Journalism News Archives
Former Globe Reporter Anthony Flint talked about his new book, "Wrestling with Moses."
Former Boston Globe reporter Anthony Flint talked about about his new book, "Wrestling with Moses: How Jane Jacobs Took On New York's Master Builder and Transformed the American City," on October 22. Flint's interest in urban development started when he covered Boston's City Hall. His book details activist Jane Jacobs' successful flight to save Greenwich Village from over-development. His talk was co-sponsored by the School of Journalism and the School of Architecture.
Alex Jones on "Losing the News"
If quality news reporting is essential to the success of democracy, are we at risk today in the tumultuous new media environment? Alex Jones, director of Harvard's Shorenstein Center, explored this question with students from two classes on Thursday, Oct. 15. Jones is author of a new book, "Losing the News: The Future of the News That Feeds Democracy." He talked about the importance of maintaining the kind of journalism that seeks to find the truth whatever it may be, and that holds public officials accountable.
Prof. Schroeder writes essay for NYT online on Obama's media appearances
Prof. Alan Schroeder has contributed an essay to the "Room for Debate" forum in the September 24 online edition of the New York Times. The topic is President Obama's recent spate of media appearances, and Schroeder's essay is entitled "No Choice but Ubiquity." Prof. Schroeder has written extensively about the intersection of politics and entertainment, including the 2004 book "Celebrity-in-Chief: How Show Business Took Over the White House." Read the article.>>
Prof. Kennedy participates in lecture on newspapers and public accountability
Prof. Dan Kennedy joined Martin Baron, editor of the Boston Globe, as discussants for Prof. Paul Starr's lecture "Public Accountability After the Age of Newspapers," on October 1. Prof. Starr is the Stuart Professor of Communications and Public Affairs, Princeton University. The event was held at Suffolk Law School, Boston.
Prof. Burgard interviewed by NECN on AP's use of photo of dying Marine
Prof. Steve Burgard was interviewed on NECN, September 4, in a segment titled "Photo of dying Marine Ignites Firestorm of Controversy." The story dealt with the Associated Press's controversial decision recently to circulate a graphic photo of a N.E. Marine's final moments after being wounded in a grenade attack, and the decision of some newspapers to publish it. Read the text of the interview.>>
Professors Leff and Kennedy represent the School of Journalism at AEJMC Convention.
Two journalism professors were panelists at the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) convention held in Boston August 4 through August 8. Prof. Laurel Leff moderated a panel on the "Press and the Law" on Wednesday, August 5. Prof. Dan Kennedy was a panelist on "Social Networking, Social Media: Facilitating the Pro-Am Approach to Journalism and Building Social Communities," held Tuesday, August 4. To learn more about AEJMC visit the organization's Website.>>
Prof. Schroeder on Pres. Obama's many TV appearances
President Obama's frequent media appearances netted Prof. Alan Schroeder several media appearances of his own. Prof.Schroeder was quoted in a September 17, New York Times piece titled "Obama the Omnipresent," by Mark Leibovich. In the article, Leibovich asks media experts and President Obama's press staff about Obama's frequent media appearances - five on major networks this past Sunday and on David Letterman's program on Monday, September 20. Read the article.>> On September 18 he was a guest panelists on PBS's Charlie Rose Show where he discussed President Obama's media strategy.
On September 20 Prof. Schroeder was quoted in a New York Times story by TV writer Bill Carter about President Obama's appearance on the "David Letterman Show." Read the article.>>
Hostile Groups at Town Hall Meetings
Prof. Alan Schroeder was interviewed on National Public Radio's "All Things Considered" on Aug. 4 for a story entitled “Lawmakers Face Hostile Groups at Town Halls,” regarding organized protests at congressional town hall meetings
The Art of Column Writing in the Digital Age
Today's columnists must adapt just as their news reporter colleagues to changing technology, but be prepared to work more independently of host news organizations. Suzette Martinez Standring, author of "The Art of Column Writing", spoke to Prof. Stephen Burgard's graduate Ethics and Issues class on July 14. Ms. Standring also says readers of on-line columns expect instant updates to previously published work. Now more than ever, fresh, reported columns that offer real news and insightful storytelling will distinguish quality on-line work from the random thoughts of many ordinary bloggers. She is a nationally syndicated columnist with GateHouse News Service for her bi-monthly "Spiritual Life" columns for The Patriot Ledger.
