Author: UConn Journalism

Parent Redux

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Last year, UConn Journalism major Katie Servas interviewed her dad on her WHUS radio show, and this time, it was her mother's turn.
The theme of the episode of Kas's Kaleidoscopic Collection was cover songs, and Katie and Nicole Servas debated whether some covers, like Kevin Olusola's cello-driven version of "True Colors," was better than the original.

“These United States”

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See retired UConn Journalism Prof. Steven G. Smith's amazing photos from across the United States in the latest edition of UConn Magazine. Here's the cover photo he made called, "The British are Coming," of an exhausted reenactor who had been marking the 250th anniversary of the battle of Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts on April 19, 2025.

As a 2025 Andrew Carnegie fellow, Smith has traveled to 42 states for his project, "These United States." He is hoping to capture the humanity and diversity of Americans in the project,.

‘Balance of Power’ wins Provost’s Award

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Associate Prof. Amanda J. Crawford and a group of her students have received a Provost's Award for their comprehensive journalism project, “The Balance of Power: Trump’s Second Term and Connecticut.” The project produced news stories on immigration, executive power, education and the effects of President Donald J. Trump's actions on communities in Connecticut. Their articles were published by major news sources, including CT Community News,  The Hartford Courant, CT Examiner, WSHU Public Radio and Connecticut Public.

Prof. Crawford and her student Christi Thrower, at center and right, received the award from Christopher Ciarcia, UConn's associate director of outreach and engagement.

Seek change, not awards

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In a visit to Prof. Scott Wallace's Global Press Freedom class on Oct. 6, renowned Bangladeshi photojournalist and activist Dr. Shahidul Alam urged the students to work for a better world rather than pursuing individual honors. Prof. Wallace will once again be teaching the course, which is cross-listed with Human Rights, in the Spring 2027 semester.

Representing UConn in Columbus

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At the national Society of Professioal Journalists conference in Columbus on Oct. 2, Prof. Kate Farrish described the work of the Connecticut Student Journalism Collaborative at a session on academic and newsroom partnerships.

With support from Richard Watts, the founder of the Center for Community News in Vermont, she and professors from around the state co-founded the collaborative in 2023 to see the best student journalism produced in their classes published professionally. It is now a nonprofit that publishes student work at CT Community News on Substack. A number of news outlets in the state, including Connecticut Public, the Connecticut Mirror and the Hartford Courant, regularly republish many of the students' stories.

Photo by Cliff Anthony

JCrumb – UConn’s Newest Big Shot on Campus

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Read all about JCrumb, the newest celebrity at UConn, and he doesn't play basketball.

Thaddeus Sawyer's story and photos are the latest to be published at CT Community News as part of the Connecticut Student Journalism Collaborative. It was founded in 2023 by professors Marie Shanahan, Julie Serkosky, Kate Farrish, Harriet Jones and journalism professors around the state to see their best work published. The collaborative is now a non-profit that accepts donations to keep publishing the strong journalism of students like Thaddeus. You can read the full story here.

UConn Journalism grads and FOI

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The UConn Journalism Department was well-represented by four grads at the state Freedom of Information Commission’s FOI conference on Sept. 25. Prof. Kate Farrish welcomed the crowd of 230 people on behalf of the Connecticut Foundation for Open Government. Mike Savino, the political reporter at NBC Connecticut and a CFOG board member, gave the keynote address on how he has used the FOI Act to tell compelling stories, and Russell Blair, the commission’s director of education and communications, was an able master of ceremonies. Prof. Marie K. Shanahan also attended the conference.

Off and Running

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The student chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists is off to a great start after its first meeting of the semester. They're planning networking events with our alumni and other journalists this fall led by President Katie Servas, Vice President Mikayla Bunnell, Treasurer Samantha Brody and Social Media Chair Maleena Muzio.

Photo by Maleena Muzio