What Even Is News When Everything Is Online?
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Whitman College is pleased to welcome Versha Sharma, Editor-in-Chief of Teen Vogue, as the 2025 Hosokawa Journalism Lecturer. This year’s event—“The 21st Century Newsroom: What Even Is News When Everything is Online?”—will take place Tuesday, April 22, at 7 p.m. in the Reid Campus Center’s Young Ballroom.
Since her days as editor-in-chief of a college newspaper, Sharma has cultivated over a decade of experience reporting on politics, managing newsrooms and championing inclusive storytelling. Stepping into her “dream job” at Teen Vogue in 2021, she has guided the publication through a new chapter focused on civic engagement, social justice and youth-centered journalism.
Before joining Teen Vogue, Sharma served as Managing Editor and Senior Correspondent at NowThis, where she interviewed leaders such as Stacey Abrams, Anthony Fauci and former President Joe Biden. In 2018, she and her team received an Edward R. Murrow Award for their documentary work on Hurricane Maria’s effects on Puerto Rico, with Sharma leading audience growth across the outlet’s social platforms.
As the daughter of Indian immigrants and a first-generation college graduate, Sharma brings to her work a personal commitment to equity and access in media. She currently serves on the boards of the Online News Association and the International Women’s Media Foundation, and her career reflects a deep belief in journalism as a tool for representation and accountability.
Sharma will deliver the 2025 Hosokawa Journalism lecture as a fireside chat with Nazaaha Penick ’25, Editor-in-Chief of Whitman’s student-run newspaper, the Whitman Wire. Their discussion will examine how newsrooms today decide what’s newsworthy, best practices for approaching politically or emotionally charged topics, and which traditional journalistic practices are being challenged in the age of social media and misinformation.
Read more.
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Following the main discussion, Sharma will participate in a Q&A session with the audience. Questions may also be submitted in advance.
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Staff Member Earns Certification in Volunteer Management
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Alumni Relations Coordinator Jaimee Maurer has received Certification in Volunteer Administration—a professional certification in the field of volunteer resources management—from the Council for Certification in Volunteer Administration (CCVA). The CCVA is an international organization which promotes and certifies excellence in volunteer administration to advance the capacity of communities to effectively engage volunteers.
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Taste of Africa Events This Weekend
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The Taste of Africa week concludes this weekend, with a mix of events co-sponsored by the Whitman African Students Association, the Department of Theater and Dance, Whitman Events Board, the Black Student Union and Unidos.
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- Friday, April 18, from 5–6 p.m.
Gansango Music and Dance Performance
Reid Campus Center, Young Ballroom (Flyer attached.)
- Friday, April 18, from 6–7 p.m.
Gansango Dance Workshop
Reid Campus Center, Young Ballroom (Flyer attached.)
- Saturday, April 19, from 6–9 p.m.
Taste of Africa: Main Event
Reid Campus Center, Young Ballroom
A joyful evening of food, fashion, performance and storytelling to honor and celebrate Africa’s cultural richness. (Flyer attached.)
- Sunday, April 20, from 1–4 p.m.
Field Games
Ankeny Field
A closing celebration of fun, games and community building across student affinity groups. Free tacos for the first 200 students. (Flyer attached.)
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Spring Unidos Carnival Today
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Unidos and Whitman Events Board will host “Carnival de Primavera” on Friday, April 18, from 6–9 p.m. on the Reid Campus Center side lawn. The event will include live music by the band Mari’s World, an open dance floor, table games, a Mexican food truck, snacks and more. (Flyer attached.) Want to meet the band? Stop by the Reid Campus Center basement between 3–4 p.m. (Flyer attached.)
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Tennis Tournament on Campus This Weekend
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Whitman College will host the Northwest Conference Men’s and Women’s Tennis Tournaments this weekend.
Women’s Tournament Schedule:
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- Friday, April 18, at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. (Semifinals)
- Saturday, April 19, at 10 a.m. (Championship)
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Men’s Tournament Schedule:
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- Saturday, April 19, at or after 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. (Semifinals)
- Sunday, April 20, at noon (Championship)
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Volunteers Needed for Annual Powwow
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The second Pášx̣apa Powwow will take place on Saturday, May 3, at the Sherwood Athletic Center. Volunteers are needed to assist in a variety of roles, from providing directions to visitors, to monitoring building traffic and cleaning up after the event. Volunteer registration is open now through Thursday, April 24.
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Noah Leavitt (left), Co-Director for the Career and Community Engagement Center for External Affairs and College Liaison for Community Affairs, recently served as a judge for the National Civics Bee, sponsored by the Walla Walla Chamber of Commerce. The judging panel also included (from left): Walla Walla Community College President Chad Hickox, YWCA CEO Karen Hedine, Walla Walla Mayor Tom Scribner and College Place Mayor Norma Hernandez.
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Welty Student Health Center
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Meet & Greet With Mari’s World
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Reid Campus Center, Lower Level
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Hall of Music, Chism Recital Hall
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Reid Campus Center, Young Ballroom
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Reid Campus Center, Young Ballroom
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Reid Campus Center, Side Lawn
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Reid Campus Center, Room 207
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Reid Campus Center, All Faiths Room
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Reid Campus Center, Room 207
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Reid Campus Center, Lower Level
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Reid Campus Center, Young Ballroom
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Would you like to share an event with campus? Submit the information to the Events Calendar.
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Whitman Today is emailed to Whitman College staff, faculty and students each weekday during the academic year and twice a week during breaks. An archive of previous issues is available online.
All submissions are welcome! If you have accomplishments to celebrate, an event to publicize or other Whitman content to share, email whitmantoday@whitman.edu. Submissions of 125 words or less are due by noon on the business day prior to publication. Submissions may be edited and/or held for a later date according to space and editorial needs. Your submission also authorizes use on Whitman's social media unless otherwise specified.
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