The Goldsmith Award honors great investigations. The Shorenstein Center got the inside scoop on how the finalists did their work. Email not displaying correctly?
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When I first started teaching, I thought I’d be wise to keep my personal journalism stories to myself. I thought a good professor should focus on the rules, best practices and theories, not personal “back in my day” anecdotes.

How happy I was to be so wrong. I’ve consistently found that real-world anecdotes (well, interesting ones) are well-received by students and often lead to increased engagement.

That’s why I was delighted to find this excellent Journalist’s Resource series — six behind-the-scenes profiles ([link removed]) of journalists and publications in the running for a Goldsmith Award, given annually by the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy at Harvard.

These six finalists will each get a $10,000 each prize, while a top winner will get $25,000. Winners will be announced Tuesday.

Here are the stories about the finalists, along with journalists’ tips at the end of each story (two examples: “Avoid covering news stories in a way that portrays members of the public as victims and government agencies as villainous. Instead, look for opportunities to show audiences that public policy problems often are more complicated than they seem,” and “Keep chipping away. Your work matters. It’s important. It can save lives.”)

I hope you’ll agree that these journalists’ stories — driven by curiosity, powered by perseverance and fueled with a sense of justice — would make great classroom fodder.
* Tampa Bay Times reporters expose high airborne lead levels at Florida recycling factory ([link removed])
* Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporters show how low-income Black renters in the city face disproportionate electrical fire dangers ([link removed])
* Washington Post reporters reveal FEMA failures, denial of disaster aid to Black families in the South ([link removed])
* Nashville Public Radio and ProPublica reveal a juvenile justice system in Tennessee that illegally jailed kids ([link removed])
* Wichita Eagle reporters expose a broken EMS system ([link removed])
* ProPublica reporters expose hot spots of toxic air pollution across the US ([link removed])


** The doc to watch
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I might have burst into happy tears late into “The Queen of Basketball,” ([link removed]) a short documentary from The New York Times that won an Oscar last Sunday. I’m hard-pressed to sit still for 22 minutes, much like some of your students, but this one was totally worth it. Besides just being incredibly joyous to watch, this film is a master class on how to fill visual spaces. You can talk to your students about the intro, the pacing, the revelations, archival footage, b-roll, character development and so much more.

After you watch it, then and only then should you click this link ([link removed]) for a lesson on why it’s so important to tell these stories now. I think both will resonate with your students.


** We’ve all been there
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From the Tufts Daily: “Somerville landlord sues students over Tufts Daily coverage.” ([link removed]) Hang in there, Tufts Daily students!


** The harassment is real
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Although I am skeptical about just how far some leaders are willing to go, I am continuing to follow this topic with interest: “Publishers Are Getting Organized to Protect Female Reporters from Digital Harassment” ([link removed]) (Adweek). Have any of your students reported any kind of harassment? Do you feel well-equipped to help them?


** No wonder they aren’t talking
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Did you see this important piece? State schools would be especially wise to take a read. “Gagged America | Policies show employee speech heavily restricted across government.” ([link removed])


** Who’s behind it?
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I found this piece in CJR to be interesting and helpful, and I bet your students would, too: “Who’s behind this website? A checklist.” ([link removed])


** Data journalism help
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My friend David Simpson, director of student media at Georgia Southern University, recently dropped this onto the College Media Association listserv (and this is your reminder that if you’re advising a student media outlet, you belong in CMA ([link removed]) ):

“After attending the great Google Tools breakout at (CMA’s recent spring conference in New York City), I got inspired to put together a lot of info in one place for students with zero data knowledge.” You can read his document here ([link removed]) .


** Three more years
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The Scripps Howard Foundation announced recently that it’s extending its support of two collegiate investigative units at the University of Maryland ([link removed]) and Arizona State University ([link removed]) .

The two schools launched their Howard Centers for Investigative Journalism three years ago, and each school will receive $3 million to continue their work for the next three years.

From a release: “Since the programs launched, student journalists have produced numerous investigations, such as Printing Hate ([link removed]) , a thorough exploration of the racist pasts of some newspapers, and COVID’s Invisible Victims ([link removed]) , exploring the pandemic’s impact on America’s homeless residents. The student journalists’ work has been recognized with nearly a dozen national journalism awards.”


** Headlines about higher ed
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* Former School of Medicine administrator pleads guilty to stealing $40 million from the University ([link removed]) (Yale News)
* New Title IX rules set to assert rights of transgender students ([link removed]) (Washington Post)
* University of South Carolina trustees blistered for secret trip, coach buyouts ([link removed]) (AP)
* (University of Richmond) renames six buildings tied to enslavers, eugenicists ([link removed]) (Richmond Collegian)


** Great journalism to share with your students
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* Yosemite's 'Firefall' draws crowds from across the globe to witness the magnificent spectacle ([link removed]) (video, Scripps Media)
* ‘This Whole Thing Has F---ed Me Up’ ([link removed]) (text, Sports Illustrated)
* Facebook paid GOP firm to malign TikTok ([link removed]) (text, Washington Post)


** Diversity, equity and inclusion
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* LIGHTS. CAMERA. CRIME. How a Philly-born brand of TV news harmed Black America. ([link removed]) (Philadelphia Inquirer)
* Calvin and Research Center Split Over LGBTQ Rights ([link removed]) (Inside Higher Ed)
* Journalism should take a cue from entertainment — diversity grows audiences ([link removed]) (Poynter)


** This week in fact-checking
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This meme made me chuckle.

Here’s a fun fact: April 2 is International Fact-Checking Day (it’s purposefully the day after April Fools Day) and since that was on a Saturday this year, the International Fact-Checking Network opted to celebrate fact-checking and media literacy for a full week. You can read more and find exercises here ([link removed]) . Of course, to celebrate, I’d recommend an in-class showing of our Campus Correspondents ([link removed]) ’ fact-checking video masterclass ([link removed]) , or even better, host a Campus Correspondent in your classroom ([link removed]) before semester’s end.


** The Lead
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This week, we focused on: “Catching up from spring break? Here’s a short reading list for student journalists.” ([link removed]) Subscribe to The Lead ([link removed]) , Poynter’s weekly newsletter for student journalists, and encourage your students to do the same.


** One last thing
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Now I finally speak emoji. ([link removed])


** Resources for educators
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* Subscribe to The Collective ([link removed]) — Poynter’s monthly newsletter for journalists of color by journalists of color
* Time for a new job ([link removed]) ? Your future employer is looking for you on The Media Job Board — Powered by Poynter, Editor & Publisher and America’s Newspapers. Search now! ([link removed])
* Immigration’s Impact on the U.S. Economic Recovery ([link removed]) (Webinar) — April 7 at 2 p.m. Eastern
* Teachapalooza: Front-Edge Teaching Tools for College Educators ([link removed]) (In-person or Online Seminar) — June 10-12. Apply now ([link removed])

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