By Francie Diep of The Chronicle of Higher Education for EWA
The COVID-19 pandemic “is the most significant crisis (higher
education) has faced, even going back to the late ‘60s, early
‘70s, and the Vietnam War protests,” said Carlos Santiago, the
Massachusetts commissioner of higher education and a 40-year
veteran of the sector.
Prom, graduation, the SAT. For decades, those three springtime
rites of passage have been important steps for American teens
marching toward adulthood.
But the coronavirus pandemic upended those traditions for the 3.7
million students in the high school class of 2020.
It’s hard enough these days for journalists to get the time,
resources and editorial support they need to pursue
ambitious projects. So when the story changes, or news, of,
say, a pandemic breaks, reporters may fear that their story and
hard work will be abandoned.
But reporters who build good rapport with their editors, stay
organized, and work out ways to incorporate new developments
into their stories can save and even elevate their projects,
according to teams of journalists from The Washington Post and
APM Reports.
By Brittany Britto of the Houston Chronicle for EWA
Police brutality, race and social justice have long been on the
syllabus for college professors who teach about ethnicity and
cultural issues. But now, incidents such as the killing of George
Floyd and protests against systemic racism have sparked much
broader interest in race and diversity issues, according to three
experts who spoke at the Education Writers Association’s 2020 Higher Education
Seminar.
By Billy Jean Louis of Charlottesville Tomorrow for EWA
Student activists are increasingly making news, tackling issues
such as campus racism, rising tuition and college administrators’
often arbitrary pandemic responses. But they often complain that
coverage of their activism can be shallow, cliched or even
biased.
By Eric Stirgus of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution for EWA
Mental health is an increasingly important issue on college
campuses, yet it is a topic that does not get enough coverage
from education reporters, speakers said during a panel discussion
on the topic during the Education Writers Association’s 2020
Higher Education
Seminar.
By Samantha Douty of the Victoria Advocate for EWA
COVID-19 will continue to be a major story topic for the 2020-21
school year, but reporters should also look at the future of
affirmative action and race on college campuses, according to
Inside Higher Ed’s Scott Jaschik.
Jaschik, veteran higher education journalist and editor, listed
his top 11 topics he thinks every higher education reporter
should be ready to cover.
Education is not typically an issue that comes to the forefront in presidential races.
But months of an ongoing coronavirus pandemic have elevated conversations about how schools and elected officials are tackling the issue. In fact, education took a front seat in high-stakes negotiations this summer over a federal stimulus bill that has stalled.
Hundreds of colleges are going test-optional. Fewer students are
filling out financial-aid forms. Everyone is staring down
unknowns.
The field of admissions has been turned upside down, Eric Hoover,
a senior writer at The Chronicle of Higher Education, said as he
kicked off a panel about college admissions and enrollment at the
Education Writers Association’s 2020 National Seminar.
By Elizabeth Miller of Oregon Public Broadcasting for EWA
Like college professors all over the country, Angela Echeverri had never taught completely online before — until this past spring.
As a science professor at Los Angeles Mission College, Echeverri and her colleagues had two weeks to transition thousands of courses to an online format.
“The amount of work was absolutely brutal. It required a huge amount of work over those two weeks,” Echeverri said during a higher education panel at EWA’s virtual seminar earlier this month.
In an effort to counteract the way COVID-19 is worsening many
educational inequities, government and educational leaders around
the country are trying a variety of interventions such as free
headphones, traffic light Wi-Fi, and more explicit teaching about
the realities of race relations.
Want to return to a college campus this fall? You’ll have to
strictly follow tough rules. Fail to wear a mask or follow other
strict safety requirements at Benedict College in Columbia, S.C.,
and “you will be excised from the community. You will be voted
off the island,” warned President
Roslyn Artis.
How COVID-19 Is Crushing Colleges’ Budgets
Experts offer story ideas on inequities, budget squeezes and college closures.
The COVID-19 pandemic “is the most significant crisis (higher education) has faced, even going back to the late ‘60s, early ‘70s, and the Vietnam War protests,” said Carlos Santiago, the Massachusetts commissioner of higher education and a 40-year veteran of the sector.
3 Surprising Ways COVID-19 Is Changing College Admissions And Tests
Experts offer new angles for reporters covering SAT, ACT and the test-optional movement.
