Chad de Guzman

Events around the world, no matter how minute, will always ripple into the policies and economies of surrounding countries. This is something I firmly believe in as a journalist. We do not need to look far into the future to see this relationship between news and trade. Stocks plummet with reported shifts in power, currencies are devalued because of trade tensions, and digital start-ups rise and fall in the blink of an eye due to changes in investor confidence. The newsroom is both an instrument and a witness to this.

And through the Hinrich Foundation’s scholarship program, journalists like me will be equipped to professionally explain complex trade concepts to the public. This scholarship has granted me the opportunity to study how global movements manifest themselves in perhaps seemingly inconsequential decisions in our daily lives. I expect this experience to enhance my passion for being a watchdog of world institutions, ensuring they will take part in exchanges which have social, economic, and environmental benefits. The Hinrich Foundation has provided me avenues for growth essential to my pursuit of a career in digital news and combating digital disinformation.

But what I am most grateful for are the people I will be forever connected to. The Foundation has opened my network to fellow scholars and alumni from various countries who share the same mindset on sustainable trade and development.