I was honored to produce two videos for Penn State University’s inaugural Innovation Impact Awards, celebrating the people and partnerships driving research, collaboration, and real-world impact.
I had the opportunity to tell the stories behind the Beecher Loftus Technology Transfer Catalyst Award, recognizing Chevron Studio, and the Innovation Lion Award, presented to Brett Scofield. These awards highlight the vital role of innovation in translating research into meaningful outcomes, from industry collaboration to advancing mental health tools.
Projects like these are a reminder of how powerful storytelling can be in making complex work visible, accessible, and human.
You can read more about the award recipients at Penn State News.
Beecher Loftus Technology Transfer Catalyst Award, recognizing Chevron Studio
Innovation Lion Award, presented to Brett Scofield
Trust in the media does not collapse overnight. It erodes over time. And that trust, or lack of it, matters.
In the latest episode of News Over Noise, Matt Jordan and Cory Barker talk with Tim Richardson about what is behind the long slide of American press freedom and what it means for democracy.
“Trust Fall: The Long Slide of American Press Freedom” examines how political pressure, economic instability, and changes in the information ecosystem are reshaping journalism in the United States.
The conversation explores the forces driving skepticism toward the press and what that means for accountability, truth, and public discourse.
Young people are often described as disengaged or indifferent to the news. But those labels miss what is actually happening.
In this episode of News Over Noise, Matt Jordan and Cory Barker talk with Rachel Besharat Mann, PhD of Wesleyan University about how adolescents and young adults navigate news in social media environments.
Drawing on her research, the conversation explores news avoidance, algorithmic trust, influencer culture, and how identity, emotion, and wellness shape the ways young people interpret information and develop early civic identities in a platform-driven media landscape.
I’ve wanted to tell the story of the Stompers Project® by the JANA MARIE FOUNDATION since I first learned about it, and I finally had the chance to document the creation of one of these incredible sculptures.
The Stompers Project uses creative expression to spark conversations about mental health and inspire positive change. Roughly 200 people contribute to every sculpture, making each one a powerful reflection of community voice and connection.
This video follows the creation of the “Consuelo” Stomper, created through a partnership between the Center for the Performing Arts at Penn State and the Jana Marie Foundation, now on display in the Eisenhower Auditorium lobby.
It also highlights the “Serve” Stomper at the Pennsylvania Military Museum, created by family members of service members who were killed in action or died by suicide.
It was especially meaningful to premiere this piece during our March pledge drive with Marisa Vicere and other members of the Jana Marie Foundation joining us in the studio.
Projects like this are a reminder of what local public media can do. At WPSU, we try to create space for deeper storytelling around complex issues like mental health and suicide prevention, and to highlight the people working to strengthen our communities.
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