2023 Christopher J. Georges Conference on College Journalism
Student Lightning Round Participants
Harvard: The Harvard Crimson
Cara Chang, president, and Brandon Kingdollar, managing editor
The paper’s in-depth investigation, “Still Unresolved” uncovered a pattern of internal conflict and financial misconduct revolving around a student organization’s former president.
Michigan State University – Focal Point News
Isabella Martin and Brendan Schabath are both reporters for Focal Point News, MSU’s student-produced newscast. Additionally, Martin is a multimedia journalist at Fox 47 News, and Schabath is the sports director at Impact 89FM.
Michigan State University student journalists were faced with covering a school shooting – during which a gunman killed three people and wounded five – as it was unfolding and while they were in lockdown.
University of Pittsburgh, The Pitt News
Rebecca Johnson, editor in chief, and Betul Tuncer, managing editor.
The Pitt News has been working to implement goals that resulted from a collaboration with the American Press Institute and the Pittsburgh Black Media Federation to study local media coverage of communities of color.
Boston University – The Daily Free Press
Lydia Evans, editor in chief, and Brendan Nordstrom, managing co-editor
Following an incident in which a non-BU-affiliated person committed suicide from a campus dorm, the paper has examined a host of issues, from security and the university police department’s response time, to access to mental health resources.
Davidson College: The Davidsonian
Gabriella Morreale, writer, and Nada Shoreibah, features editor, and Georgia Hall, writer for The Davidsonian and the Lake Norman Citizen
The paper has been working to spotlight issues around affordable housing in the town of Davidson, which is increasingly gentrifying and pushing out the African American community that historically has called it home.
Stony Brook University: The Statesman
Viola Flowers, Maria Lynders, and Katherine Procacci are all managing editors.
The paper did an exposé on a university catering company that potentially scammed the school — and students — out of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Morgan State University, The Spokesman
Giodona Campbell, staff writer, and Jah’I Selassie, managing editor and Raven Roberts, staff writer
The presenters will talk about their experiences with systemic racism in the field of journalism as HBCU students, including wrongful assumptions about Black journalists – especially women. They’ll discuss being on the receiving end of societal prejudices, as well as how their work for The Spokesman challenges those same stereotypes as they cover marginalized and underrepresented communities.
Columbia University: The Columbia Daily Spectator
Irie Sentner, editor in chief and president, and Andrew Park, managing editor and vice president
The team produced a comprehensive multimedia news package, under deadline, on the announcement of Columbia’s new president, the first in more than 20 years.