New study w/ Ayse Lokmanoglu, Christopher Dobmeier, and Nathan Walter in @jmcquarterly.bsky.social. We asked U.S. adults what "news" means to them and found six distinct schemas--including one built almost entirely on negative feelings, not topics or outlets. @medillschool.bsky.social

The Meanings of News: How U.S. Adults Think About the Word “News” - Stephanie Edgerly, Ayse D. Lokmanoglu, Christopher M. Dobmeier, Nathan Walter, 2026

This study explores the immediate, top-of-mind meanings audiences hold about “news.” Inspired by recent audience-centric approaches in defining news, we adopt a...

journals.sagepub.com

📺 Tomas Moran (BSJ28) is interning at CNN's Washington, D.C. bureau. "Depending on the day, I could be a segment producer, digital editor, researcher or all of the above. I also have the incredible opportunity of shadowing reporters in the field, including Capitol Hill and the White House." 🏛️

That last day of class feeling! 🥳 MSJ students recently wrapped up their Hosting & Producing Lifestyle Content course with Adjunct Lecturer Cortney Hall. Students spent five weeks learning how to produce and host a lifestyle segment to add to their reel. 🎥

Full Episode here: localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...

Isabel Papp (BSJ28) is spending her summer as a news intern at NBC Tower Chicago. "I’m privileged beyond words to have received mentorship from the team at NBC Chicago and Telemundo and I can’t wait to see what the rest of the summer holds!" 🎥

Very happy to be able to spread some good news about #Yemen. Thank you @buffett.northwestern.edu for this support: buffett.northwestern.edu/news/2026/bu...

Buffett Q&A: The Yemeni Women Fighting to Preserve Their Heritage with Brent Huffman, Buffett Faculty Fellow: Buffett Institute for Global Affairs - Northwestern University

For this installment of our Buffett Q&A series profiling faculty and students in the Roberta Buffett Institute community, we spoke with Brent Huffman, Professor and Director of Documentary Journalism ...

buffett.northwestern.edu

What happens when local news includes communities behind prison walls? A new LNI story explores the growing movement of journalism in prisons — from the Prison Journalism Project to newspapers run by incarcerated women in Oklahoma. Read more: localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...

Journalism Behind Bars

Yukari Kane co-founded the Prison Journalism Project in 2020 with a clear goal in mind: to not only shed light on the experiences of incarcerated people across the country but empower them with the wr...

localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu

Congrats to Shannon Shaw Duty for being awarded with the 2026 IJA-Medill Milestone Achievement Award! “Shannon’s body of work and commitment to Indigenous storytelling has been crucial in elevating the Osage Nation,” said Dean Charles Whitaker. More: spr.ly/63329B1OVqv

"When a people's history is destroyed, a fundamental part of their identity is lost with it," said Buffett Faculty Fellow & filmmaker @brenthuffman.bsky.social. He's following Yemeni women protecting their heritage from war, climate change, & looting. 🎥 or 📖: buffett.northwestern.edu/news/2026/bu...

Full episode: localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...

Check out these all-star journalists! 🏀🌟 Medill students Alex Strizek (MSJ26), Lucy Roberts (MSJ26) and Sydney Meyer (MSJ26) recently covered WNBA All-Star Weekend festivities at the United Center and the Obama Presidential Center.

At a time when many are retrenching, The Post and Courier Publisher P.J. Browning is expanding, adding nine newsrooms in South Carolina, creating collaborations with local news outlets on investigative projects & launching a robust events series. localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...

Charleston CEO P.J. Browning is Investing and Growing the Post & Courier While Many Other Local News Outlets Retrench

In the seventh episode of the State of Local News Podcast, host Tim Franklin—Professor, John M. Mutz Chair in Local News, and founding director of the Medill Local News Initiative—speaks with P.J. Bro...

localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu

Applications for Medill's Master of Science in Journalism and Integrated marketing Communications Full-Time programs beginning in fall 2027 are now open! 🎓 🔗 Learn more and apply here: spr.ly/63326BE7OX4

Wildcats at work: Alexander Hernandez Gonzalez (BSJ27) 🎬 As an editorial intern at L'OFFICIEL USA, Hernandez Gonzalez (BSJ27) is spending his summer writing news stories and reviews surrounding the topics of fashion, film, music and more. 🎶

People can visit Illinois’ only International Dark Sky Park at Middle Fork Forest Preserve in Champaign County. Julia Levy reports for @medillschool.bsky.social. buff.ly/rEEwhGi

