Guest Lecture Daniel Baker

The Historic Dimension of Exile

Guest Lecture Daniel Baker | 11 May 2026 | 15.00 – 17.00 | Room HS 386 (Rudolfskai 42)

Part of the Course “Journalism in Exile” co-led by Hanan Badr and Thawab Hilal

Daniel Baker received his PhD. title from the School of History at Cardiff University, where he researched violence, emotions, and the Vichy regime in the context of his thesis on the Milice française during the German occupation of France. He undertook undergraduate studies at the University of London Institute in Paris and holds a Master’s degree in modern history from King’s College London. His research interests include fascism, extremism, and European nationalism.

Course Description

Across the world, journalists face censorship, persecution, and violence that force them to flee their home countries. In exile, they continue to work under new constraints, navigating unfamiliar political, linguistic, and cultural environments while striving to maintain professional integrity and independence. This course explores the complex realities of journalism in exile by examining how displacement (re) shapes journalistic practices, ethics, and audience relationships. Using critical approaches, the course investigates how exiled journalists rebuild their careers, networks, and credibility from abroad. It also discusses the role of exiled media, digital platforms, and transnational collaborations in sustaining journalism under threat. The course is divided into three parts: Part I: Foundations, where we look into a conceptual and historical overview of exile journalism, censorship, and media repression across global contexts. Part II: Practices and Challenges, where we explore journalistic work in exile, i.e., ethical dilemmas, digital security, funding models, audience trust, and trauma. And, part III: Case Studies and Applications, where students analyse exiled media outlets and interview journalists from various regions (e.g., Syria, Egypt, Russia, Iran, Turkey, Afghanistan) and present specific cases and analytical reflections. 

About the Lecture

This class explores how historians define and conceptualize exile in comparison with other scholarly disciplines. Through historical examples and comparing competing theories of exile, we examine how exile shapes identity, authority, belonging, and legitimacy of those who experienced it. We also ask when and how exile ends and whether, in personal, social, or political terms, it ever truly does.