Journalist and Author Mónica Guzmán on Leading with Curiosity

Journalist and author Mónica Guzmán, a 2016 Nieman Fellow, believes trust can’t be formed by one side demonizing the other. But that’s often what those on either side of the political divide try to do, whether it’s a family debating at the dinner table, talking heads sparring on TV, or partisan media outlets disparaging a broad swath of the public. This mentality simply takes us further from understanding each other, Guzmán says, and it entrenches us in our assumptions and judgments, and our belief that we operate with different values than the other side.

More often than not, we share the same values but miss possible points of connection because we don’t really know each other, Guzmán says, adding that the simplest and most transformative tool to get us out of this trap is curiosity. 

Guzmán is the author of the book “I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times,” and is a senior fellow at Braver Angels, an organization dedicated to political depolarization. She also hosts the podcast “A Braver Way.” Guzmán believes being curious about people we disagree with, and engaging with them, is the only way to depolarize our society. 

Guzmán spoke with Nieman Reports about extending this philosophy to journalism, and how news outlets and journalists need to approach people from all walks of life with genuine curiosity. Only if people feel seen and understood will they be open to new information. 

The conversation has been edited for length and clarity. 

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