McKEESPORT, Pa. — More than 130 journalism professionals, educators and advocates gathered for the inaugural University of Vermont Center for Community News (CCN) Conference, sponsored by the university and the Knight Foundation.
Among the participants were four Penn State faculty and staff members: Mila Sanina, assistant teaching professor of journalism at the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications; Erin Strout, news editor in the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications; Emily Reddy, news director at Penn State’s public media radio station WPSU-FM; and Rosemary Martinelli, assistant teaching professor of marketing and communications and faculty adviser to the student-newspaper, The GA-Zette, at Penn State Greater Allegheny.
Sanina said she attended the conference to learn how different schools and community publications are engaging students in news coverage.
“Our college has deployed outstanding efforts in Centre County and way beyond with the News Lab initiatives, specifically through Centre Documenters, and I think we could do more inside our classrooms to support a healthy information ecosystem across Pennsylvania,” she said.
“As I’m learning more about the needs of the communities in central Pennsylvania and the interests of our students, I’m hoping to take some of the ideas I learned at CCN and see how they are applicable to our program,” said Strout, adding that she was excited to begin her role with the Bellisario College of Communications. “I’m looking forward to forging strong partnerships with the media outlets that are working to meet the diverse needs of their communities.”
Martinelli and Reddy were also named to the 2025 class of Faculty Champions of CCN, recognizing 63 educators and media professionals nationwide who are helping to strengthen local journalism through university-led reporting programs. The honorees represent 25 states and include 33 college and university faculty members, 10 student media program leaders and 10 public media professionals.
“Student reporting has emerged as one critical solution to the crisis facing local news,” said Center for Community News Director Richard Watts in a statement. “The people running these news-academic partnerships are leading the next generation of courageous journalists, storytellers and civic leaders. We are honored to help amplify their work.”
“It was an honor to be with so many celebrated professionals in this important communications space,” said Martinelli. “It was the culmination of a year’s worth of work and support; the team at CCN helped me to establish non-exclusion licensing agreements, editorial calendars, reporting assignments, and community funding for the GA-Zette in partnership with Tube City Community Media, a Mon Valley media outlet.
“Our student reporters, who represent majors from biobehavioral health to business rather than traditional communications, are helping address the news desert in the Mon Valley through their enterprising work,” she said.
The GA-Zette gives students hands-on experience in reporting, photography and digital media while covering campus and community news. Read their latest articles.