2023 Christopher J. Georges Conference on College Journalism

14 Plympton St., Cambridge, Mass. | map

One Francis Ave., Cambridge, Mass. | map 

James Geary, deputy curator of the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard

Caitlin Dickerson, staff writer, The Atlantic

Caitlin Dickerson will discuss her award-winning journalism including her coverage of immigration issues for The Atlantic, where she recently broke the story of the secret history of the U.S. government’s family separation policy. She’ll also share insights gained from her work at The New York Times, CNN and NPR.

Introduction: Cara Chang, president, The Harvard Crimson 

The types of news stories that student journalists increasingly have to cover – from the growing mental health crisis on many campuses to threats of violence or school shootings, can expose them to potentially traumatizing content. This workshop will introduce a framework for building a trauma-informed journalistic practice, including ways to ethically interview those affected by trauma, while taking care of one’s own wellbeing by recognizing the imprint of trauma and stress on ourselves. 

Dr. Kate Porterfield, a founding staff member of the Journalist Trauma Support Network, an initiative of the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma at Columbia University

Introduction: Brandon Kingdollar, managing editor, The Harvard Crimson

12:45 p.m.

The Art of the Interview: Tips and techniques for getting people to open up and conducting the most compelling interviews possible

• • Angie Drobnic Holan, Nieman Fellow ’23, is editor-in-chief of PolitiFact, the national politics fact-checking website at the Poynter Institute. 

  • Romy Neumark, Nieman Fellow ’23, is a senior anchor at Kan, the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation. 

  • Natasha Khan, Nieman Fellow ’23, is an Asia correspondent for The Wall Street Journal based in Hong Kong.

Telling Stories With Sound: Learn about the ingredients that make a great audio story and get insights into the workflow of producing a podcast.

• • Ruth Tam, Nieman Fellow ’23, is co-host of the podcast “Dish City,” which explores local food culture, and is a digital editor at WAMU in Washington, D.C. She also guest hosts NPR’s “Life Kit,” where she covers the future of work, personal finance and other topics. 

Tips on Getting a Job in Journalism: Get guidance from professional journalists on breaking into the media business, in a newsroom or as a freelancer. Learn how to put your best foot forward when applying for internships or jobs, and for pitching stories.

• • Adefemi Akinsanya, Nieman Fellow ’23, is an international correspondent and anchor for Arise News in Lagos, Nigeria.

  • Mark Holan, a Nieman affiliate, is a journalist and historian specializing in Irish issues. 

  • Hanaa’ Tameez is a staff writer for the Nieman Journalism Lab, where she covers innovation in the news media industry.

Short presentations from student participants about special projects and newsroom challenges.

Moderator: Hanaa’ Tameez, staff writer, Nieman Journalism Lab