Who gets to decide how stories are told? In this third episode of The Arena, we follow researchers at Utrecht University as they push back against institutional power, defend how their research results are represented in the media, and work to preserve histories that might otherwise be lost.

Koen and Kinan dig deeper into AI policing, battling to uncover the truth. Meanwhile, Rachel Gillett and her team take on a different kind of challenge— uncovering hidden histories and materials and navigating delicate relationships of trust with those who share them. Through this we learn how scholars conduct research on societal partners and build relationships with the broader public, even when this, at times, is highly contentious.

The show is written and produced by Isa Zoetbrood. The producers from Utrecht University are Lauren Gould and Saskia Stevens. This episode features Kinan Alajak (Research assistant at the Department of Media and Culture), Koen Leurs (Associate Prof. in Gender, Media and Migration Studies), Iris Kruijen (Communications Consultant) and Rachel Gillett (Assistant Prof. in Cultural History).