News Reporting
Career Inspiration Can Come from Anywhere
By: Jash Patel
July 10, 2025
News Reporting
Students and adults at Indiana University shared what inspired them to choose their jobs or future careers. Several people from diverse backgrounds talked about what brought them to the career paths they are on today.
“It was just timing. He needed someone and I was available,” said Eddie Blann.
Blann said his current job choice came from convenience and necessity to take care of his family rather than personal interest. He needed a job when he moved back to Indiana to care for his sister. Bruce, the owner of a real estate company, offered him one. Blann now works as head of maintenance for Bruce Storm Real Estate.
“I always had an upward trajectory at my work. Due to that upward trajectory, I was able to get …
Read More »
Social Change through Sports
By: Coles Brown
News Reporting and Writing
Dr. Brandon Wallace, an assistant professor of cinema and media studies at Indiana University, spoke to students at the university’s High School Journalism Institute (HSJI) on July 8, summarizing his research on the intersection of sport, race and social activism. He described his mission as an effort to “unleash the emancipatory power of sport to create positive social change”—a message he feels is essential to pass on to the next generation.
Many HSJI participants—a group of high school students spending a week exploring different aspects of journalism—jotted down notes as Wallace spoke, planning articles based on his lecture. Despite the crowd’s attention, Wallace’s demeanor remained calm and conversational, and he frequently drew laughs with his casual tone and storytelling style.
Wallace began by sharing his childhood experiences, including the …
Read More »
The Power of the Pen For a Young Creative Mind
(Lawer is depicted on the left in the black glasses)
“Because I’m not good at communicating my feelings through words, I do it through art,” said Addison Lawler, a junior at Sun Valley High School in Aston, Pennsylvania.
Lawler uses art as a form of self-expression. One of her pieces, The Rabbit Hole of Mental Health, is a multipart work that reflects her emotional state throughout the year. However, despite her love for the creative process, Lawler doesn’t plan to pursue art professionally.
She believes the art world can be overly competitive and biased, making it difficult for young artists to feel accepted.
“In my ideal world, the art world would be more open and supportive,” she said.
Lawler sees similar bias present in journalism, but rather than discourage her, it has inspired her to …
Read More »
Dr. Brandon Wallace Encourages Students to Examine the Intersection of Race, Sports, and Society
News Reporting
7/9/25
On July 8, 2025, Dr. Brandon Wallace, a first-year assistant professor in cinema and media studies at the Indiana University Media School, spoke to aspiring journalists at the High School Journalism Institute (HSJI) in Ernie Pyle Hall. Wallace’s lecture encouraged students to critically examine the connection between sports, race, and society.
Wallace’s academic journey has long explored this intersection. He earned his master’s degree in 2017 and completed his Ph.D. in 2024 through the Physical Cultural Studies program in the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Maryland. Before that, he received his bachelor’s degree in sociology and sports communication from Bradley University.
Speaking to a room of students passionate about media and journalism, Wallace shared how sports serve as a powerful reflection—and amplifier—of cultural and political dynamics.
“I use my method …
Read More »
IU Grad Kevin Vera on the Passion and Purpose in Journalism
Growing up in St. Louis, Missouri, Kevin Vera would gravitate towards cameras and mimic the speech of a broadcaster with the dream of one day pursuing a career related to his interests.
“My mom would tell a joke that I would never stop talking. I’d go on little spiels about whatever I was thinking and was passionate about,” Vera said.
Vera, originally from Topeka, Kansas, lived in various states throughout his childhood. But no matter where he went, his love for journalism followed. Vera’s passion would lead him to graduate from IU Bloomington in 2025 with a major in Sports Media. He reflects on how his experiences at IU have strengthened his commitment to journalism.
During the winter of his freshman year, Vera took on the role of student broadcaster for IU’s student radio club called WIUX 99.1. From broadcasting sports games to …
Read More »
Students at IU’s Campus Speak on the Impact of Social Media
During the summer, students from across the United States visit Indiana University in Bloomington to attend lectures, conferences and internships. As they walk to their destinations, many are seen staring down at their cellphones—usually scrolling through social media.
According to research by the University of Maine, there are approximately 4.8 billion social media users worldwide. On average, people spend two hours and 24 minutes on these platforms each day. Social media allows individuals to create and share content while interacting with others in a fast-paced, internet-based environment.
With digital platforms becoming a dominant force in everyday life, students from both high school and IU reflected on the impact social media has had on them—sharing personal stories that highlight both the positives and the negatives of the technology.
“I think the connection aspect of social media …
Read More »
Vinyl Records Still Selling After Decades
Landlocked Music, Bloomington Indiana
Vinyl records have been prevalent for nearly a century, persevering through countless other cultural changes. The streets around Indiana University’s Bloomington campus are filled with numerous record stores. In the digital age, streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music tend to be quite popular. However, the stores that sell vinyls and other forms of physical media are still able to remain relevant and keep their doors open.
Ashley Chandler, owner of Rewind Records, believes young people have begun to get more interested in buying physical media.
“Over the last decade, I’ve seen more and more people buying vinyl,” said Chandler. “The youth is getting more and more into it.”
Chandler also sees college students using vinyls to decorate their spaces, because they enjoy the aesthetic appeal of the objects.
Ella Meador, a junior at Indiana University, also agrees with …
Read More »
How modern day capitalism is more prominent in modern day sports
By: Alessia Korvessis
Date: July 9, 2025
News reporting
Commercials, advertising, and brand-sponsored athletes have become prominent in modern sports culture. These practices have also seeped into nearly every other corporate industry.
Brandon Wallace, an assistant professor of cinema and media studies at Indiana University, gave a lecture to High School Journalism Institute students about how capitalism is becoming increasingly dominant in the world—especially in sports.
Many major brands sponsor players or teams to advertise their products.
“A lot of these mainstream corporations like Nike have these partnerships, right, where somehow social movements and capitalism—as usual—have merged,” Wallace said.
Companies such as Coca-Cola, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Gatorade and Red Bull sponsor teams and events, with their logos and advertisements often front and center. Wallace discussed how these companies are often more focused on profits than on the …
Read More »
Brandon Wallace on the overlap of Sports and Politics
The first time Brandon Wallace saw the intersection of sports, society and politics was during his childhood in Wisconsin, when his white friends theorized that Black people had an extra muscle in their leg—believing that explained why they were “naturally” better at sports. Eventually, they asked Wallace, who is biracial, if he had an extra muscle in just one of his legs.
That early moment would foreshadow the focus of his career. On July 8, 2025, Wallace, an assistant professor of cinema and media studies at Indiana University, delivered a lecture to students in the High School Journalism Institute about the deep connection between sports and politics. He explained how sports can serve both as a platform for activism and as a tool for those in power to promote certain ideas.
Wallace believes that sport is …
Read More »
Confronting Social Injustice
By Zoe Rea
Jul. 7 2025
News Reporting
Despite progress toward equity and equality, social injustice continues to silence voices and divide communities. Everyone has the right to speak up about their passions. Popular topics include ICE deportations, the bombing of Iran, and unequal pay for women.
“It’s the big ugly bill,” said Bo Henry.
Bo Henry and his wife, Sheila Henry, believe the Big and Beautiful Bill will have a significant impact on Indiana University and the Bloomington community. The Henrys believe voters can change the world if they are determined to act. They spoke about how voting has evolved over the course of their lives—and how it has become more difficult in some cases.
Katie, a local nurse practitioner and mother of four, spoke about maternity leave and its effect on working families in the United …
Read More »