Nieman Foundation News

Former curator Bob Giles, NF ’66, joins GlobalPost as Commentary editor

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:20:27 GMT

Bob Giles, who retired last summer after 11 years as curator of the Nieman Foundation, has joined the international news site GlobalPost as Commentary editor. He will recruit contributors from around the world to bring authoritative analysis to a new GlobalPost section called Commentary.

In making the announcement, GlobalPost executive editor and co-founder Charles Sennott, NF ’06, said “We’re thrilled to have Bob join us at GlobalPost. His great experience as a journalist and his contacts with writers around the world will help us bring new and important voices to the new Commentary page.”

Giles noted “Our goal is to publish pieces that invite conversations about global topics people care about and want to know more about.” Read more »

Nazila Fathi, NF ’11 to discuss reporting in Iran

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:37:32 GMT

Nazila Fathi, NF ’11, will talk about the many challenges of reporting from Iran as part of the Harvard Writers at Work Lecture Series on February 9. Fathi reported out of Iran for nearly two decades until 2009 when she was forced to leave her country because of government threats against her. She is currently a Shorenstein Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School. Learn more »

Ann Curry Speaks of Trauma and Promise in 31st Morris Lecture

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:38:56 GMT

“Why do we do it?”

Ann Curry asked that question about her work and the work of other foreign correspondents, during the 31st Joe Alex Morris, Jr. Lecture at the Nieman Foundation on February 2. In her case, she said, it’s for “a hope—one that is often unrequited—that some good will come out of what we do.” Read more »

Ann Curry to Deliver the 2012 Joe Alex Morris Jr. Lecture

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:27:04 GMT

Ann Curry, co-anchor of NBC News’ “Today” program, will deliver the 31st annual Joe Alex Morris Jr. Memorial Lecture on February 2, 2012. Each year, the Morris Lecture honors an American overseas correspondent or commentator on foreign affairs who is invited to deliver a talk on international reporting.

Detroit Free Press Wins Worth Bingham Prize for Investigative Journalism for “A Mayor in Crisis”

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:29:15 GMT

Staff writers Jim Schaefer and M.L. Elrick and their colleagues at the Detroit Free Press are winners of the 2008 Worth Bingham Prize for Investigative Journalism for their comprehensive series “A Mayor in Crisis.” The Bingham Prize will be presented at the Nieman Foundation on March 5, 2009.

Nieman-Berkman Fellowship in Journalism Innovation launched

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 13:51:11 GMT

Addressing the growing need for fresh ideas and research in news reporting, the Nieman Foundation and the Berkman Center for Internet & Society announce the creation of the joint Nieman-Berkman Fellowship in Journalism Innovation. Candidates for the new yearlong fellowship will be asked to propose a specific course of study or project relating to journalism innovation. The proposal may deal with any issue relating to journalism’s digital transformation. Read more »

South African fellowship turns 50

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 14:28:58 GMT

The new challenges of journalism and press freedom in South Africa will be the focus as media leaders gather in Cape Town on Saturday, Feb. 12, to mark the 50th anniversary of the South African Nieman Fellowship.

South Africa is the only country that has consistently sent a Nieman Fellow to Harvard each year since the first fellows from the country, Lewis Nkosi and Aubrey Sussens, were selected as members of the class of 1961.

Read more »

Watch a slideshow of the event »

Nieman’s Year in Review

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 11:21:04 GMT

The Nieman Foundation’s 2011 Annual Report is now online. The report chronicles the many events that took place during the past year and features information about new developments at the foundation; conferences and partnerships; specialized fellowships and the fellowship experience; updates on our print and online publications; Nieman journalism awards — and much more. Read the report »

USAID head stresses value of global health journalism

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 11:02:35 GMT

Speaking before journalists and policymakers at Harvard on Dec. 8, USAID Administrator Dr. Rajiv Shah discussed USAID initiatives that are saving the lives of people around the globe, including successful programs to reduce child mortality rates. Shah urged the journalists present to continue to cover efforts to assist the world's poor, adding that global health professionals "have a lot to learn from those of you who bring genuine journalistic skills and critical insights to that task."

The event was co-sponsored by the Nieman Foundation, GlobalPost and the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation ahead of a workshop on "Global Health and Storytelling in the Digital Age."

