2023 Christopher J. Georges Conference on College Journalism

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

Introduction: Cara Chang, president, The Harvard Crimson

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 presents 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.

Introduction: Brandon Kingdollar, managing editor, The Harvard Crimson

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.

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

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. 

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