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  • Journalism: The Art of Profiles (Spring 2026)

Spring 2026

Journalism: The Art of Profiles

Every person has a story to tell, and profile writing is an invitation to share those stories with the world. In this journey, mentors and mentees explore how to establish trust and rapport with their subjects, conduct interviews with mutual respect, and present a friendly, welcoming demeanor while maintaining the role as the writer—not a friend or confidante. Unlike traditional approaches that focus solely on extracting details for the reader, this course emphasizes a holistic perspective that honors the reader, the writer, and the subject. Participants will practice structuring interviews, managing the flow of conversation, knowing when to push back against the profile subject, and using their own experiences as a guide to create compelling, thoughtful profiles.

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This Journey is Closed, but You Can Apply for a Fall 2026 Journey Now!

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Journalism: The Art of Profiles Community Experiences

Participants are required to attend one Journey Live Meetings each month throughout the cycle. Additionally, you can schedule 1:1 office hours with the Journey Instructor for individual assistance as needed.

Journey Meetings:

  • Saturday, March 7, 2026, 2-4 pm ET
  • Saturday, April 11, 2026, 2-4 pm ET
  • Saturday, May 2, 2026, 2-4 pm ET

If you’re unable to attend a Journey meeting, you must notify your Staff Lead in advance and attend a community event to make up for it—strongly recommended options for this journey include Leadership Community Studios, Community Conversations, and Career Chats.

Journey Circle: Community

Journalism: The Art of Profiles Courses

Journalism: The Art of Profiles
This course focuses on providing participants with strategies and tools to successfully conduct interviews and write compelling profiles. It covers topics such as interview structure, managing relationships with your subjects, and the nuts and bolts of writing a profile.

Writing

Journalism: The Art of Profiles Mentoring

Mentees and mentors in the Journalism: The Art of Profiles Journey will be matched for a minimum of one cycle. Pairs will meet for at least two hour-long sessions each month. This journey is open to both mentor/mentee pairs and peer-to-peer pairs.

Journey Teaching Artist

Christabel Nsiah-Buadi

Christabel Nsiah-Buadi is the CEO of My Lens Media and a visionary podcasting development strategist and coach who works at the intersection of media strategy and education. She is also the founder of AudioDiaspora, a coaching resource for audio creators committed to challenging old narratives about the Black Diaspora. Passionate about telling stories and creating spaces that empower historically under-recognized creators, Christabel was a driving force behind several programs aimed at diversifying podcasting for Spotify. She built the strategy for that company’s ‘Rising Creators’ content partnership program. Christabel also developed and ran the company’s groundbreaking podcast production fellowship, Sound Up: Behind the Mic, and its mentorship initiative, Narrative Shift. She also teaches podcast production and strategy. As part of Spotify’s NextGen podcast production curriculum, she developed and presented podcast production curricula for Howard University, Spelman College, and Penn State. She has talked about journalism ethics and practice at USC and Carleton University in Canada. Before podcasting, Christabel was an award-winning radio journalist and Executive Producer who led shows for NPR, American Public Media, and Public Media International. She has written about the intersection of parenting, podcasting, and politics, and her work has appeared in The Independent and British Vogue.

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Journalism 360

Journeys in the Journalism 360 Adventure focus on building skills to investigate, analyze, and write about world events. It is recommended for mentees and mentors who want to embrace journalistic integrity.

Journalism: The Art of Profiles is a Journey in the Journalism 360 Adventure.

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Explore All Journeys

Explore All Journeys

Everything’s a Story: Nonfiction that Reads like Fiction (Fall 2026)

In this Journey, mentees and mentors will explore the ways in which creative storytelling techniques can be applied to nonfiction writing of all kinds, from memoir and personal essay to op-ed and how-to articles. We will dive into what makes a story—from structural archetypes to writing that flows—and learn how to harness the power of story to make nonfiction compelling and transformative.

Wild Ideas: Nature, Science & Creativity (Fall 2026)

Created in honor of Helen Ghiradella, the biologist who uncovered the hidden architecture of butterfly wings, this Journey invites you, mentor and mentee, to explore the natural world through the complementary lenses of scientific inquiry and creative expression. Through close observation, research, and reflection, you'll investigate the forms, patterns, and processes found in nature, then build an original project—writing, visual art, media, performance, music, or a form of your own choosing—that celebrates where these disciplines meet. Along the way, you'll sharpen your powers of observation, stretch your interdisciplinary thinking, and develop the ability to translate scientific understanding into meaningful art.

Civil Discourse: Connection & Persuasion (Fall 2026)

In this Journey, you—mentor and mentee—will build essential skills in public speaking, argumentation, and critical thinking. Through hands-on activities and lively discussion, you'll learn to craft persuasive speeches, construct well-reasoned arguments, and present your ideas with confidence. You'll explore what makes communication land, sharpen your thinking under pressure, and practice responding to perspectives unlike your own in a structured setting. By the end, you'll be able to make your case clearly, engage in dialogue that goes somewhere, and carry these skills into academic, professional, and civic life.

Civil Discourse Connection & Persuasion; two girls speaking with a mic

Dark Tales: A Horror Book Club (Fall 2026)

Step into the shadows of horror and discover what makes a story truly unsettling. Across three monthly book club meetings, you—mentor and mentee—will dig into close readings and lively discussion of selected works, examining how authors build suspense, conjure atmosphere, evoke fear, and use the genre to probe deeper social, psychological, and cultural questions. Together you'll unpack narrative technique, character development, and the many shapes the genre can take. By summer's end, you'll have a richer appreciation for horror, sharper critical instincts as readers, and a store of inspiration and craft to carry into your own writing. Required books this cycle: Dark Is When the Devil Comes by Daisy Pearce, The Body by Bethany C. Morrow, and I'll Watch Your Baby by Neena Viel.

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