About
Storyteller Survival Skills is the third in ISIG’s flagship Power of Storycraft series. This forum will bring together experts in nonfiction writing, journalism, audio and visual media, and communications to share insights on gathering, evaluating, and sharing information accurately and fairly, telling compelling nonfiction stories, and thriving in storytelling careers
Program Highlights
The one-day forum will feature panels, workshops, and mentoring opportunities designed to deliver practical skills and advice for students of all majors and backgrounds who are interested in careers that involve nonfiction writing, podcasting, or visual storytelling. At the end of the program, attendees and speakers will have opportunities to socialize and network. Below, see the topics under development:
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Workshop: Student Storyteller Roundtable
11 am - noon
Facilitator: Emily Strasser, professor of the practice, Tufts Department of English
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Are you a contributor to Tufts student publications, or do you aspire to be one? Meet other student journalists, editors, essayists, graphic storytellers, bloggers, and more, to ask questions and learn from each other over bagels and coffee. Discuss anything from the nitty-gritty of getting published to pressing questions facing nonfiction storytellers. Conversations at topic-focused tables will be guided by an experienced student editor or storyteller. You’re welcome whether you are deeply involved in campus media or working on your first submission. Emily Strasser, professor of the practice in the Department of English, will get the conversation started, but you decide where it goes!
Keynote: Would Shakespeare be on TikTok?
1-1:50 pm
Moderator: Michael Fitzgerald, editor-in-chief, Cambridge Day
Panelists: Mark Lowenstein, A86, F89 A23P, managing director, Mobile Ecosystem and founder, Great Runs; Brinleigh Murphy-Reuter, Founder and CEO, Science to People; Carmen Nobel, A93, editor-in-chief, The Journalist’s Resource
The best storytellers know how to think on their feet, spot opportunities, and adjust course so they can tell the stories that matter. Their secret? An enterprising mindset at every stage of their careers, whether they are working for someone else or launching their own business. They are always trying new things that might be meaningful to readers, viewers, and listeners. They set goals—to focus on a specific topic or type of story, to write a book, make a documentary or a podcast, or build a newsletter around a subject—then refine them over time. They take risks with sources, editors, audiences, and technology. If they fail, they brush themselves off and try something different. Learn from entrepreneurial storytellers how to solve problems and stay open to new approaches while perfecting your craft.
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Breakout session: How to Think About Your Audience Always
2-2:45 pm
Moderator: Jessica Blough A21, multimedia journalist
Panelists: Graham Starr, A15, reporter and editor; Nina Joung, A18, communications strategist, David Meyers, A96, director of communications and marketing, Open Secrets
In the broad landscape of nonfiction storytelling, a narrative project without an audience is nothing more than a diary entry. But amidst the squeeze of deadlines and limited budgets, storytellers can lose sight of who they're doing this work for. New and emerging digital platforms—including newsletters and social media—enable storytellers to engage with their readers, viewers, and listeners before, during, and after the information-gathering process. In this session, get ideas for incorporating an awareness of your audience into your daily workflow, and learn habits that you can immediately put into practice.
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Breakout session: The Scientist-Storyteller
2-2:45 pm
Moderator: Victoria White, A85 President, Review Without Peer and Treasurer, Institute for Storycraft and Information Gathering
Panelists: Sophia Michelen, A09, filmmaker, photojournalist, and global health advocate; Christine Smith, N97, Writing Consultant, Hirsch Health Sciences Library/Tufts University
Has it ever been more important to clearly, compellingly tell factual stories about science, medicine, and health? In this session, we’ll introduce you to people and possibilities in the world of STEM communication. Whether you want to reach researchers, consumers, policymakers, politicians, grant funders, or anyone who just wants to know fascinating things about the world around them, you’ll learn about potential careers and tips for effectively telling the stories of science.
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Breakout session: Writing and Working with AI
3:10-3:55 pm
Facilitator: Tony Loftis, director, Institute for Storycraft and Information Gathering
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Every storyteller faces the same challenges: a blank page, scattered research, and tight deadlines. This hands-on workshop will help you understand how AI can become a productive, creative partner.
Learn practical techniques for generating story angles, crafting compelling interview questions, and organizing complex narratives. We'll explore real-world applications—from breaking through writer's block to polishing final drafts—that won’t compromise your integrity or your authentic voice. Leave with immediately actionable strategies that transform AI from a buzzword to a valuable tool in your storytelling toolkit.
Breakout session: Nonfiction That Clicks: Marketing Stories to the Next Generation
3:10-3:55 pm
Moderator: Dylan Fee, editor in chief, The Tufts Daily
Panelists: Claire Wood, production director, The Tufts Daily; Simone Barr, A22, audience producer, Quanta Magazine; Maite Fernández Simon, Senior Editor of Audience Growth, Politics and Government desk, The Washington Post.
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Young audiences often consume content in radically different ways from previous generations. Learn from professionals working at the intersection of journalism, marketing, and audience development about how they use social media, newsletters, branding, and digital strategy to elevate nonfiction storytelling, shape the identity of a publication or story project, and build trust and credibility in an era of information overload.
General session: Speed Mentoring Hour
4-5 pm
Facilitator: Nicole Anderson, Senior Associate Director, Tufts Career Center
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Join us for a special networking session where you can get tips for having career conversations, then connect directly with Tufts alumni and our panelists in one-on-one or small-group sessions. Get advice from successful Jumbos who are making their mark as nonfiction storytellers.
Whether you are an aspiring journalist, video producer, podcaster, author, researcher, or storyteller of any kind, you'll gain invaluable insights, make important connections, and get a head start on your career. Don't miss this opportunity to build your network and learn from those who have walked the Hill before you.
Meet the Speakers
4:45-5:45 pm
Grab a snack and mingle with the day’s speakers and other attendees.