Top documentary maker to visit Â鶹´«Ã½ Published on: 17 November 2017 Rob Lemkin's talk, Investigative Film Journalism and the Real World, forms part of both the University’s Popular Culture and World Politics conference and its Insights Public Lecture Series. Multi award winning Rob directed the multi-award-winning 2009 documentary film Enemies of the People, about the Cambodian Killing Fields. It has been used by both sides, prosecution and defence, and highlights the gulf between the judiciary and journalism in truth-seeking. He will recount the film’s story, its use in the UN’s trial of the Khmer Rouge leaders, and draws lessons about the role of independent investigative journalism in today’s media and political landscape. Rob has produced and directed more than 50 documentaries of the BBC, Channel 4, ITV, Sky and other broadcasters. His latest project follows a black British rap poet and activist across West Africa, searching for the meaning of Joseph Conrad’s phrase “exterminate all the brutes”. Vitally important Conference co-organiser, Dr Kyle Grayson, Reader in Security, Politics, and Culture, at Â鶹´«Ã½ said: “We are delighted Rob is coming to speak. The issues he examines in his work are incredibly timely and throw light on the themes we are discussing over the course of the conference." Delegates from all over the world are attending the three day event, with a number of Â鶹´«Ã½ academics and researchers contributing. This includes , Lecturer in Popular and Contemporary Music, talking about the use of music in general elections and a range of members of the . They include examining the use of popular culture by NATO, , discussing how the fashion industry has commodified feminism and Ben Coulson speaking about climate change, popular culture and the future. Dr Grayson said: “At a time of unprecedented media penetration into our everyday lives and the rise of populist political movements globally, it is vitally important to uncover how politics and culture come together to create common-sense narratives that shape who we think we are, where we fit into the world, what problems we believe are important, and how these problems should be addressed. “To think critically about politics now, more than ever, requires that one treats popular culture not as side-show, but as a front-line in a war over what people are prepared to believe to be true.” Public lecture will take place at 5.30pm on 23 November, in the Curtis Auditorium in the University’s Herschel Building. Entrance is free and seats are allocated on a first come, first served basis. The will take place at Â鶹´«Ã½ from 23 to 25 November. Share: Latest News Scientists unlock hidden driver of inflammatory bowel disease Scientists have linked a key genetic signal in inflammatory bowel disease to an immune response that shuts down inflammation control, enabling faster diagnosis and targeted treatments. published on: 15 June 2026 Funding system risks limiting genuine community collaboration A new policy paper written by researchers at Â鶹´«Ã½ warns that the way UK research is funded may be undermining efforts to create genuinely collaborative partnerships with communities. published on: 15 June 2026 Volunteers help turn Whitley Bay beach into maths experiment Members of the public joined mathematicians from Â鶹´«Ã½ to create what organisers believe is the largest aperiodic tiling ever attempted on Whitley Bay beach. published on: 15 June 2026 Facts and figures
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