This summer, University of Nebraska-Lincoln's College of Journalism and Mass Communications students attended an annual investigative journalism conference hosted by NICAR & Investigative Reporters and Editors. This year's conference was in Anaheim, California, from June 20-23.
During the conference, students attended a variety of panels, networking sessions and master classes on data. Topics ranged from covering elections and protests to turning stories into narrative podcasts and using AI and automation.
The conference provided an opportunity for students to network with and learn from some of the most accomplished data journalists in the industry from media outlets such as ABC News, The Associated Press, Bloomberg News, Boston Globe, CBS News, Los Angeles Times, NBC News, The New York Times, NPR, ProPublica, Sony Music Entertainment, Vanity Fair and The Washington Post.
Jessica Meza, a junior advertising and public relations and journalism double major from Lincoln, participated in the conference’s mentor program. Her mentor, Jill Castellano, is the data editor at ConsumerAffairs. She worked with Meza on data journalism, public records and interviewing.
“It was an amazing experience to meet professionals in my field and expand my knowledge as a journalist,” Meza said. “This opportunity allowed me to continue learning outside of the classroom. The courses and advice from professionals will follow me in my career.”
Parviz Jamalov, a CoJMC graduate student and Fulbright Scholar from Tajikistan, attended a master class led by New York Times journalist and three-time Pulitzer Prize-winner Matt Apuzzo. During "Outlining and Structure - The Writer's Missing Manual," Jamalov learned about crafting a compelling narrative from real-world examples and story structures from the New York Times.
"I intend to integrate innovative storytelling techniques gleaned from the conference into my journalism and public relations endeavors," Jamalov said. "Whether through press releases or video stories, I aim to enhance engagement and impact."
A generous donation from the Martin and Doris Deepe family provided the costs for airfare, lodging, and conference registration. The CoJMC faculty sponsor was Deepe Family Endowed Chair in Depth Reporting and assistant professor Linda White.
"In an era where data-driven journalism is increasingly vital, our students are gaining the tools needed to excel,” White said. “The knowledge they’ve gained from experts at this conference will help them lead the way in creating impactful, innovative stories."
