Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
October 17
SPJ Symposium Overview
These are the questions professor and journalist Jiafei Yin asked the audience of last nights
The CMU chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) held the symposium to
question what the purpose and practice of fair news is. The evening was spent discussing the risks
of international journalism, and the role of the media both locally and abroad.
Panelists for the event included Yin and her fellow journalist Elina Erzikova, political
science professor Won Paik, and U.S. veteran and current CMU student Nathan Clark. Senior
The audience listened as panelists shared personal stories from reporting over seas, thoughts
One of the most impactful moments was when Elina Erzikova showed pictures of her
friends reporting in war time, said CMU senior, Laura Ducharme. Seeing images of reporters and
then hearing they were killed changed my opinion of how dangerous being a journalist is.
Erzikova, who emigrated from Russia as a child, argued for a journalists responsibility to
inform citizens of international events without bias. During the symposium, she implored students
The more honest we are in our coverage of war, the more chances that people will start
Yin, the interim chair for CMUs journalism department, asked students to thoroughly
research what they read and write. She spoke to the global effect of sloppy journalism, emphasizing
the effect of news on thought processes. Yin advocated for international journalism to start from the
ground up.
Once you get to know people and make connections, theyre loyal and theyll let you know
what is safe and what is not, said Yin. Know the background and know the culture. Be
respectful.
The evening closed with snacks and casual conversation between students and panelists.
It was a great night, said SPJ President Zahra Ahmed. Im hopeful this will inspire
journalism students to be more conscious of global events. No matter the risks we take to deliver the
news, at the end of the day our sanity is granted knowing the world has been informed, and that in
The SPJ has begun planning next semesters symposium, with the topic to be announced.