Jennifer Karchmer || Independent. Journalist.
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What is Jennifer up to?
Facilitating Reporter Safety Webinars
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Host of the "Reporter Safety Webinar" with the IWMF
Click here for the slideshow notes.

Writing about press interactions
with the police for SPJ's Quill Magazine
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Monitoring threats against the press
​for the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker
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Coaching bilingual journalists 
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Interviewing Jorge Ramos
​for a cover story
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Writing Op-Ed
"Freedom of the Press Amid COVID-19"
for Grassroots Editor
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Helping freelance writers
on @Medium 
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"Ten Things I Learned From Medium Editors"

I'm a Journalism Coach. Ask me!

Serving as guest
 on "It's All Journalism" podcast
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Episode #389 on "It's All Journalism" Podcast

Covering First Amendment News​
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Discussing the fate of
female journalists

Serving as panelist
SPJ Region 1 Conference in NYC
#journalismindanger 
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(Second from left) I debated whether journalists should also be activists.

Writing an op-ed for
​ISWNE's Grassroots Editor
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Hosting
"The Whatcom Wordsmith" podcast
from KMRE-LP 102.3 FM in
Bellingham, Wash. 
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Hosting
"The Transparency Report 
with Jennifer Karchmer" 
Guest: ​Shannon Sedgwick
​Global Media Risk

Monitoring freedom of the press on "World Press Freedom Day" 

Speaking with fellow reporters in Pretoria about freedom of the press
​in South Africa
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Serving as guest editor at two community newspapers in South Africa
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Living in Reykjavik, Iceland researching press freedom around the world
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Serving as guest lecturer at
University of Iceland in Reykjavik

Presenting research about the US Media to an audience in Iceland

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Click HERE for Journalism Coaching with Jennifer
Book a call with me HERE!

About Jennifer

I am an independent journalist who writes about #PressFreedom and #ReporterSafety. I monitor threats against the press and write incident reports for the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker, a database led by the Freedom of the Press Foundation and the Committee to Protect Journalists.

I started advocating for fellow journalists and the journalism profession in 2010, when I joined Reporters Without Borders as a volunteer correspondent monitoring threats against international reporters. Since then, I have collaborated with RWB staff in Paris and have worked as a journalist from France, Iceland, South Africa, Morocco and other parts of the world.  

As the founder and editor of the award-winning publication, The Transparency Report, I cover issues related to freedom of the press, freedom of speech and freedom of expression. Also, I am the creator, producer and host of two podcasts: "The Whatcom Wordsmith," which ran on radio station KMRE 102.3FM in Bellingham for many years, and The jPod. Go here and you can listen to interviews with book authors, writers, journalists and many other interesting people.

Beginning my career in 1991, I have worked as a full-time reporter and freelancer for mainstream media outlets including CNN, Gannett, McClatchy and the New York Post. I started in newsradio working as a reporter for stations in upstate New York (WGY-Schenectady; WRWD-Highland; WPTR-Newburgh; WVOS-Liberty). In those early days, I received excellent training and guidance when I did a stint at the Associated Press, Albany, NY bureau (thank you Mike Hendricks and Lew Wheaton).


Today, I focus my efforts on supporting independent media and coaching up-and-coming journalists. I coach mid-career, long-time and bilingual journalists too. To learn about my philosophies and approach toward journalism and news gathering, you can read my editorials. 

In 2015, I spent three weeks in South Africa as a guest editor at two local newspapers. This work goes along with my studies in 2012 in Iceland  where I researched freedom of the press.

Also in 2015, I took a sabbatical to study French at the University of Montpellier 3-Paul Valery, in Montpellier, France. While there, I also earned my TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) degree and work as an internationally accredited English teacher.

I am a proud graduate of the Ithaca College (NY) Roy H. Park School of Communications and have served on the Ithaca College Alumni Board. During my undergraduate studies, I completed the prestigious Washington Semester Program for Journalism at American University in Wash, D.C. In 2006, I earned my master's degree in communication from Plattsburgh (NY) State University. 

When not on journalism assignment, I share my experiences and expertise with students and speak up regarding press freedom. I served as Vice Chair for Ithaca City of Asylum (ICOA), helping protect international writers, artists and journalists in peril.
 
I welcome hearing from fellow journalists, students and others interested in journalism and the state of the news industry today. I enjoy speaking to student and community audiences so please go to my speaking page for more information on my travel schedule and feel free to contact me to get a dialogue going regarding a visit to your region, university or community.

Finally, I write about a variety of unique personal interests and experiences, such as 10-day silent meditation, women's ice hockey, living in Europe and living sober, all of which can be found on Medium.

Also of note: I've lived around the world as a housesitter and am available to speak to anyone who would like to live this wonderful lifestyle.

Click HERE for Journalism Coaching with Jennifer

Awards

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My article (at left) was recognized with the SPJ First Place for Arts Reporting & Criticism News & Features (Non-Daily Newspapers): "Take a Look at Iceland: Internet Freedom During Election Season"

The contest honors the best in journalism in SPJ’s Region 10, which includes Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.

From the judge: "A very well put together comparison and analysis of the ever-evolving use of social media and the internet to access, explore,amplify, and refute information. Jennifer Karchmer does an excellent job putting various views of internet freedom under the microscope. This piece gives the reader a well researched perspective and where we were, where we are, and where we might be going."

Full list of winners here. ​


"Writing Website of the Week"
awarded by Writer's Digest

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“This independent journalist has a clear and crisp website that’s easy to navigate and should be a model for other freelance journalists.” –  
Brian A. Klems, Online Editor, Writer's Digest



Jennifer's Goodreads bookshelf
my read shelf:
Independent Journalist Jennifer Karchmer's book recommendations, liked quotes, book clubs, book trivia, book lists (read shelf)

Independent Journalist's books

The Forest for the Trees
5 of 5 stars
The Forest for the Trees
by Betsy Lerner
Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within
5 of 5 stars
Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within
by Natalie Goldberg
Reading Like a Writer: A Guide for People Who Love Books and for Those Who Want to Write Them
5 of 5 stars
Reading Like a Writer: A Guide for People Who Love Books and for Those Who Want to Write Them
by Francine Prose
Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life
5 of 5 stars
Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life
by Anne Lamott
Blue Nights
4 of 5 stars
Blue Nights
by Joan Didion

goodreads.com



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​Banner photo credit "Jennifer Karchmer's journals, 1987-present" by Kato Voorhees
'Don't wait to be deprived of news to stand up and fight for it.' - Reporters Without Borders