Author Archives: Dave Poulson

Knight Center director, J-School alums mark Pulitzer Centennial

Jim Mitzelfeld, M.L. Elrick and Eric Freedman at Pulitzer Prize Centennial in Washington.

Jim Mitzelfeld, M.L. Elrick and Eric Freedman at Pulitzer Prize Centennial in Washington.


Knight Center Director Eric Freedman and two J-School alumni took part in recent events in Washington, D.C., commemorating the centennial of the prestigious awards in journalism, literature and music.
M.L. Elrick, ‘90, won a 2009 Pulitzer for Detroit Free Press coverage of then-Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick’s corruption scandal.
The Pulitzer judges cited Elrick and Free Press colleague James Schaefer for “their uncovering of a pattern of lies by Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick that included denial of a sexual relationship with his female chief of staff, prompting an investigation of perjury that eventually led to jail terms for the two officials.”
Elrick is now a reporter at Fox 2 News (WJBK TV) in Detroit and a member of the of the MSU College of Communication Arts & Sciences alumni board.
As reporters in the Detroit News Lansing Bureau, Freedman and James Mitzelfeld, ‘84, won their 1994 Pulitzer for coverage of a corruption scandal in the Michigan legislature.
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Student food writers sought by MSU

Paid Michigan State University student writers are needed for the university’s Global Center for Food Systems Innovation.
The center supports the innovation of systems to better feed the developing world. The position requires one or more students with writing skills capable of following up on stories and creating web content.
Experience with web content management systems is useful but not required.
The paid position(s) would provide for up to 15 hours per week. If you’re interested, send resume and writing samples to Communications Director Jessy Sielski, sielskij@msu.edu.
The Knight Center has a joint project with GCFSI at The Food Fix.

Three high schools win journalism-environmental science grants from the Knight Center

The Knight Center is awarding $2,000 grants to three Michigan high schools for collaboration between journalism and environmental science classes.
The winning projects were selected from six proposals in the first year of competition.
The Knight Center also has matched the schools with professional journalism mentors to work with the students and teachers for guidance and advice on the projects.
The grants go to:
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