Dreaming of a Free Press

A free and responsible press is the cornerstone of a strong and healthy democracy, but global declines in press freedom demonstrate that it remains a fragile institution. "Dreaming of a Free Press" examines the state of journalism from the perspective of emerging Tunisian and American journalists, who represent the future of the field.

"Dreaming of a Free Press" follows a collaborative project between U.S. and Tunisian journalism faculty and students aimed at strengthening press freedom in the aftermath of Tunisia's 2011 revolution. The project began in 2019, when students and professors from Western Washington University traveled to Tunisia to work with counterparts at the Institute for Press and Information Sciences. The students took part in discussions about the role of journalism in society and worked on reporting projects in the in the run-up to the 2019 Tunisian presidential elections. In 2022, the Tunisian delegation traveled to Detroit to participate in an international journalism and mass communication conference. While there, they interviewed scholars and professionals about the state of press freedom around the world.

“Dreaming of a Free Press” provides a look into the challenges and opportunities facing the future of journalism worldwide and the role journalism education plays in bolstering this fundamental right.

  • Joe Gosen
    Director
  • Brian J. Bowe
    Producer
    The Death of an Imam
  • Joe Gosen
    Principal Photography
  • Joe Gosen
    Editors
  • Brian J. Bowe
    Editors
    The Death of an Imam
  • Brian J. Bowe
    Writer
    The Death of an Imam
  • Joe Gosen
    Writer
  • Brian J. Bowe
    Music Composer
    The Death of an Imam
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Runtime:
    9 minutes 52 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    December 18, 2022
  • Production Budget:
    2,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    Tunisia, United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Joe Gosen

Joe Gosen is an Associate Professor in the Department of Journalism at Western Washington University in Bellingham, with a teaching and research emphasis in visual journalism. Prior to Western, Gosen taught visual journalism at Brooks Institute for 13 years. He transitioned into academia after more than a decade of photojournalism experience with newspapers and wire services in California, Florida and Nevada. He holds a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Nevada, Reno and a bachelor’s degree in photojournalism from San Jose State University.

Add Director Biography