with one of the UN’s most influential voices was conducted by Ivana Hladilo, Assistant at the Faculty of Media and Public Relations.
During the interview, Under-Secretary-General Fleming emphasized the importance of multilateralism and reflected on her own motivation for working in international organizations. She pointed out that her experience working with refugees taught her that their personal stories are the strongest tool in combating humanity’s indifference. She also spoke about the importance of journalism, describing it as a truly noble profession, and stressed that strong journalism is needed now more than ever, offering advice to students who see their future in the media world.
“We need more journalists, especially investigative ones, who will hold leaders accountable and provide facts about what is happening in the world. If you choose a career in communications or PR, I would encourage you to represent an organization you truly believe in, because it is not all about money, and you only have one life. Use your talents for the benefit of our world, and both you and those around you will thrive,” underlined UN Under-Secretary-General Melissa Fleming.
The visit of Under-Secretary-General Fleming to the University of Dubrovnik was organized on the occasion of her lecture The UN at 80: Multilateralism and the Struggle for Human Rights, delivered at the Inter-University Centre Dubrovnik. In her address, she reflected on the overarching and current challenges faced by the UN and the world, as well as on the transformative power of sharing information about real events.
Melissa Fleming is a long-standing communications expert, TED speaker, and author of numerous publications. She is the author of the book A Hope More Powerful than the Sea and host of the award-winning UN podcast Awake at Night.
