St. John's University Students Engage with United Nations Journalists on Storytelling and Misinformation Challenges

A virtual conference held at St. John's University on September 22 brought together students and United Nations (UN) 2025 Reham Al-Farra Memorial Journalism Fellowship members, including journalists from Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and South America, to discuss the role of journalists in regions with limited press freedoms and the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the industry. The panel discussion, led by Associate Professor and Director of the Journalism program at The Lesley H. and William L. Collins College of Professional Studies, Michael A. Rizzo '89MBA, focused on the challenges and opportunities facing modern journalists.

Key Takeaways:

• The 18 UN fellows, ranging in age from 22 to 35, shared insights with about 50 St. John's students on the importance of storytelling in their work, with contributors like Paula Medina from El Pais (The Country) discussing the role of journalists in sparking public interest in social issues.
• The journalists emphasized the need for multiplatform storytelling, producing audio, photographic, visual, and written content for nontraditional audiences, with Hellen Shikanda from Nation Media Group in Kenya advising students to adapt to emerging platforms and learn beyond traditional journalism.
• The UN fellowships offer journalists an opportunity to report on events at the UN for several weeks, enhancing the quality of journalism in their home countries; since the program's founding in 1981, the fellowship has recognized over 670 journalists from 168 countries.
• The panelists warned of the dangers of misinformation through social media platforms, citing the spread of fake news by influencers and the potential for AI to compromise journalistic skills and perpetuate biases embedded in algorithms.
• Aspiring journalists were advised to stay curious, learn emerging platforms, and focus on engaging with their audience; the journalists emphasized the importance of fact checking and being pedagogical about research methods.

Statistics:

• The UN fellowships have recognized over 670 journalists from 168 countries since the program's founding in 1981.
• The 2025 Reham Al-Farra Memorial Journalism Fellowship has hosted over 18 UN journalists, ranging in age from 22 to 35, who have participated in virtual conferences with St. John's University students.
• The journalists shared insights with about 50 St. John's students, highlighting the importance of discussing current issues and challenges in the industry with new generations of journalists.

Sources:

• St. John's University (2022, September 22). United Nations Journalists Discuss Storytelling and Misinformation Challenges with St. John's Students.
• United Nations (2022, September 22). Reham Al-Farra Memorial Journalism Fellowship.
• The Lesley H. and William L. Collins College of Professional Studies, St. John's University.