"It feels like there's some sort of lack of understanding or knowledge about how newspapers are structured," Jenereaux adds, noting the difference between editorials and regular news coverage.

When asked about editorials, Henderson says he considers them to be an important part of the newspaper business. He says that the reason people may be shying away from accepting them now is because of the ugliness of other public discourse.

"Business is not a bad word," Jenereaux says in closing, after sharing some stories about her time in the industry. "It's not a bad thing to know and learn."

Jenereaux begins her section by pivoting to the business side of journalism. "You have to think like a product manager for whatever you're generating," she says. "It's important to connect the editorial journalism with the business goals."

When asked about his thoughts on where the field will go in the future, Henderson predicts that journalism will continue to move toward a nonprofit model. He also references the community-centered approach to coverage that Bridge Detroit adapted during his time there.

Henderson makes reference to the recent layoffs at The Washington Post as part of a larger point about the changing media landscape. "The thing that I think is happening the fastest now is self-publishing," he says, adding that he has recently moved into publishing his own work on Substack.

Henderson, who also worked at the Detroit Free Press, begins by introducing himself and reflecting on his career. A key theme in his career reflection is the evolution of technology in the field of journalism. "I'm not sure that anything that happens now is what I expected," he says.

From right to left: Stephen Henderson and Joyce Jenereaux stand at the front of an auditorium wearing suit jackets.

Stay tuned for live coverage of The Eastern Echo's Student Press Freedom Day event. Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Stephen Henderson and Joyce Jenereaux, a former publisher for the Detroit Free Press, will be giving a panel presentation. #JRNL310W26 #StudentPressFreedomDay

Here’s a video from yesterday showing the last-second prediction by Michigan’s own Woody the Woodchuck. #JRNL310W26 #GroundhogDay

Here’s a video from yesterday showing the last-second prediction by Michigan’s own Woody the Woodchuck. #JRNL310W26 #GroundhogDay

Woody the Woodchuck sticks her head out the door of her house on a snowy day. A Howell Nature Center worker lifts a shushing finger to her mouth to remind the audience not to startle the animal.

After peeking out of her stump house for nearly a full thirty seconds, Woody disappeared back inside at the last second, predicting an additional six weeks of spring by the standards of the local tradition. #JRNL310W26 #GroundhogDay

After several additional children’s games, the main event is about to begin. The Howell Nature center employee running the event said that Woody has been hiding somewhere warm inside until her moment arrives. #JRNL310W26 #GroundhogDay

A toddler dressed as Woody the Woodchuck and another dressed as Peely, a banana character from the game Fortnite. The child in the banana costume is holding a sign that reads, “Bribe for an early spring.”

The event begins with a seasonal costume contest. A child wearing a Fortnite banana costume and holding a sign bribing Woody to bring on an early spring has won. #JRNL310W26 #GroundhogDay

Snow-covered grounds at the Howell Nature Center. A Groundhod Day stage has been put together with winter decorations on the left and spring decorations on the right.

Stay tuned for live coverage from Howell, Michigan. It’s a frigid, overcast morning, and dozens of people have gathered to see if Woody the Woodchuck will predict an early spring. #JRNL310W26 #GroundhogDay

A ballroom at the Student Center of Eastern Michigan University showing rows of round tables and people mingling before the event.

Stay tuned for live coverage of the keynote event at Eastern Michigan University. The speaker for today’s luncheon is Karine Jean-Pierre, who served as the White House press secretary for former President Joe Biden. #J310W25 #MLKDAY

“Hope is not passive. Hope is not comfortable. Hope does not wait on its turn. Hope shows up,” Jean-Pierre says in closing, imploring that the audience would not let a loss of hope stop the fight for racial equality. #J310W25 #MLKDay #EMUMLK

Jean-Pierre points to “community members holding institutions accountable” as one of the ways to continue on Dr. King’s legacy. #J310W25 #MLKDay

Jean-Pierre speaks about her family’s history of living in Haiti, before eventually immigrating to the United States. “I watched a man who once lived under a dictatorship reclaim his voice in a democracy,” she says of her father. #J310W25 #MLKDay

Karine Jean-Pierre takes the stage to deliver the keynote address, echoing the sentiment of putting continued action behind the words of Dr. King. “For me, hope is not a feeling. Hope is not optimism. Hope is action,” she says. #J310W25 #MLKDay

“We don’t just honor Dr. King’s legacy; we live it,” says Glenda Lewis, event moderator and co-anchor of Detroit’s 7 Action News. #J310W25 #MLKDay

EMU has publicly declined to remove Jean-Pierre, and Vice President for Communications Walter Kraft said in a statement that “the University remains committed to presenting programs that reflect the breadth, depth, and complexity of national conversations,” according to a report by the Eastern Echo.

It is unclear whether there will be protests during Jean-Pierre’s address. A petition started last week by EMU student-led organization Students for Justice in Palestine called for her removal from today’s event due to her role in the Biden administration during the ongoing war in Gaza.

Lunch is served at the event after an a cappella performance of “The Lord’s Prayer” and an invocation given by a local pastor from an Ann Arbor church. #J310W25 #MLKDay

Jean-Pierre shares a table this afternoon with President Smith and US Representative Debbie Dingell of Michigan’s sixth district. #MLKDay #J310W25

President Smith praises Jean-Pierre for what he describes as her commitment to the principles of Dr. King. Jean-Pierre was the first Black woman to serve as White House press secretary. #J310W25 #MLKDay

EMU President James Smith takes to the stage to welcome the audience to the 40th annual MLK President’s luncheon event. #J310W25 #MLKDay

Today’s event is part of a week of events happening across the university to celebrate the legacy of civil rights activist Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. #EMUMLK #MLKDay #J310W25

A ballroom at the Student Center of Eastern Michigan University showing rows of round tables and people mingling before the event.

Stay tuned for live coverage of the keynote event at Eastern Michigan University. The speaker for today’s luncheon is Karine Jean-Pierre, who served as the White House press secretary for former President Joe Biden. #J310W25 #MLKDAY

Politics, mutual aid and memes populate EMU's own social media app Students provide their perspective on the EMU EagleApp, Eastern Michigan University's official social media platform.

"I would call the EagleApp our campus's Twitter," Reaume said. "It is full of drama and full of politics and full of, honestly, a lot of hate. But then there's some cool stuff. There's sometimes cool people just posting stuff they see on campus."

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