This fall, FAMU's School of Journalism & Graphic Communication (SJGC) will launch a pioneering investigative journalism course, uniting students from eight historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in a collaborative effort to combat misinformation and advance ethical reporting. The initiative, is part of the HBCU Investigative Journalism Consortium, spearheaded by Howard University’s Center for Journalism & Democracy (CJD) and will feature Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones as its lead instructor.
FAMU students will participate in a first of its kind multi-campus hybrid course, Investigative Journalism I, blending virtual lectures with in-person labs to equip students with cutting-edge reporting skills. Each Monday, Hannah-Jones—founder of the CJD and a New York Times Magazine staff writer—will deliver live lectures from Howard University, streamed to classrooms at FAMU, Morehouse College, Morgan State University, North Carolina A&T, North Carolina Central, Savannah State, Texas Southern, and the University of the District of Columbia. On Wednesdays, students will participate in campus-specific labs to apply investigative techniques, aided by technology provided by the CJD.
“This isn’t just about teaching students to uncover facts—it’s about grounding their work in historical context and moral clarity,” said Dr. Kali-Ahset Amen, CJD’s executive director. “HBCUs have always been pillars of truth-telling, and this collaboration amplifies that legacy.
FAMU’s Journalism Division Director William Jiles and Professor Arionne Nettles, holder of the Garth C. Reeves Eminent Scholar Chair in Journalism, will lead the FAMU on-campus portion of the class. Jiles and Nettles emphasized the program’s experiential focus and focus on prioritizing accountability and source verification, critical tools in an era of rampant disinformation.
“Journalism is a public service,” noted Nettles. “By working across institutions, students learn collaboration—a core tenet of the profession—while sharpening skills that uphold democracy.”
The initiative aligns with SJGC’s mission to merge technical training with social responsibility, preparing graduates to navigate complex media landscapes. For Hannah-Jones, the course represents a broader vision: “HBCUs have produced some of America’s most fearless journalists. This program ensures the next generation continues that tradition, armed with rigor and purpose.”