Members of the alumni community recently returned to campus to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Yale Journalism Initiative (YJI), established in 2001 to instruct, guide, and support Yale students pursuing careers in journalism and reporting.
The milestone event, held at Sterling Memorial Library, encompassed a series of panels and discussions with alumni speakers representing a gamut of different news organizations, from regional publications like The Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express-News to nonprofit, investigative organs like ProPublica to major media outlets like The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and The Economist.
According to Haley Cohen Gilliland ’11, who directs the YJI and, during her undergraduate student days, was a Yale Journalism Initiative Scholar, the enduring legacy of the program has been, and continues to be, the societal impact of alumni.
“Quite a few alumni have gone on to win Pulitzers and change policy with their reporting,” she said. “But beyond the accolades and prestige of the publications where alumni have landed, what truly reflects the program’s success is that so many of them continue to dedicate themselves to this essential work at a time when its importance has never been greater—that, more than anything else, is what I am excited to celebrate.”
Accordingly, Cohen Gilliland emphasized that the timing of the YJI anniversary event was especially appropriate.
“We journalists are constantly bombarded with reminders of how difficult the industry is right now,” she said. “But we want to capitalize on this occasion to recognize the immense talent that has emerged from our program, to celebrate the power of journalism, and to honor the many different ways there are to do it—from broadcast to audio to print, and from beat reporting to independently writing books.”
Despite the challenges facing journalism, including the disruptive impact of AI and the vulnerability of many publications’ business models, Cohen Gilliland thought more students should consider this field as a career option.
“The world would benefit if they chose to pursue journalism,” she said. “Journalism is one of the most rewarding careers you can have. It allows you to explore constantly, hold power to account, and strengthen our democratic institutions.”
Steven Brill ’72, ’75 JD, who founded the YJI and has played an active role in stewarding the program since its inception, enthusiastically expressed his satisfaction with its progress and accomplishments.
“I could not be prouder,” he said, noting that he and his wife, Cynthia, pondered long and hard before they made the decision to establish a program that would make it possible for more students to get into journalism. “We had a lot that we owed Yale and thought a lot about how we could give back.”
Chloe Tsang ’17, co-chair of the Yale Alumni Journalism Association (YAJA), which serves a connector and resource for alumni working in journalism, as well as a platform for those interested in engaging in the national conversation on the role of a free press, voiced her deep admiration of the YJI and its contributions.
“It is a testament to Yale’s enduring commitment to the practice of journalism, which is crucial to the everyday functioning of an informed society,” she said, noting that a significant number of YAJA members are former YJI participants. “Many of our esteemed alumni got their start in journalism thanks to their involvement with the program.”
Tsang, based in London and working with news and media organizations around the world through a media-focused international consultancy, added that while journalism has been substantively affected by technological developments and dynamic industry changes, she was optimistic about its future.
“Because today’s media landscape is remarkably complex and fast-moving, this presents no shortage of challenges to journalists, but it also provides an exciting opportunity to flex storytelling across different formats like audio, photography, video, and long-form text that can reach audiences where they are,” she said. “While the tools and platforms will continue to evolve, the core mission of journalism to seek out the truth and tell meaningful stories will always remain constant.”
For students already engaged in journalism or those considering it, Tsang offered some advice.
“In the current age of AI that we’re living in, remember that being able to interact and connect with others is at the heart of successful journalism,” she said. “So take advantage of every opportunity to learn and hone your craft on a personal level but also learn from your peers. Journalism is often collaborative, and the ability to work with editors, producers, and other reporters is just as important as individual talent.”
Josie Reich, a Yale College senior who, in addition to being a YJI Scholar, is an employed YJI Fellow and helped coordinate the YJI 25th anniversary event, shared how inspired she was by the alumni who attended.
“YJI alumni have gone overseas as foreign correspondents, become editors at trend-setting magazines, crafted moving longform pieces, and written gripping books,” she said. “The event made all that feel within reach.”
Reich added that following the event, she felt more encouraged about opportunities for students seeking to break into journalism.