Journalism students blog on Egyptian dissident while studying abroad
Students traveling in the Mideast have been blogging about their experiences, and one report written by Kate Augusto, Danielle Capalbo and Nick Mendez already has produced an exclusive. The political dissident Ayman Nour used an interview with the students to say he would voluntarily return to prison to finish a prison term to protest his treatment after release. The student account got the attention of boston.com's "Worldly Boston" blog. The students left Boston on a five-week trip to three countries in the Middle East - Egypt, Syria and Qatar. Carlene Hempel, a lecturer in the School of Journalism, and Denis Sullivan, professor and director of the Middle East Center for Peace, Culture and Development, led the group from Northeastern. There are 20 undergraduates and six graduate students. Students will blog about their experiences. The group will return on June 5. Learn what students are experiencing by visiting their Webpages and their personal blogs. >>
Prof. Schroeder examines Palin-Letterman controversy
Prof. Alan Schroeder writes in Politico on June 16 about the flap between David Letterman and former vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin. The article is entitled, "David Letterman issues second mea culpa in Palin spat." In writing about the apologies for a joke about Palin's daughter, he concludes, "For someone in David Letterman’s position this constitutes an unusual concession, one that ought to conclude the contretemps." Prof. Schroeder is the author of a book on celebrities in the White House, and places the controversy in context. "Pop cultural history abounds with instances of pols butting heads with popular show business figures." Read the article. >>
Globe-Guild tentative agreement
On June 24, the Boston Globe reported on a tentative agreement between the Globe's owner, The New York Times, and the Guild, the newspaper's largest union. Stephen Burgard, director of the School of Journalism, was quoted as saying that the pact was good at least for the short term, but that the newspaper's financial situation remained a big challenge. He said, "...it still doesn't remove the onus of coming up with an economic model that makes the paper viable." The tentative agreement awaits a vote from Guild members. Read the article. >>
Journalism alum puts skills to work, globally
Jessica Hartogs, a 2004 graduate from the School of Journalism, wrote a first-person account about the more than 2,000 illegal migrants in Calis, France, for CNN International's website. The migrants, many fleeing the Talaban in Afghanistan live in plastic tents in the woods. Some are destined for Britain to earn money to send home, according to the article. Ms. Hartogs visited a camp where about 400 men are living in tents in deplorable conditions. Ms. Hartogs is a CNN Producer based in London. Read this interesting story.>>
Prof. Leff named Stotsky Professor
Professor Laurel Leff was selected as the Stotsky Professor of Jewish Historical and Culture Studies, a three-year appointment that begins July 1. As a Stotsky professor, Prof. Leff will present her research findings to the university annually. Prof. Leff is the author of an acclaimed book about the New York Times's coverage of the Holocaust, Buried by the Times. According to NU’s Website about the professorship, "The Stotsky Professor in Jewish Historical and Cultural Studies was established at Northeastern University in 1991 as a result of a generous gift from Dr. Bernard A. Stotsky."
Burgard Addresses Religion, Politics and Obama
Prof. Stephen Burgard gave this year's religion and politics address for the Center for the Study of Democracy at UC Irvine. The talk, "Religion, Politics and Press in the Age of Obama," was given at a conference of California graduate students in political science on May 9. Burgard, director of the school of journalism, said the Obama administration constitutes a new direction in a tradition of civil religion going back to the time of Abraham Lincoln. This one incorporates a new multi-religious landscape, and also acknowledges agnostics and non-believers.
Journalism students combine study with travel in Middle East
On May 2, 26 Journalism and Middle East Studies students left Boston on a five-week trip to three countries in the Middle East - Egypt, Syria and Qatar. Carlene Hempel, a lecturer in the School of Journalism, and Denis Sullivan, professor and director of the Middle East Center for Peace, Culture and Development, led the group from Northeastern. There are 20 undergraduates and six graduate students. Students will blog about their experiences. The group will return on June 5. Learn what students are experiencing by visiting their Webpages and their personal blogs. >>
Students Honored at Awards Night
Graduating seniors and graduate students were honored at the department's annual awards night at the Alumni Center on April 23. David Jackson, a 2009 Nieman fellow from the Chicago Tribune, urged the students to remember the twin "c's" of compassion and curiosity as central to good story telling as they go forward into a changing journalistic environment. Stephen Burgard, director of the school, praised students for their achievements in the classroom and on co-op, and outlined some of the departments evolving offerings in interactive media.
