Students claim top honors in January Hearst competitions

By Austin Fitzgerald Two Missouri School of Journalism seniors earned top finishes in the Hearst Journalism Awards’ Television I – Features competition in January, giving Mizzou an early lead in the overall Intercollegiate Broadcast Competition. Students also finished in the top 10 and top 15 in other Hearst competitions this month, rounding out a strong … Continued

Inside the business of obituaries in weekly newspapers

Study shows that paid obits bring in little income but are nearly universal By Hannah Artman and Nick Mathews Hannah Artman is a post-doctoral research fellow in local news at the Missouri School of Journalism. Nick Mathews is an assistant professor at the Missouri School of Journalism who specializes in local news and the economics … Continued

Watchdog Writers Group fellow Alec MacGillis shares advice on investigative reporting and how to hold the powerful accountable

The ProPublica reporter discussed his long career in news and investigative reporting, how he builds narratives, finds sources, and draws connections between the different levels of society By Maggie LeBeau Early in his career, newspaper reporter Alec MacGillis took a 33% pay cut and left his job at The Washington Post to tell hard-hitting narrative … Continued

Missouri School of Journalism alum Aaron Ladd joins KOMU as new sports director

By Austin Fitzgerald COLUMBIA, Mo. (Jan. 13, 2026) — Aaron Ladd, BJ ’18, has a talent for language, even if that talent earned him reproaches in grade school for “talking too much.” Take, for example, the way he describes his less-than-prodigious talents in sports as a youngster: “I always had the cleanest jersey after every … Continued

Applications open for Method M Film Fund, with grants up to $100,000 for documentary projects from Murray Center graduates

By Austin Fitzgerald COLUMBIA, Mo. (Jan. 8, 2026) — The Murray Center for Documentary Journalism has launched the first-of-its-kind Method M Film Fund, which offers grants of as much as $100,000 to Murray Center alumni working in top-line roles on documentary film productions. Applications close on Jan. 21, and grant recipients will be announced in … Continued

2025: The year in review

By Austin Fitzgerald COLUMBIA, Mo. (Dec. 23, 2025) — 2025 at the Missouri School of Journalism saw the world’s first and finest journalism school excel in the realms of community reporting, impactful research and the Missouri Method of hands-on learning. “The Missouri Method continues to be the gold standard for preparing students for success in … Continued

‘It doesn’t get better than that’: How Mizzou helped Madyson Carruth find her audience

A first-generation transfer student readied herself for a career in social media and audience engagement, all thanks to the Missouri School of Journalism By Cary Littlejohn Contact: Cary Littlejohn, carylittlejohn@missouri.eduPhoto by Habi Mugisha Madyson Carruth didn’t fully appreciate just how powerful a degree from the famed University of Missouri School of Journalism was until she stepped away from … Continued

MOJO Ad students unveil campaigns for Bath & Body Works

Bath and Body Works’s Chief Marketing Officer Jaime Sohosky takes notes during Team Aletheia’s presentation. By Austin FitzgeraldPhotos by Nate Brown COLUMBIA, Mo. (Dec. 11, 2025) — On Wednesday, Dec. 10, strategic communication students in MOJO Ad — the Missouri School of Journalism’s student-staffed agency — presented their advertising campaigns for Bath & Body Works, … Continued

Watchdog Writers Group Fellow Molly O’Toole on narrative storytelling

At a workshop for Missouri School of Journalism students, the fellow with the Watchdog Writers Group shared lessons from her career By Maggie LeBeau COLUMBIA, Mo. (Dec. 11, 2025) — Molly O’Toole says immigration is “the best damn beat in journalism.” O’Toole, a Pulitzer Prize winner and fellow with the Watchdog Writers Group (WWG) — … Continued