Michelle Betz

Michelle is a senior media development specialist and trainer with over 20 years of experience in assessment, project design, implementation, management, evaluation and research. She has worked for organizations including UNDP, IOM, OSCE, UNESCO, Free Press Unlimited, International Media Support (IMS), U.S. State Department, IREX, DW-Akademie and others.

Her areas of expertise include media in conflict and post-conflict and safety issues. Michelle’s work in issues of journalism safety include both field work as a trainer and facilitator as well as substantive research particularly in the area of psychosocial issues and support for local journalists. She was the consulting researcher for UNDP for the background paper “Media Noise and the Complexity of Conflicts: Making Sense of Media in Conflict Prevention” for the joint United Nations-World Bank Flagship Study, Pathways for Peace: Inclusive Approaches to Preventing Violent Conflict.

Before returning to the U.S. in 2016, Michelle was based overseas in Ghana, Egypt and Austria and has conducted workshops and implemented or assessed activities in more than 25 countries including: Ghana, Nepal, DRC, Burundi, Rwanda, Burkina Faso, Iraq, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, Nigeria, Central African Republic and Ukraine.

Twitter: @michellebetz