Alumni Hour Interview: Jake Batsell on Careers in Journalism and Issues Journalists Face Today

Flinn Scholars alumna Sara Zervos Knutson (’87) interviews Jake Batsell (’92) in this Alumni Hour conversation exploring his path from student journalist to reporter, author, and journalism professor.

Jake has worked as a reporter for The Dallas Morning News and The Seattle Times, conducted international reporting in Zimbabwe, authored Engaged Journalism, and now serves as a journalism professor at Southern Methodist University, where he focuses on strengthening ethical practices and audience engagement in modern newsrooms.

In this Alumni Hour episode, Jake discusses the evolving responsibilities of journalists in a digital media landscape, the ethical implications of AI in reporting, and how young people can develop strong media literacy skills.

Interview Highlights:

• 0:00 — Introduction

• 0:55 — Jake Batsell’s career journey

• 9:26 — Reporting in Zimbabwe and press freedom

• 15:02 — Free speech in the digital media era

• 19:17 — Finding your voice amid influencers

• 27:17 — Defining success and advice to his younger self

• 31:52 — AI issues facing journalism today

• 36:01 — Media literacy and combating misinformation

• 40:34 — Advice for new journalism majors

• 43:38 — How ownership influences newsroom decisions

• 46:54 — How journalism students have changed

• 50:01 — Transformative writing experiences

• 53:43 — How to find and win competitive internships