Prof. Schroeder explores Spanish presidential debates
Prof. Alan Schroeder is one of the authors of a newly released Spanish-language book called "El Debate de los Debates 2008," which examines the 2008 presidential debates of Spain and the U.S. from a variety of perspectives. In connection with the book's publication by the Academia de Television, Schroeder traveled to Spain at the end of April for a series of panel discussions around the country, including events at the Palace of the Senate in Madrid, the Colegio de Periodistas in Barcelona, and the Universidad de Valencia in Valencia. He also did interviews with more than a dozen Spanish newspapers, radio stations, and TV networks. Schroeder is an internationally recognized expert on televised political debates.
Visit the Academia de Television to view photos.>>
Accepted Students Hear Student, Faculty Perspectives
Northeastern's versatile experiential education program was the centerpiece of a recent open house for accepted journalism students. Co-op Coordinator Kelli Murphy outlined the many co-op job opportunities that allow students to get real media experience with a wide range of employers before looking for jobs. Student Casey Ramsdell talked enthusiastically about her co-op experiences and recent work on a student investigation that was published in the Boston Globe.
Prof. Robinson encourages collaboration between journalism schools and the press
Students in Walter Robinson's investigative reporting classes have produced 12 page one stories for the Boston Globe since he joined the faculty in 2007. The most recent article appeared on April 2, as a follow-up to an earlier one on Feb. 16. It found that little had changed since students reported on parking violations by officers at Boston Police headquarters. The former editor of the Globe's Spotlight Team writes about the potential for collaboration between journalism schools and news organizations in the Spring 2009 Nieman Reports. At a time when news organizations have had to cut back on resources allocated to investigations, leading students can learn and provide a public service at the same time.
Read the Boston Globe article.>>
Prof. Matson's students shape new journalism models for the future
Prof. Liz Matson's online journalism students are creating their own blogs, audio slide/video shows, and filmed interviews. One student, Mark DiSalvo, has a blog on music that has become an outlet for musicians and labels to reach new audiences. Other students are working with him. Some, like Mark, are trying to develop their own business models, to sustain new sites with advertising. Prof. Matson recently told the faculty, "I think it is exciting to see students engaged and creating their own future paths." She used this work as part of her presentation on the future of news at a recent "Conversation Cafe" sponsored by the nonprofit organization Boston Cares.
Array of Experts Visit Prof. Daniloff's Global Reporting Seminar
Prof. Nicholas Daniloff, a former U.S. News & World Report correspondent in Moscow, hosted a distinguished group of foreign affairs experts in his graduate seminar this spring. Among the visitors were: Prof. Mark Kramer of Harvard on today's Russia; Masha Gessen, Harvard researcher and expert on internet in Russia; Prof. Brian Williams and Jim Chiavelli of Northeastern on the U.S. in Afghanistan; David Greenway, former Boston Globe editorial page editor and long-time foreign correspondent, on the Middle East; Prof. Merle Goldman of B.U. on China; Robert Rotberg of Harvard on Africa; Jae Hyun Choi, Nieman fellow, on North/South Korea; Prof. Alan West-Duran of Northeastern on Cuba; Jim Smith, former foreign editor of the Boston Globe, and Florence Gallez, eight years in Moscow for CNN.
Praise for Prof. Fountain's baseball book in Boston Globe
Prof. Charles Fountain's book, "Under the March Sun, The Story of Spring Training" was favorably reviewed by Katherine Powers in the Sunday Boston Globe on April 5. Read other reviews and his blog on his Website. >>
Read the Sunday Globe review. >>
Journalism program attracted star athlete
Brad Thiessen, the goalie of Northeastern's nationally ranked hockey team, chose Northeastern in part because of the strength of its journalism offerings. In an interview March 27 with the Ithaca Journal, Thiessen said he had considered several schools, including Cornell, but concluded, "Northeastern was the total package, with a team that I would get a chance to play [on] right away. They were rebuilding...and I could study journalism, which is what I wanted to major in."
Prof. Schroeder lectures in Washington on 2008 presidential debates
Prof. Alan Schroeder spoke at George Washington University on March 17 as part of the International Seminar on Elections and Political Campaigns at the Graduate School of Political Management. His topic was the 2008 American presidential debates. Prof. Schroeder lectured in Spanish to a group of politicians, political consultants, and government officials from throughout Latin America.
