Larry Buchanan
Larry Buchanan is a graphics editor at The New York Times. Previously, he worked as a freelancer for The New Yorker, The Onion, ESPN and others. Before that, he went to Indiana University, adopted a dog and lived in a log cabin.
Galen Clavio
Galen Clavio, Ph.D., is an associate professor of sports media at Indiana University, as well as the director of the National Sports Journalism Center. A former play-by-play broadcaster, Clavio teaches classes in sports broadcasting, social media and emerging technologies in sports media. Clavio has helped mentor students who have gone on to professional careers in sports media.
Sarah Neal-Estes
Sarah Neal-Estes advises young journalists to seek experience in the growing field of audio journalism. She is the statewide managing editor for Indiana Public Broadcasting. Before leading IPB News, Neal-Estes founded two audio journalism courses at Indiana University and reported and produced at KUAC in Alaska, where she also freelanced nationally. She earned her master’s degree at the University of California at Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism.
Kelley French
Kelley French teaches reporting and writing in the IU Media School. Formerly a writer and editor at the Tampa Bay Times, she was a finalist for the 2013 Pulitzer Prize and was the editor of three other Pulitzer finalists. She and her husband, Thomas French, also a journalism professor at IU, have just finished “Juniper,” a nonfiction book on the life-and-death struggle for their micropreemie daughter.
Thomas French
Thomas French, a Pulitzer prize-winning journalist and New York Times bestselling author, teaches reporting at IU’s Media School. Under his guidance, Indiana’s journalism students have won four national writing championships at the prestigious Hearst contest. He and his wife, Kelley French, also a journalism professor at IU, have just finished “Juniper,” a nonfiction book on the life-and-death struggle for their micropreemie daughter.
Gerry Lanosga
Gerry Lanosga is an assistant professor at Indiana University’s Media School. Previously, he won numerous awards during his 20-year journalism career, including a Peabody Award and IRE’s Freedom of Information Medal. Lanosga also serves as president of the Indiana Coalition for Open Government.
Margot Lester
Margot Lester’s career began on her high school and hometown newspapers. A journalism graduate, she has reported for local, state and national news and feature outlets, including Forbes, Los Angeles Business Journal and Monster.com. She also has been a managing editor and writing coach. Her accolades include a scholastic journalism award for editorial writing and an Independent Publisher Book Award gold medal for nonfiction.
Larra Overton
Larra Overton works as the traffic reporter for FOX59 Morning News, but that’s just how she starts her day. She is a sideline reporter and track and field analyst for Fox Sports, plus the in-game host and reporter for the Indiana Pacers at Pacers.com. Overton also co-hosts the weekly “Colts Up Close” show and works as a sports reporter for Fox59 and CBS4.
Steve Peha
Steve Peha, a high school and college journalist, has written professionally for 30 years. In 2001, his series for The Seattle Times won an Innovator in Education Award from the Newspaper Association of America. He has written for The Washington Post, The National Journal and Psychology Today. His latest book, “Be a Better Writer,” was the Amazon No. 1 New Release in Teen Writing.
Naomi Pescovitz
Naomi Pescovitz is an Emmy Award-winning journalist currently serving as a weekend anchor and weekday reporter for WTHR Channel 13. Pescovitz graduated from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University with degress in journalism and international studies. In high school, she served as yearbook editor and attended several JEA/NSPA conventions.
Gene Policinski
Gene Policinski is chief operating officer of the Newseum Institute, the programs and thought leadership partner of the Newseum, in Washington, D.C. A veteran journalist and one of the founding editors of USA TODAY, he also is a nationally recognized expert on First Amendment issues.
Robert Scheer
Robert Scheer has been a visual journalist at The Indianapolis Star and Indystar.com for the past 18 years. Well-trained in video and multimedia in addition to still photography, Scheer has covered three Super Bowls, many Final Fours, the 2004 Olympics in Greece and the war in Iraq. He has a bachelor’s degree in biology from Humboldt State University, and he is a graduate of the 2007 Platypus Video Workshop.
Amy Wimmer Schwarb
Amy Wimmer Schwarb is the editor of Champion magazine and associate director of membership communications for the NCAA. Passionate about journalism and storytelling, Amy describes herself as an easy-going, triple-checking, detail-oriented writer and editor. Earlier in her career she was the executive editor of Indianapolis Monthly and a reporter for the St. Petersburg (Florida) Times.
Jacob Schwarb
John Schwarb works as the senior manager of communications at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, sharing stories from the racing capital of the world. Previously, he worked for the PGA Tour and the St. Petersburg (Florida) Times and has freelanced extensively for ESPN.com and other media outlets.
Lauren Reichart Smith
Lauren Reichart Smith, Ph.D., is a faculty member in The Media School at Indiana University. Previously, she was the associate director for public relations at Auburn University. As a former television producer, she has worked in both the Atlanta and Birmingham television markets, and received an Emmy nomination in 2005 for her work. Her main research area lies in mediasport — the intersection between sports and mass media.
Stephanie Wang
Stephanie Wang covers issues of inequality for the Indianapolis Star. Her work has included reporting on the legal and political battles surrounding same-sex marriages; religious freedom laws; LGBT rights; abortion laws; and education inequities. She is from Boston, graduated from Northwestern University and previously worked for the Tampa Bay Times (formerly known as the St. Petersburg (Florida) Times).