CNN journalist Josh Levs meets with Randolph students

“Journalism can now take place anywhere, any time, and even when others try to prevent it,”
CNN reporter Josh Levs recently told Randolph College students. But as modern technology allows almost anyone to become a journalist, the world actually has a greater need for professional journalists, he said.

Levs explained that professional journalists can bring fact checking, analysis, and ethical understanding to help people understand what is happening in the world.

Levs stressed that the important stories of our time are not the ones that dominate headlines, such as conflicts and political moves. “The story of our time is what is going on in science and technology,” said Levs. New technologies allow people to communicate with people around the world, including parts of the world that once were unreachable. One cell phone video posted online can be seen by millions of viewers and encourage people to take action.

Although many people can become the source of information, professional reporters can help consumers make sense about what they are seeing and hearing. “Journalists need to be the reality check,” said Levs. “Explanations are essential.”

Journalists also need to find ethical answers to questions about privacy. In a world where it is possible to capture people on film without their knowledge, journalists must decide what will be conveyed to audiences and what is an invasion of privacy. “You have to fight for what is right in this era of unlimited information,” he said.

Levs, who has earned nicknames such as “Truth Seeker in Chief” and “Mr. Reality” in his reporting career, came to Randolph as a guest of the communication studies department, which offers a multimedia journalism minor.

Randolph hosts CNN reporter for "The New Era of Journalism"

Josh Levs has earned nicknames such as “Truth Seeker in Chief,” “Mr. Reality,” and “Senior Everything Correspondent” thanks to his undying work ethic and his innovative approach to journalism. On Thursday, he will talk with Randolph students about how to approach journalism today.

Levs will present “The New Era of Journalism” at 7 p.m. Thursday in Nichols Theatre in the Randolph College Student Center. He will address the challenges of reporting in the multimedia journalism age, when news can be written, shared, and commented on by anyone on a blog or on social media websites. Levs is well known for his own savvy use of social media to collect and share news.

 

“Josh’s talk will be particularly interesting to students because he is keenly aware of the changes in journalism with the rise of new media,” said Jennifer Gauthier, a communication studies professor. “I want students to really think about how they can help create positive change in the world through new media forms. Josh has done just that. He will be an excellent role model for ethical engagement in the world using new media technologies.”

 

In his years of working for National Public Radio and CNN, Levs has collected many high honors in journalism, including five Peabody Awards and two Edward R. Murrow Awards. A scholarship in his name is awarded at Yale, his alma mater.

 

The event is free and open to the public.

Multimedia journalists visit campus this weekend

Two well-known multimedia journalists will visit Randolph College this weekend to teach students about the craft of online storytelling and hold a public discussion of their work.

Brad Horn, a videographer at the Washington Post, and his wife, Coburn Dukehart, the picture and multimedia editor for NPR.org, will present “Changing the World One Story at a Time” at 2 p.m. Sunday in Martin 315.

Sponsored by the Driver Lecture Series, the event offers students a valuable opportunity for students interested in journalism, said Jennifer Gauthier, a communication studies professor.

“This is the main goal of the Driver program—to give students the opportunity to interact with professionals in the film and video field, see what careers are out there, and get practical advice on breaking into the business,” Gauthier said. “Other students will certainly learn from the passion of our guests to change the world using their talents, which is what we encourage all Randolph students to do.”

For the public lecture, the Horn and Dukehart will show and discuss some of their work. Horn has worked on projects such as a short documentary about the struggles small farmers face in getting their fruits and vegetables to consumers, and a recent production marking the 10 years since the arrest of two snipers who had terrorized the Washington, D.C., area. Dukehart has worked on multimedia projects such as a story about soldiers dealing with traumatic brain injury and a profile of a composer in a desert monastery.

Earlier in the day, students interested in journalism will attend a workshop and actually film and edit a story with the presenters. This type of experience strengthens the college’s multimedia journalism minor, which was added to the curriculum last year. “This initiative was designed to meet the interests of students in journalism and prepare them for the changing world of journalism, so they have the skills they need to compete when they graduate,” Gauthier said. “It is a unique program for a liberal arts college because it pairs the history and theory of media with practical skills.”

The Sara Driver ’77 Digital Filmmaking Course and Lecture Series was funded by Martha (Lou) Miller Driver ’50 in honor of her daughter, an alumna who is renowned in the independent film industry.