Q&A on spring training with Prof. Fountain
Prof. Charles Fountain was interviewed about his new book, "Under the March Sun - The Story of Spring Training," in news@Northeastern on March 24. Read the interview.>> For more information about his book visit his Website.>>
Bill Kirtz reports for Poynter.org on Boston-area journalism events
Prof. Bill Kirtz has two recent Poynter.org articles, one on the Nieman Narrative Conference and the other an interview with winners of Harvard's Goldsmith Awards. In the two articles, distinguished reporters talk about the keys to various kinds of good reporting and writing. The Goldsmith honorees spoke at a session on March 18 titled, "The Present and Future of Investigative Reporting." At the Nieman Narrative Conference, writers shared tips for good storytelling. Prof. Kirtz's articles can be read at poynter.org.>>
Former graduate student honored at Journalists MemorialKaren Fischer, who received her master’s degree in journalism in 2000, will be honored at the annual rededication of the Journalists Memorial, located at the Newseum in Washington on March 30. Ms. Fischer was killed while reporting in Afghanistan in 2006. The memorial honors nearly 2000 reporters, photographers and broadcasters who have died covering the news. The program also will recognize the 62 journalists who lost their lives in 2008. Prof. Laurel Leff, one of Ms. Fischer’s professors, will attend the event.
Prof. Leff, at Univ. of Utah, speaks on New York Times & Holocaust
During the week of March 1, Prof. Laurel Leff was a visitor at the University of Utah. Prof. Leff discussed her book, "Buried by the Times," with four communications classes. While in Utah, she also spoke at the Salt Lake City Public Library’s "Memory and the Media" forum. The program was simulcast on KCPW, the local NPR station. Hear the podcast.>>
Journalism Faculty Interviewed by NECN
Professors Dan Kennedy and Stephen D. Burgard, director of the school, were interviewed for a NECN report March 10 on newspapers' financial problems. Professor Kennedy questioned the low valuation of the Boston Globe given by the financial analyst Douglas McIntyre for some dailies in his blog "24/7 Wall Street." Prof. Burgard explained that the economic difficulties of the industry during the internet era began earlier during a period of corporate ownership. Prof. Kennedy spoke on the future of news media at a forum on March 6 sponsored by the Harvard Institute for Learning in Retirement.
Student News Director Cites Journalism Program
A new weekly hour-long program on WRBB, Northeastern's student radio station, has students reporting on the Northeastern community. Marshall Brennan, news director, told the Huntington News that this was in part attributable to the strength of the journalism program, which should inspire students to write and air their own news. "[I thought] we have all this
firepower and great talent here, so why are we quoting CNN [?]," he told the newspaper.
Student Reporters Investigate Parking Violations at Boston Police Headquarters
Students in Prof. Walter Robinson's Investigative Reporting class uncovered evidence that Boston Police Department employees routinely park without penalty in restricted parking zones around headquarters. The story, with bylines for graduate students Colby Cremins and Emily K. Williams, appeared on the front page of the Boston Globe on Feb. 16. Graduate student Jennifer Skala, and undergraduate students Anne Baker, Danielle Capalbo, Emma Johnson, and Casey Ramsdell, contributed to the reporting along with Maria Cramer, a Globe staff reporter. Prof. Robinson is a former editor of the Globe Spotlight Team.
Honors for Prof. Schroeder's Book On Debates
Alan Schroeder's "Presidential Debates: 50 Years of High-Risk TV" has been named one of the ten outstanding political books of 2008 by a Madrid-based organization of academics, political professionals and media specialists. President Obama's "Audacity of Hope," Malcolm Gladwell's "Outliers," and George Lakoff's "The Political Mind" were some other titles on the list for the Asociacion de Comunicacion Politica (ACOP). Prof. Schroeder recently spoke in Madrid about presidential debates in the United States and Spain.
Prof. Charles Fountain's Book on Baseball Spring Training is Out
Prof. Charles Fountain's Under the March Sun: the Story of Spring Training is now available in bookstores, just in time for the start of baseball's annual ritual. The book discusses the history and growth of spring training, and provides insights into the personalities of the game's legendary players and sportswriters. To read more about Under the March Sun or to order a copy visit Prof. Fountain's Web site at http://underthemarchsun.com/.
Read Prof. Fountain's interview with a Florida newspaper about future spring training locations. His blog for the Boston Globe on Vero Beach without the Dodgers is at boston.com.
What Reporters Must Know
Journalism classes are helpful, but reporters also must know the Bible, American and English literature and Shakespeare to succeed, says David Shribman, executive editor of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. His point: the better-stocked your mind, the more you can put events into perspective as a reporter or columnist. Mr. Shribman, a Pulitzer Prize winner, spoke to journalism students on Feb. 18 after delivering a lecture on the presidency for the political science department.
