Celebrating life, accomplishments of RJI’s first executive director, renowned journalist Pam Johnson

Thought leader. Teacher. “Champion of female and minority journalists.” Renowned journalist. Industry leader. These were just a few of the words that are used to describe Pam Johnson, 74, founding executive director of the Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute, who died Jan. 20 after a long illness. Johnson, a Missouri School of Journalism graduate, came … Continued

Reynolds Journalism Institute fellows to present overviews of their projects

Fellows will discuss what they learned and answer questions about their projects during the webinar. The Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute’s 2020-2021 fellows will present an overview of their projects on Tuesday, Feb. 16 beginning 11 a.m. CST.  Six fellows will discuss their project and what they learned, how they accomplished their goals, and share … Continued

Newsroom Notes: 4 questions for your newsroom when a giant national story unfolds

KOMU 8 in Columbia, Missouri, is the nation’s only teaching laboratory inside a commercial network-affiliated TV station. The challenges are no different from other newsrooms—just layered on top of the challenges facing the next generation of journalists.  We’re providing a first-hand view (and maybe a little advice) from an industry veteran who agreed to lead … Continued

FAQ: 2021 RJI Student Innovation Fellowships

How do I apply? Apply here. The application deadline is February 26, 2021. You will be notified by email about Zoom interviews if you are a finalist for a fellowship.  What is a 2020 RJI Student Innovation Fellowship?  A Missouri School of Journalism student interning with a local news organization by working 30 to 40 … Continued

How an idea about local obits became a newsletter

Take that thing you’ve been thinking about doing for awhile now and make it real. A few years ago, I had this idea. I wondered if local, reported obituaries could help local newsrooms build subscribers, and therefore help support the business itself while connecting them with their communities. I talked it out in hallways and … Continued

The insults “stupid, fat, ugly” are just another day at work

The insults that hurt the most are those that imply that Latina journalists don’t belong in the news space “I have got accustomed that they call me ugly, fat, whore, stupid Puerto Rican, the N word. I’m used to the threats that they will rape me or beat me,”says Helen Ubiñas, a Boricua born in … Continued