Interview with Marshall Patsanza

Marshall Patsanza completed his BJourn at Rhodes University in 2009. During this time he worked for the student newspaper Oppidan Press, becoming chief graphic and layout designer. Marshall focused on multimedia and online journalism during his studies, which has stood him in excellent stead in his career since then. Marshall has been working for the IOM-UN (International Organization for Migration) since 2015, having served an internship with the UN in 2014. He has filled a variety of roles in digital communications, from digital outreach and content producer to his current role as head of social media. IOM is the leading intergovernmental organisation in the field of migration and is committed to the principle that humane and orderly migration benefits migrants and society. Marshall has been an integral part of developing the Global Migration Media Academy (GMMA), a unique platform designed to standardise media training, as well as strengthen ethical and accurate reporting, on migration. He was a coordinator for the It Takes A Community Campaign, which aims to promote a balanced and evidence-based public narrative on migration. Marshall has been involved in many other digital communication efforts for the UN, including coordinating the visibility of IOM’s humanitarian assistance in Syria and creating online and digital content for IOM’s counter trafficking awareness campaign IOM X, which leverages the power of social media to engage young people from south east Asia and make them aware of the dangers of human trafficking and exploitation in the region.