We are pleased to present a new story in our series about how Columbia Journalism School has been training students to become leading reporters on politics. As the 2020 U.S. presidential election campaigns ramp up and as political movements and diplomatic challenges around the world make for front page stories every day, the work of journalists is vital for informing the public about the issues at stake, the local and global impact of policies on peoples' lives, the veracity of politicians' claims, and the historical and social contexts for international and domestic conflicts.
In this alumni spotlight, we are sharing a new interview with Donna M. Owens, a 2013 graduate of the Master of Arts Program's Science Concentration. An award-winning multi-platform journalist, Owens' work has appeared in a variety of outlets that include: NBC News.com, Reuters, NPR, Essence, O, The Oprah Magazine, Glamour Magazine, The Baltimore Sun, The Chicago Tribune, The Miami Herald, Ebony, Black Enterprise, MSNBC.com and Medium’s ZORA. She’s currently working on forthcoming assignments for The Washington Post.
Owens launched her career as a political reporter at the historic Afro-American Newspaper in Baltimore, not long after graduating from Hampton University. She served as a general assignment reporter for a chain of community newspapers in Maryland, before moving into television as a producer and investigative reporter with CBS and NBC stations around the country. Her broadcasting work continued as a radio anchor/reporter in several markets.
Today, Owens is a prolific freelance journalist whose articles have examined myriad topics: women of color and the 2020 presidential race, Black immigration and DACA, the passing of Congressman Elijah Cummings, corruption, Harriet Tubman's legacy, and more. In 2019, Owens was selected for a Harvard Medical School media fellowship.
The Master of Arts Program is designed to help experienced journalists such as Owens further build the contextual understanding that enables groundbreaking reporting in one of four concentrations: Arts and Culture, Business and Economics, Politics, or Science. Each term of the two semester program, a journalism professor with extensive experience teaches the core concentration seminar. Experts from Columbia and beyond also serve as guest instructors, resulting in an unparalleled level of depth and nuance. Throughout, the seminars combine deep subject instruction with high‐level journalistic mentoring. Graduates of the Master of Arts Program go on to use their training to report with greater skill and depth not only about their area of concentration, but about a range of important subjects.
In this Q&A, Donna M. Owens discusses her political reporting, her experience in the Master of Arts Program, and her thoughts about covering the 2020 elections.
When it comes to your political reporting, what kinds of topics and questions most interest you? Do any of your past political stories especially stand out in your memory?
My family discusses politics the way football fans talk about the Super Bowl. Thus, it's not surprising that I've gravitated towards political reporting. That said, it's far from the only subject that interests me as a journalist. The list is practically endless. Still, politics is among the beats--along with race/diversity, gender issues, criminal justice, arts and culture, science and health--that I have covered regularly over the years.
My political reporting may take me through the halls of Congress one day, or to the White House, the next. I have covered national elections, the Obama and Trump presidential inaugurations, the Kavanaugh Supreme Court confirmation hearings, the Freddie Gray police case, and social justice marches and movements. My interviews with newsmakers have included everyone from former U.S. presidents to civil rights icons and Hollywood celebs.
What led you to apply to Columbia's M.A. Science Concentration? What did you want to get out of the program?
I was eager to receive additional training in my craft. While perusing the J-School’s website, the promise of academic rigor, hands-on training, and journalistic excellence appealed to me. My experience in the M.A. Science program, and overall, hewed to those expectations.
My time at Columbia was a gift. In 2012-2013, I was among three women selected to receive a scholarship from the Anne O’Hare McCormick Memorial Fund, Inc. to help cover tuition costs. At graduation, I received the Robert Harron award, bestowed annually to students for qualities such as kindness and generosity.
Besides a wealth of academic resources, I met wonderful classmates, deans and professors from around the country and world. I gained new friends, caring mentors and professional contacts.
What skills or ways of thinking did you learn in the Master of Arts Program that inform your journalistic work today?
With newsrooms and the industry evolving, I desired a 21st Century education. During my matriculation at Columbia, my courses gave me greater knowledge of digital media, investigative reporting, and social media—and how to effectively tell stories across multiple platforms.
My thesis was a long-form piece with dozens of sources that examined climate change told through a first-person lens. During the thesis process, and all of my courses, Columbia’s cohort of dedicated professors proved themselves fonts of knowledge. To have instructors who are award-winning journalists, published authors, documentary filmmakers, etc., sets the bar high.
Looking ahead to the 2020 election, what issues or themes are you most interested in reporting about?
My approach to stories — whether about politics or another topic — is to exercise due diligence with research and interviews, and go where the reporting leads. I relish the opportunity to interview individuals from diverse communities and walks of life and discern their views. It’s my aim to bring forth storytelling that conveys those hopes, dreams, and concerns as it pertains to life in America at this critical juncture in history.
What do you think makes for high-quality election reporting? Do you have advice for young journalists who will be covering the 2020 campaigns?
Facts, accuracy, solid sources, context, and fairness remain some of the hallmarks of quality journalism. Objectivity is important, although increasingly there’s been healthy debate in journalism circles as to whether the principle uniformly applies. Sometimes, subjectivity is actually called for, in order to bring one’s unique insight and perspective to a piece.
No advice, per se, but I’ve always believed the mission of the Fourth Estate requires a level of dedication, tenacity, discipline. Be ready and willing to do the (hard) work. And enjoy the ride!
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