By Sara Bedigian, UConn Journalism

The UConn Society of Professional Journalists had a successful academic year! Led by President Sara Bedigian, Vice President Daniel Stark, Social Media Chair Katie Servas and Treasurer Mikayla Bunnell, the chapter hosted nine networking events across different fields of journalism and expanded outreach throughout campus by bringing in more journalism students.

Fall 2025 was focused on hosting events about different modes of storytelling. To kick off the year, the chapter hosted a Radio Night, in collaboration with UConn’s student radio WHUS and guest speaker Robyn Doyon-Aitken from CT Public about how to begin a career in radio and audio journalism. Sports Night in October brought in Adam Giardino and Dom Amore, two prominent Connecticut sport journalists who talked about their respective careers in print and broadcast sports journalism and covering the prominently successful UConn basketball teams. A photography workshop in November brought in Sarah Gordon, multimedia journalist and photographer at The Day in New London, who talked about her career in photography and multimedia, allowing students to ask questions about her work and how to begin a career in the field. SPJ executives also attended Media Fest ‘25 in Washington D.C. to represent the journalism department on a national stage.

Spring 2026 was focused on an alumni speakers series in collaboration with the UConn Journalism Department, where students enjoyed learning how someone who graduated with the same degree got to where they are today. The chapter’s first event in February 2026 welcomed Diego Cupolo, a 2006 UConn journalism alum and freelance foreign correspondent. Several students attended to learn about Cupolo’s experiences reporting around the world as an international journalist, before relocating to Turkey and starting his own newsletter.

In February, the chapter hosted its annual resume workshop with department head Marie Shanahan. This event allowed students to learn about how to craft a journalism resume to appeal to employers and editors in the industry.

The chapter collaborated with Connecticut Foundation for Open Government and the UConn Journalism and Political Science departments to host Katie Sanders, the editor-in-chief of PolitiFact in April. This conversation was centered around fact checking, AI and what to expect in the upcoming election year. Many chapter members attended the event and asked questions during the discussion that revolved around FOI and First Amendment protections.

To end off the alumni speaker series, the chapter hosted multimedia editor and graphics journalist Charlie Smart, who discussed his career and experiences traveling globally to report stories at the New York Times. At the department’s annual scholarship night, the chapter helped host Jackie Wattles, the space and science reporter at CNN who talked about her career in science journalism after she graduated from the department in 2014.

At the start and end of each semester, the chapter hosted mixer events for members where they could meet other students in the major and related fields and learn about how to get involved in student media on campus.

To keep up with the chapter, follow it on instagram @UConn.spj.