COLUMN: A reminder of what drew me to CFINR’s mission

DAVID A. SOMMERS

JUNE 2025

CFINR

COLUMN: In Napa, a reminder of what drew me to CFINR’s mission

By David A. Sommers

It was my first official event since joining the Center for Integrity in News Reporting (CFINR) as a communications consultant: a June 27 fireside chat at The Napa Valley Reserve, where nearly 100 members and their guests gathered to hear from CFINR founder Walter E. Hussman Jr.

It was also the first time I had the opportunity to watch and hear Hussman speak in person about why he founded the Center and why restoring trust in news reporting is essential to the future of democracy.

As someone who started out as a journalist at 19 and has spent two and a half decades working across journalism, local government, and public affairs, the evening brought the mission into sharp focus. Listening to Walter articulate the same values that brought me to CFINR—fairness, impartiality and accountability—underscored just how much is at stake.

He spoke about the erosion of public trust in journalism and the data that propelled him to act. Gallup’s most recent polling shows that only 31 percent of Americans trust the news. A separate study by the Reuters Institute found that the United States now ranks last among 46 surveyed countries in media trust.

For Hussman, the issue isn’t theoretical. It’s one he’s been concerned about firsthand. A third-generation newspaper publisher and longtime head of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, he recalled watching a CNN promo in 2017 while traveling in Vietnam. In it, a prominent anchor said she didn’t believe in the “false equivalency” of giving both sides. That moment led Walter to draft a clear statement of journalistic values that would run consistently in each of the company’s newspapers as a declaration of what the newsrooms stand for and why it matters.

Those same principles underpin the work of CFINR. The Center awards $25,000 prizes—larger than a Pulitzer—for the most objective, impartial reporting across print, broadcast, cable, digital media and coverage of the White House. The money goes directly to the journalists and there are no fees to enter. The idea, as Walter told the Napa audience, is to recognize and elevate the kind of reporting that earns public trust.

Attending was a reminder of what drew me to CFINR’s mission in the first place. The challenges facing trust in journalism are steep, but not insurmountable. They will be met by those willing to commit to clear standards, transparent values and the public’s right to accurate, impartial information.

David A. Sommers is an independent communications consultant supporting the Center for Integrity in News Reporting.

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From the Newsroom to the Classroom: CFINR’s Campus Speaker Initiative Gains Momentum

By CFINR • October 15, 2025

October 15, 2025 —The Center for Integrity in News Reporting’s new campus speaker initiative is rapidly expanding across the country, connecting award-winning journalists with college students to discuss objectivity, fairness, and the craft of trustworthy reporting. Since outreach began in June, more than a dozen journalism schools have accepted or expressed interest in hosting visits from CFINR award winners and finalists , with several events already completed and more scheduled through spring 2026. The program brings working reporters to universities and colleges at no cost to the host institution, covering all travel and lodging expenses. Each campus visit is tailored to the host’s needs, ranging from keynote forums to classroom drop-ins or Q&A sessions. Journalists discuss topics such as sourcing, verification, transparency, and the ethical judgment calls that shape public trust in their work. The initiative has already drawn strong participation from both universities and reporters. Middle Tennessee State University’s Scott Borchetta College of Media and Entertainment hosted Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter Cleo Krejci on Sept. 22, where she presented to about 250 students and visited classes in digital media and advanced reporting. At the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, 2025 finalist Bonita Miyagi of The Villages Daily Sun and 2024 finalist Chris Fulton of the Mountain Home Observer visited Sept. 30 to discuss local accountability reporting and public-records investigations. The University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication is preparing an Oct. 29 forum featuring Curt Hills of The Villages Daily Sun and will host BBC correspondent Anthony Zurcher in November. Additional visits are being planned with the University of Florida, University of North Carolina, High Point University, and the University of Missouri. Behind the scenes, 14 CFINR awardees and finalists have already volunteered to take part. Between June and August, CFINR reached out to 27 journalism schools; 13 have confirmed participation, seven are pending, and seven more are in early planning stages. The journalists involved represent a wide range of beats and outlets—from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel , BBC News, and The Washington Post to The New York Times , the Guardian , Associated Press, NBC, and CNN. Students who have attended the sessions have heard reporters walk through document-driven investigations, share methods for avoiding confirmation bias, and discuss how to handle corrections transparently. Others have explored how to balance privacy and public interest or navigate career paths while maintaining neutrality and rigor. Among those participating are Krejci, whose award-winning reporting examined oversight failures in assisted-living facilities; Zurcher, who provides clear analysis of U.S. politics for international audiences; Fleischer, who helped expose the impact of Social Security clawbacks on vulnerable recipients; and Miyagi and Fulton, whose digital and print investigations exemplify accountability journalism at the local level. Universities can choose the visit format that fits their curriculum—whether a keynote talk, panel discussion, or sequence of class visits. CFINR covers the costs and matches the visiting journalist based on the program’s needs and timing. Faculty interested in hosting a speaker can contact Rufus Friday at rfriday@cfinr.org or visit cfinr.org/2025-awards-winners and cfinr.org/2024-awards-winners to learn more about the organization’s mission and honorees.