The growing impact of citizen journalism, social media, and Artificial Intelligence on the practice of journalism were all subjects CBS News Anchor and On-Air Contributor Carissa Lawson discussed with students during her visit April 1 to the Master of Communication and Media class Social Media.
Lawson, who earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from New York University, is a broadcast reporter who has previously worked for various network affiliates in the Southeast and in New Jersey. Lawson has been nominated for two Emmy Awards for her anchoring.
SC&I Lecturer Carlos Ferreira said he invited Lawson to speak to his class because “she is a great example of a great professional whose talent led her to work for CBS. The students had the opportunity to discuss class topics with a CBS News Anchor, and that’s a wonderful opportunity for them, and a particularly valuable experience.”
Lawson’s presentation to the class covered a variety of subjects that are of particular interest to the students as they prepare to enter the workforce, and her visit gave students real-world insights into the field of broadcast journalism.
Lawson spoke to the students about how journalism has changed during her twenty-year career, particularly noting how social media has impacted news gathering.
Another significant shift, Lawson said, has been the rise of “citizen journalism” and the ever-growing reliance of professional journalists on “stories from people who are right there in the moment.” Although she added that she and her team carefully verify any reporting by citizens, she said, “We’re able to get much more information and tell a much more complete story with access to footage and posts from citizens who witness events.”
Lawson also spoke about the impact of AI on the public’s news consumption practices and the production of news itself. She asked the students if any of them had ever fallen for an AI-generated story they believed to be true, to highlight the critical need to verify any information and sources they find on social media.
Explaining how she identifies new stories to cover for CBS, Lawson spoke about her affinity for “stories that get to the heart.” As an example, Lawson recounted her interview with New Jersey singer Louyah, explaining how her coverage helped highlight an emotionally viral moment for the New Jersey singer.
Students in the MCM class said they often discuss journalism ethics and how social media is shaping modern lives and careers. However, they said by discussing these topics in person with Lawson, they developed a better understanding of how the concepts and theories they are studying in the class impact how journalists practice their craft on a daily basis.
Reflecting on Lawson’s presentation, student Neda Sayyed said, “Having Carissa Lawson as a guest speaker in the class was a very cool experience because I had been watching her on the news since I was a kid [...] she was very honest about what it's like working in journalism and broadcasting. She wanted to know how we got our news and what we felt was most concerning about journalism and social media.”
Learn more about the Master of Communication and Media degree on the Rutgers School of Communication and Information website.