Prom, graduation, the SAT. For decades, those three springtime rites of passage have been important steps for American teens marching toward adulthood.
But the coronavirus pandemic upended those traditions for the 3.7 million students in the high school class of 2020.
Investigative Reporters: What to Do When The Story Changes
Three strategies for piloting journalistic projects through news and change.
It’s hard enough these days for journalists to get the time, resources and editorial support they need to pursue ambitious projects. So when the story changes, or news, of, say, a pandemic breaks, reporters may fear that their story and hard work will be abandoned.
But reporters who build good rapport with their editors, stay organized, and work out ways to incorporate new developments into their stories can save and even elevate their projects, according to teams of journalists from The Washington Post and APM Reports.
How to Cover The Way Race and Racism Are Taught
Start your research by checking reading assignments, instructor pay, and student demographics
Police brutality, race and social justice have long been on the syllabus for college professors who teach about ethnicity and cultural issues. But now, incidents such as the killing of George Floyd and protests against systemic racism have sparked much broader interest in race and diversity issues, according to three experts who spoke at the Education Writers Association’s 2020 Higher Education Seminar.
Four Strategies for Covering Student Activism
Reporters should broaden source networks and avoid assumptions about "success."
Student activists are increasingly making news, tackling issues such as campus racism, rising tuition and college administrators’ often arbitrary pandemic responses. But they often complain that coverage of their activism can be shallow, cliched or even biased.
Colleges Struggle to Serve Mental Health Needs During COVID
One challenge: Differentiating between COVID anxiety and mental illness
Mental health is an increasingly important issue on college campuses, yet it is a topic that does not get enough coverage from education reporters, speakers said during a panel discussion on the topic during the Education Writers Association’s 2020 Higher Education Seminar.
The Top 11 Higher Ed Stories Likely to Make Headlines This Year
Inside Higher Ed's Scott Jaschik highlights COVID, Title IX, affirmative action and more
COVID-19 will continue to be a major story topic for the 2020-21 school year, but reporters should also look at the future of affirmative action and race on college campuses, according to Inside Higher Ed’s Scott Jaschik.
Jaschik, veteran higher education journalist and editor, listed his top 11 topics he thinks every higher education reporter should be ready to cover.
Education Surges to Top Tier of Presidential Race Amid Pandemic
Journalists offer insights, story ideas on covering the schools angle
Education is not typically an issue that comes to the forefront in presidential races.
But months of an ongoing coronavirus pandemic have elevated conversations about how schools and elected officials are tackling the issue. In fact, education took a front seat in high-stakes negotiations this summer over a federal stimulus bill that has stalled.
How the Pandemic Is Changing the World of College Admissions
Journalists should examine access, enrollment uncertainty
Hundreds of colleges are going test-optional. Fewer students are filling out financial-aid forms. Everyone is staring down unknowns.
The field of admissions has been turned upside down, Eric Hoover, a senior writer at The Chronicle of Higher Education, said as he kicked off a panel about college admissions and enrollment at the Education Writers Association’s 2020 National Seminar.
How Higher Ed Rushed Online — and What Colleges Have Learned Since
Hoping fully remote learning isn't the future, professors and students get creative for now
Like college professors all over the country, Angela Echeverri had never taught completely online before — until this past spring.
As a science professor at Los Angeles Mission College, Echeverri and her colleagues had two weeks to transition thousands of courses to an online format.
“The amount of work was absolutely brutal. It required a huge amount of work over those two weeks,” Echeverri said during a higher education panel at EWA’s virtual seminar earlier this month.
Schools Experiment to Allay the Inequitable Impact of COVID-19
Pandemic sparks calls for changes to technology, curriculum and funding.
In an effort to counteract the way COVID-19 is worsening many educational inequities, government and educational leaders around the country are trying a variety of interventions such as free headphones, traffic light Wi-Fi, and more explicit teaching about the realities of race relations.
What Will ‘Back to Campus’ Mean? Analyzing Universities’ Plans for Reopening This Fall
While many schools are online-only, those returning in person get tough
Want to return to a college campus this fall? You’ll have to strictly follow tough rules. Fail to wear a mask or follow other strict safety requirements at Benedict College in Columbia, S.C., and “you will be excised from the community. You will be voted off the island,” warned President Roslyn Artis.