Author Speaks on Censorship in Putin's Russia
Masha Gessen, a Russian-American journalist, spoke on "The New Censorship" in Putin's Russia on Feb. 10 in Prof. Nicholas Daniloff's undergraduate ethics class. Ms. Gessen is the author of Blood Matters and Ester and Ruzya: How My Grandmothers Survived Hitlers War and Stalin's Peace.
Journalism Professors Share Their Expertise with News Professionals at NEPA Convention and Trade Show
Editors and reporters from around the region gathered recently at the New England Press Association's Annual Convention and Trade Show at the Park Plaza Hotel in Boston. Several members of the faculty conducted workshops in their areas of expertise. Prof. Dan Kennedy presented "News Reporting – Blogging and the Media," Prof. Liz Matson presented "Writing for the Web," and Walter Robinson led a workshop on Investigative Reporting. Link McKie oversaw convention coverage for the NEPA Bulletin.
Scholarship Winners Announced. The New England Press Educational Foundation awarded scholarships to three undergraduate journalism students. They are juniors, Kate Augusto and Jeff Miranda, and senior Daniel Peleschuk. The scholarships were awarded during the New England Press Association’s Hall of Fame reception, February 6.
Will "Truth" Still Be a Libel Defense?
In his Feb. 17 weekly column in The Guardian, Prof. Dan Kennedy warns that an opinion by a three-judge federal appeals panel on Feb. 13 is an "assault on the long-established American legal principle that truth is an absolute defense against a libel suit." The ruling, written by Judge Juan Torruella, uses an obscure 1902 Massachusetts law to raise the possibility that truth may no longer by an absolute defense in a libel suit in Massachusetts. Read the article.>>
Sean Kelly, Channel 5 Reporter, Talks to Journalism 3 Class
Sean Kelly, a reporter for WCVB-TV, Channel 5 in Boston, spoke to students on Feb. 5 about ethical decisions that come up while doing investigative stories for TV. He also talked about the skills needed to report effectively as technology constantly changes. Mr. Kelly was a guest speaker in the Journalism 3 course taught by Mary Cardaras, a part-time instructor.
Prof. Walter Robinson Quoted in Patriot Ledger on Proposed Bill to Bar Access to Census Data
Census data listing names and addresses of residents is public information that shouldn't be restricted, says Walter Robinson, director of the New England First Amendment Center at Northeastern. The Patriot Ledger reported on Jan. 14 that proposed state legislation would limit access in the interest of protecting against identity theft. Prof. Robinson, a former editor of the Boston Globe Spotlight Team, was quoted as saying, This legislation is an example of a disturbing trend in Massachusetts and other states, in which public officials sometimes believe that the citizens who hold them accountable have no right to look through the window on government..."
For more information on the bill visit the First Amendment Center Web site.
Jack Driscoll Publishes "How-To" Book on Citizen Journalism
Jack Driscoll was a leading newspaperman for many years, celebrated for his production and managerial skills in the top editing positions at the Boston Globe. In recent times, this Northeastern alumnus has been thinking about the future as editor-in-residence at the MIT Media Laboratory. Now he has written a book entitled, "Couch Potatoes Sprout: The Rise of Online Community Journalism." He says the book "...is written for youth and adult novices, not professionals. My hope is to demystify the process for those who might want to join or start a group." For more information, visit www.xlibris.com.
Pulitzer Prize-Winning Boston Globe Reporter Creates Investigative Journalism Courses at Northeastern UniversityDistinguished Professor Walter Robinson introduced two innovative investigative reporting courses to Northeastern’s School of Journalism. Selected based on faculty recommendations and student work, the small groups of students work together to uncover their stories and divvy up the reporting and research as Robinson acts as their editor. He helps to guide them throughout the practice of “prospecting” a story and spends several classes discussing the process of interviewing. In the Spring and Fall semesters' of '07, the students produced six page one investigative stories that ran in The Boston Globe.
The First Amendment Center is now online
The New England First Amendment Center, a joint undertaking of the New England First Amendment Coalition and Northeastern's School of Journalism, will focus on issues involving news media and citizen access to public records and meetings. The Center's website will provide information about public access and First Amendment issues throughout New England and around the nation.
New Graduate Concentration
The School of Journalism in partnership with the new School of Social Science, Urban Affairs and Public Policy is offering a new concentration in journalism and public policy. Other concentrations in the journalism graduate program are professional and research. The graduate journalism program is currently accepting applications for all three concentrations.
Newsmakers from the School of Journalism
See a list of recent newsmakers in the School of Journalism, listed on the College of Arts & Sciences website.