• Read more and watch an excerpt from Dr. Shah's address »
• Learn more about Nieman's Global Health Reporting Fellowships »
• Read GlobalPost's Healing the World series »

Global Health Fellow examines famine relief crisis in Africa

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 12:42:59 GMT

In an opinion piece in the New York Times, 2012 Nieman Global Health Reporting Fellow Samuel Loewenberg takes a look at the ongoing problem of delayed response to drought and famine crises in Africa and the resulting escalation of suffering. He reports that poor response timing is an issue that "bedevils aid agencies" and states that while many believe the cause of hunger emergencies is a lack of food, the real issue is poverty. The Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting provided a travel grant for the reporting of Loewenberg's essay and funds fieldwork projects for the Nieman Global Health Fellows.

Read "The Famine Next Time" »

Mohammed Nabbous Receives Lyons Award

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 17:25:39 GMT


From left, Samra Naas, Nabbous' widow, and Dorothy Parvaz, an Al Jazeera journalist and Nieman Fellow in the class of 2009, who delivered an address during the Lyons Award ceremony. Photo by Lisa Abitbol.

Nieman Fellows in the class of 2012 have selected Mohammed “Mo” Nabbous, founder of Libya Alhurra TV, as this year’s recipient of the Louis M. Lyons Award for Conscience and Integrity in Journalism. Nabbous, who was killed in March, was chosen as a representative of all those who courageously worked to disseminate news during the Arab Spring. In doing so, they helped further the cause of a free press. Read more »

Listen to an interview Lisa Mullins, NF '10, conducted for The World with Nabbous's wife Samra Naas, who accepted the Lyons Award on his behalf.

70th Anniversary Convocation Weekend

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 12:20:06 GMT

We gathered in Cambridge to celebrate the Nieman Foundation and shared stories about how our fellowship experiences have affected our lives and careers. We also took a critical look at journalism today, examining both the challenges and new opportunities that new media and shifting business models present.

2009 Nieman Conference on Narrative Journalism: Telling True Stories in Turbulent Times

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 12:17:25 GMT

Close to 600 journalists joined us at the Sheraton Boston March 20-22 for our eighth annual narrative conference. Keynoter Connie Schultz, columnist for the Cleveland Plain Dealer, addressed the elephant in the room: the crisis in our industry and the loss of jobs across the country. Schultz made us laugh, reminded us of the power of stories, and noted that even if the business model is broken we “are not broken.”

In session after session, speakers generously offered more insight and inspiration. Highlights:

•	Jon Lee Anderson on the value of the outtake: Early in his career, he said, “everything that seemed valuable … was still in me and never saw the light of day"; years later, those outtakes have found a place in four narrative books;
•	Writer/psychotherapist Dennis Palumbo on the psychic dangers all writers face ("liberating and encouraging,” said one attendee);
•	New York Times multimedia guru Amy O’Leary on narrative form for audio geeks;
•	Tom French from Indiana University on reporting that makes a story sing;
•	Jennifer Crandall and Richard Koci Hernandez on the art of the interview;
•	Adam Hochschild on suspense, showing how flat “The Three Little Pigs” would be if told in who-what-where fashion;
•	Jane Kamensky, Tina Bennett, and Wendy Wolf on how authors, agents, and editors work together;
•	Gwen Ifill on the former NAACP chairman Julian Bond telling young Turks to “snatch power” from elders.

By the time the conference was over, we all snatched some power back to sustain our passion, intellect, and drive.

AFTERMATH: Journalism, storytelling, and the impact of violence and tragedy

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 12:07:56 GMT

At the end of February, the Nieman Foundation hosted a conference looking at trauma journalism. We convened renowned writers, editors, reporters, photographers, filmmakers, trauma researchers, poets, novelists, historians and others to explore how journalists report the emotional impact of violence, death and disaster on people and their lives. Learn more »

Secrecy and Journalism in the New Media Age

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 12:06:59 GMT

The WikiLeaks Iraq and Afghanistan war logs—and now the roll out of diplomatic cables—are having an enormous impact on journalism.

On December 16, 2010, the Nieman Foundation for Journalism convened a group of reporters and editors along with other watchdog experts for a one-day conference.

