“We have the best of times and the worst of times in journalism, because readership is at historic highs, and you really can see it during the pandemic,” said Joe Stephens, former staff writer for the Washington Post and the founding director of Princeton University’s Program in Journalism. “At the same time, the economic model is completely falling apart, and it’s been falling apart for decades, actually, and accelerating as we go along.”
Stephens was interviewed by Logan Sander ’18, co-founder of Midstory, on the MidPoint video podcast. They discussed the current state of journalism and how COVID-19 was thrusting change upon the industry. “Local and regional papers are really struggling at a time when they’re needed the most,” Stephens said. “How do you know where to go if you need to be tested? You need to rely on the local media. It’s the only place to go to get reliable, verified, independent information. And yet, some of those local papers have already closed.”
To watch the entire conversation, visit the Midstory site.
Princeton Faculty Members Send Greetings As Classes Go Virtual
No one has all the answers about what comes next, not even Princeton faculty. But as Princeton shifted to virtual learning during the COVID-19 outbreak, professors from across disciplines sent warm video reassurance that their mission remained the same, and that Princeton is wherever you are.
Writing in the time of coronavirus: John McPhee’s legendary course goes virtual
After 45 years of teaching his legendary “Creative Nonfiction” course on campus, Professor John McPhee, the Ferris Professor of Journalism in Residence and a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, has started teaching his class remotely. Read more …
University president uses medical degree to help inform university COVID-19 response
University of Michigan President Mark Schlissel ’79 ran an immunobiology lab for 20 years and is a board-certified internist. That background helped him see the potential scale of the pandemic, and to make decisions about students overseas and in-person instruction, sooner than he might have otherwise. He was also better equipped to communicate with experts through that process.
Read more about how he and other university presidents responded here.