Professor Meachem recognized for journalism education
Meaghan Meachem Recognized as Center for Community News Faculty Champion
This story was originally published by North Star Monthly on February 4, 2026
LYNDON, Vt. — Vermont State University Communications Program Coordinator and Professor Meaghan Meachem has earned national recognition as one of 150 journalism leaders from colleges across the country chosen to serve as a Faculty Champion for the Center for Community News. The distinction acknowledges Meachem’s efforts to expand reporting programs in the region and her contributions to the national movement of student-powered community reporting.
The Center for Community News, a program at the University of Vermont, is dedicated to growing and supporting partnerships between college reporting programs and local news outlets to support community news reporting. Students receive high-impact experiences and communities benefit from strengthened reporting of local news.
“It’s a great honor to achieve this recognition, along with faculty champions at other universities around the country,” Meachem said. “One of the things that excites me is the ability to interact, learn from and support other faculty in journalism programs around the country. I’m looking forward to bringing new skills and ideas to my work at VTSU and to a longstanding program on the Lyndon campus. My work will focus on bringing our broadcast curriculum forward by introducing modern reporting tools and techniques. Students will be better prepared to enter careers as journalists, producers and more.”
Meachem, a longtime faculty member in the communications program at Vermont State University, is working on a project that will integrate modern video techniques, like vertical video journalism across social media platforms, into some of the institution’s broadcast journalism courses.
“This national recognition highlights the meaningful impact of Meaghan Meachem’s work as an educator and mentor,” said Nolan Atkins, VTSU provost and vice president of academic affairs. “By integrating contemporary reporting practices and community partnerships into the curriculum, she is creating exceptional learning opportunities while providing our students with real-world experience that strengthens local journalism and prepares them to succeed in a rapidly changing media landscape.”