“From Watergate to WikiLeaks: Journalism and Secrecy in the New Media Age” explored how secrets are investigated, shared and filtered (or not) in an era of self-publishing, online whistle-blowing, data mining and social media websites.

Participants discussed journalism’s role—what it traditionally has been and what it can or should be in this new environment.

Unleashing the Watchdogs: Become a more effective editor

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 12:05:49 GMT

This workshop, hosted by the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University and co-sponsored by IRE, NewsTrain, APME and ASNE, featured top editors and trainers with a special focus on watchdog journalism; better editing techniques, and online journalism.

Covering News of Race in a New World

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 12:03:19 GMT

The conference addressed questions about how journalists cover the issues of race and class, and how the coverage of education, health and communities of color has evolved amid changing demographics and shifting interests.

Journalism in Eastern Europe: Who controls the media?

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 12:01:27 GMT

The end of the Cold War and the collapse of a dozen totalitarian states 20 years ago triggered the emergence of democracy in the region previously known as the Communist bloc. Each country took its own path: Some are now full democracies and part of the European Union, some struggle with fragile democracies and some remain de facto authoritarian regimes.

The practice of journalism in these evolving states is problematic, especially under continuing authoritarianism. In early May, the Nieman Foundation brought together academics, journalists and media experts to discuss the different paths societies and journalism took in post-communist Eastern Europe. Using the Spring 2011 issue of Nieman Reports, “Shattering Barriers to Reveal Corruption,” as a starting point for discussion, the conference explored control over information, the lack of professionalism in mainstream media, the risks journalists face, the development of experimental networks of independent journalists and the industry of media assistance.

The goal of the conference was to generate new ideas for media and information policies in Eastern Europe and other post-totalitarian states.

2011 Christopher J. Georges Conference On College Journalism

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 12:00:57 GMT

The Christopher J. Georges Award for Excellence in Student Journalism honors exceptional, in-depth reporting by a student reporter on a policy issue of importance affecting his/her campus, community, or beyond. Judges look for reports that delve beneath the surface of the story and presenting all sides of its complexities with fairness and accuracy. The award is presented during the annual Georges Collegiate Weekend for college journalists, which is co-hosted by the Nieman Foundation and students from The Harvard Crimson.

The Georges Award aims to encourage and promote the type of journalism Christopher Georges loved best: feature stories that do not simply examine policy making and reform, but explore from a human perspective both the intended and unintended consequences of these policies on the people who are affected by them.

2009 Georges Conference on College Journalism

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 11:58:52 GMT

More than 70 students from 14 college newspapers gathered at the Nieman Foundation April 3-4, 2009 for the sixth annual event, which offered talks by leading journalists, training sessions and networking opportunities. The weekend event is sponsored by the Christopher J. Georges Fund, which the Nieman Foundation administers, and is co-hosted by the foundation and The Harvard Crimson.

HEAR FROM A FEW CONFERENCE ATTENDEES on our Georges Conference Blog »

2008 Christopher J. Georges Conference on College Journalism

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 11:57:46 GMT

More than 80 students from a dozen schools participated in the fifth annual Christopher J. Georges Conference on College Journalism in April. Sponsored by the Christopher J. Georges Fund and co-hosted by the Nieman Foundation and The Harvard Crimson, the event offered talks by leading journalists, training sessions and networking opportunities.

Paul Steiger, former managing editor of The Wall Street Journal and current editor-in-chief of ProPublica, delivered the keynote speech. Charles Sennott NF ’06, executive editor/vice president of Global News Enterprises, also spoke about the importance of international news coverage. 2008 Nieman Fellows Simon
Wilson, Alicia Anstead and Joshua Benton along with Nieman Narrative Journalism Program Director Constance Hale presented several workshops on topics ranging from “Reporting from the Field” to “Google,Web Tools and Blogging.” A panel discussion on political reporting and the 2008 elections rounded out the day with John Harris from Politico, Mark Halperin of Time/ABC News and Jackie Calmes, political reporter for The Wall Street Journal.

At the end of the conference, the Christopher J. Georges Award for Excellence in Student Journalism was presented to Yale Herald reporter Alex Hemmer and his editor, Laura Yao, for their story “National immigration politics take a local toll.” The Georges Award recognizes in-depth reporting on issues of enduring social value and demonstrates the human impact of public policy. For the first time, the competition was open not just to Harvard Crimson reporters, but to all student newspapers participating in the conference.

