PRINCETON, N.J. — The Dow Jones News Fund today launched a new video series promoting journalism careers and the critical role journalists play in American society.

The Fund slated the launch to coincide with Sunshine Week, recognizing the importance of open government and access to information for a free, robust media industry.

The first video, “Journalists are Vital,” features professionals offering their views about the future of journalism, why they love their jobs and why journalism is vital to a democracy.

“There is absolutely a future in journalism — as a reporter, as a correspondent, as a news anchor, as a researcher, as a producer, as someone who is an investigative reporter, all of these spaces continue to thrive,” said Richard Lui, MSNBC anchor.

The other four videos explore essential traits for a successful journalism career: curiosity, preparedness, tenacity and resourcefulness. A new video will be released each week.

“Students, whether in high school or college, must be inspired to know that journalism is an honorable craft. It is vital to our democracy, plays an important role in our society and needs them now more than ever,” said Linda Shockley, managing director.

She said the diverse and accomplished journalists who were interviewed represent the bedrock values of a challenging profession who live out their dedication every day.

The journalists who shared advice and personal stories in the videos include:

  • Erin Ailworth, Midwest Correspondent, The Wall Street Journal
  • Marty Baron, Executive Editor, The Washington Post
  • Maria Carrillo, Assistant Managing Editor for Enterprise, The Tampa Bay Times (Editing Intern 1984)
  • Carla Correa, Senior Staff Editor, The New York Times
  • Tyler Dukes, Investigative Reporter, WRAL (Multiplatform Editing Intern 2007)
  • Adam Harris, Staff Writer, The Atlantic
  • Arelis Hernández, Reporter, The Washington Post
  • Mary Hudetz, Reporter, The Associated Press
  • Cassandra Jaramillo, Reporter, The Dallas Morning News (Business Reporting Intern 2015)
  • Karen Lincoln Michel, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief, Madison Magazine
  • Jennifer Loren, Executive Producer and Host, “Osiyo, Voices of the Cherokee People”
  • Richard Lui, Anchor, MSNBC
  • Yolanda Martinez, Graphics Producer, The Marshall Project (High School Workshop Participant 1995)
  • Adam Playford, Investigations Editor, The Tampa Bay Times (Multiplatform Editing Intern 2008)
  • Steven Rich, Database Editor for Investigations, The Washington Post
  • Topher Sanders, Investigative Reporter, ProPublica
  • Mark Trahant, Editor, Indian Country Today
  • Francisco Vara-Orta, then National Reporter and Data Specialist, Chalkbeat, now training director, Investigative Reporters and Editors (High School Workshop Participant and Scholarship Winner 2001)

Students are among the most anticipated target audience. Media advisers, teachers and professors, journalism mentors, career counselors and professional organizations are some of the people DJNF encourages to share these videos.

The videos were produced by Jon Busdeker, Sunny Oranges Productions. Participants were filmed in 2018 at the Investigative Reporters and Editors conference in Orlando, and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists and the Native American Journalists Association conventions in Miami.