‘Surreal’: Illinois’ only International Dark Sky Place attracts tourists worldwide

Illinois’ only International Dark Sky Place is drawing visitors worldwide while lawmakers work to reduce light pollution.

capitolnewsillinois.com

Congrats to Melissa Dai (BSJ26) whose investigative story won a MOEy Best in Show Award from the Society of Professional Journalists! 🏆 📰Read her story: spr.ly/63328BEZTX6

Calling all Research MA and PhD alumni! 📣 Join the SJMC in New Orleans on August 7 for a joint AEJMC reception with @medillschool.bsky.social, the Universities of Iowa and Minnesota. Learn more and RSVP today: www.eventbrite.com/e/iowa-minne...

From Northwestern News Network to CNN! 📺 Medill students and CNN interns Victoria Ryan (BSJ27) and Tomas Moran (BSJ28) reconnected with recent alums and news associates Kendall Wright (BSJ25), Jonas Kalderon Blum (BSJ26) and Logan Schiciano (BSJ25) at the Washington, D.C. bureau.

Making of A Nation. Jon Marshall, @medillschool.bsky.social — “Clash: Presidents & the Press in Times of Crisis” Georgia Fort, Founder, BLCK Press & Center for Broadcast Journalism — Keynote by the journalist whose reporting has placed her at center of national convo on press freedom.

JUST ONE WEEK AWAY! We are nearing a full house! "America @ 250: A Journalism Reckoning!" Making of a Nation. Unmaking of a Narrative. Who Gets to Tell the Story? 📅 July 16, 2026 🕕 6–9pm 📍 Impact House, 200 W Madison St., 2nd Floor, Chicago forms.cloud.microsoft/r/EDCzq639gB

Con artists posing as ICE agents and immigration officers are using WhatsApp and fake court hearings to cheat vulnerable people out of their savings. Watch @medillschool.bsky.social's Naisha Roy — whose own parents have been targeted by similar scams — break down a victim’s story: propub.li/3SxDByd

"AI is the next hill to climb." Jim Friedlich, CEO of the Lenfest Institute for Journalism, joins Tim Franklin to discuss AI, nonprofit news, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and building sustainable local journalism. Watch/listen to the full episode: localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...

Lenfest Institute CEO Jim Friedlich on What’s Working in Local News: Beneficial Ownership Combined with Strong User Revenues

In the sixth episode of the State of Local News Podcast, host Tim Franklin—Professor, John M. Mutz Chair in Local News, and founding director of the Medill Local News Initiative—speaks with Jim Friedl...

localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu

Medill’s Data-Driven Reporting Project will give journalists in eight U.S. states and two Canadian provinces up to $40,000 each, plus technical training and editing support, to produce accountability journalism serving local communities. Read more here: spr.ly/63323BEDlxH

Direct communication creates real relationships. Full Episode: localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...

A new law took effect Wednesday, July 1, that expanded the definition of cyberbullying to include AI-generated images. Naomi Taxay reports for @medillschool.bsky.social.

Illinois schools grapple with AI cyberbullying, deepfakes as new law takes effect

Illinois schools are updating policies as a new law expands cyberbullying to include AI-generated deepfakes.

buff.ly

Congratulations to alumna Mara Brock Akil (BSJ92) for the success of 'Forever,' a @netflix.com show she created which recently won a Peabody Award! 🏆 An adaptation of Judy Blume’s 1975 novel, the show depicts two charming teens navigating love and life in Black middle class Los Angeles. 📺

Congratulations to alumna @katpham.bsky.social (BSJ24) for receiving the 2026 AAJA-Medill Innovator Award! Pham is an award-winning multimedia storyteller currently working at @chicagoreader.com. Read more about her work here: spr.ly/63328BD0FhA

📢 Join our team! The Medill Local News Initiative is expanding the State of Local News Project and seeking a Researcher to study local news access across the Midwest. Learn more & apply: careers.northwestern.edu/psc/hrnu_er/...

Local News KILLS Partisanship & Builds Trust! Full Episode: localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...

Even though Illinois farmers are producing massive harvests, family bankruptcies have surged. Rising land rent, trade uncertainty and farm debt are squeezing margins causing Illinois farmers to face a fragile future. Tara Sun reports for @medillschool.bsky.social. buff.ly/jgrKFYV

‘A real farm crisis’: Illinois farm bankruptcies rise for 3rd straight year

Illinois farm bankruptcies climb for a third year as debt, low crop prices and trade pressures mount.

capitolnewsillinois.com