Midge Carter

October 17
SPJ Symposium Overview

Does truth matter? Does justice matter? Does fairness matter?

These are the questions professor and journalist Jiafei Yin asked the audience of last nights

International Risks and Rewards Symposium.

The CMU chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) held the symposium to

question what the purpose and practice of fair news is. The evening was spent discussing the risks

of international journalism, and the role of the media both locally and abroad.

Panelists for the event included Yin and her fellow journalist Elina Erzikova, political

science professor Won Paik, and U.S. veteran and current CMU student Nathan Clark. Senior

Megan Pacer moderated the event.

The audience listened as panelists shared personal stories from reporting over seas, thoughts

on fake news and responded to audience questions.

One of the most impactful moments was when Elina Erzikova showed pictures of her

friends reporting in war time, said CMU senior, Laura Ducharme. Seeing images of reporters and

then hearing they were killed changed my opinion of how dangerous being a journalist is.

Erzikova, who emigrated from Russia as a child, argued for a journalists responsibility to

inform citizens of international events without bias. During the symposium, she implored students

to use journalism to enact change.

The more honest we are in our coverage of war, the more chances that people will start

thinking, and maybe not start another war, Erzikova said.

Yin, the interim chair for CMUs journalism department, asked students to thoroughly

research what they read and write. She spoke to the global effect of sloppy journalism, emphasizing
the effect of news on thought processes. Yin advocated for international journalism to start from the

ground up.

Once you get to know people and make connections, theyre loyal and theyll let you know

what is safe and what is not, said Yin. Know the background and know the culture. Be

respectful.

The evening closed with snacks and casual conversation between students and panelists.

It was a great night, said SPJ President Zahra Ahmed. Im hopeful this will inspire

journalism students to be more conscious of global events. No matter the risks we take to deliver the

news, at the end of the day our sanity is granted knowing the world has been informed, and that in

itself is the ultimate reward.

The SPJ has begun planning next semesters symposium, with the topic to be announced.