Photo Credit: Jennifer Crystal Chien

[Image Description: Jennifer, pictured from the chest up, wears a black sweater, a grey, knitted winter cap, and a pair of black framed glasses. She looks directly into the camera.]

In this episode, I speak with Jennifer Crystal Chien, Anne Scherter, and Dr. Lauren Walsh. Together, we dive deep into the urgent conversation around ethical accountability in nonfiction visual media—whether documentary, photography, or video journalism. We explore the origins of the “Cause No Harm” initiative, the gaps in current industry standards, and their collaborative effort to develop a comprehensive guide to protect participants’ rights and dignity. From informed consent and trauma-informed practices to the broader application of human rights law, this discussion is both a call to action and a blueprint for change. The spirit of this episode is captured in our song of the week: “Revolution” by Arrested Development—a reminder that transformation is not only necessary, but possible.”