2008 I.F. Stone Medal Presentation & Workshop

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 11:57:24 GMT

The presentation of the first I.F. Stone Medal for Journalistic Independence will take place on October 7, 2008 at the Newseum in Washington, D.C. The winner of the 2008 award is John Walcott , Washington bureau chief of the McClatchy Co. (formerly Knight Ridder bureau chief in Washington).

Reporting Global Conflict
Uncovering the link between religion and human rights

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 11:56:47 GMT

In May 2008, the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard and the Harvard Divinity School co-hosted a conference investigating the links and tension between religion and human rights in global conflict and in global conflict reporting.

The participating scholars, leaders, advocates and journalists welcomed the opportunity to engage in a frank, constructive discussion of the roles religion, human rights legislation and the media each play in securing, protecting or violating human rights. The conference offered a rare chance to discuss the complexities of the issues involved, an opportunity deeply appreciated by those attending.

2006 Christopher Georges Conference On College Journalism

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 11:56:18 GMT

The third annual Christopher J. Georges Conference on College Journalism for editors and reporters at Ivy League and other campus newspapers.

2010 Christopher J. Georges Conference on College Journalism

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 11:55:57 GMT

The 2010 Christopher J. Georges Conference on College Journalism was held at Lippmann House, home of the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard, on April 16-17. More than 70 students from a dozen college newspapers participated in a series of talks and workshops led by award-winning journalists and news executives.

As in the past, students from The Harvard Crimson, under the direction of Crimson President Peter Zhu, co-sponsored the event. Thanks to all the volunteers who helped to make this gathering possible.

Making the Most of Your Local Advantage
A one-day seminar for Boston’s neighborhood and community reporters

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 11:54:40 GMT

For the community journalist, local news is more than just the latest new thing. It’s a job. This conference was built with the goal of aiding neighborhood, ethnic and cultural newspapers seeking to excel in local news coverage.

Freedom of the Press in Latin America

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 11:38:46 GMT

Leading Latin American journalists — including past and present Nieman Fellows — gathered at Harvard on Nov. 18 for a one-day conference that took a close look at press freedom in Latin America. The speakers discussed the difficult challenges many journalists face in their countries, including the killings of colleagues, abductions, intimidation, pressure from government officials or from powerful media moguls, and the absence of legal protection and press freedom laws. They also presented innovative solutions to some problems, including how online news magazines can make a difference.

This event was co-sponsored by the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy at HKSG, the David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies, and the Nieman Foundation for Journalism.

From Watergate to WikiLeaks: Secrecy and Journalism in the New Media Age

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 11:38:13 GMT

New York Times columnist Tom Wicker dies

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 12:42:10 GMT

Tom Wicker, NF ’58, a political columnist for The New York Times for 25 years, died Nov. 25 at the age of 85 at his home near Rochester, Vermont. The only Times reporter riding in the presidential motorcade in Dallas on November 22, 1963, Wicker covered the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. He was named chief of the Times Washington bureau the following year and started writing a political column in 1966. Read more »

The Inestimable Value of an Afghan Reporter

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 10:26:54 GMT

Waheed Abdul Wafa, NF ’11, was The New York Times’s longest-serving reporter in Afghanistan. Now he has left journalism to become executive director of the Afghanistan Center at Kabul University. The Times’s “At War” blog describes the vital roles he’s played in the Kabul bureau—translator, fixer, security consultant, cultural interpreter, bookkeeper and reporter on more than 300 stories. Read more »

Nieman Foundation to host Gay Talese, Chris Jones

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 09:28:58 GMT

Join the Nieman Foundation for Journalism and the Harvard Writers at Work Lecture Series for an afternoon with narrative journalism icon Gay Talese. Talese will join in conversation with Esquire magazine writer-at-large Chris Jones, two-time winner of the National Magazine Award. Talese, who has inspired and influenced countless journalists, is author of "Frank Sinatra Has A Cold," named the best Esquire story of all time. A book signing will follow the talk. Learn more »

Fri., Nov. 18, 2011, 2 – 3:30 p.m.
Fong Auditorium, Boylston Hall