Click on the Truth: Protecting Journalism Ethics

This event is presented by BU Journalists of Color and The Howard Thurman Center.

What is the state of journalism ethics in 2026? This panel discussion looks at right, wrong, and in-between in the media landscape, and the role ethics plays in truth, reality, and the functioning of democracy.

Panelists:

Amanda Sabga

Amanda is a Boston based award winning photographer who has spent the last several years working as an independent photojournalist for hire with editorial publications, news wires and agencies having her work featured in the New York Times, Washington Post, LA Times and more. Prior to this, Amanda spent more than four years as a staff photographer at the Lawrence based Eagle-Tribune where she spent time telling the local stories of the surrounding communities, as well as national stories such as the Super Bowl, ALCS, NH Primary, the Lawrence gas explosions and more. Amanda was born in California but moved to the island of Trinidad at age 7 (where her large extended Syrian and Lebanese family originated and resides) where she stayed through high school before returning to the US to attend Boston University. Amanda's diverse background and unique experiences in her formative years give her an appreciation for her surroundings and finding the bigger moments in small places, similarly to living on a small island with a broad mind. She currently serves as the President of the Boston Press Photographers' Association.

Rachell Sanchez-Smith

Rachell Sanchez-Smith is an associate producer on WBUR's Morning Edition team. She has a bachelor’s degree in political science and journalism from the University of Arkansas. Previously, Rachell spent three years as a producer and reporter for NPR affiliate KUAF 91.3, where she focused on health, politics and labor.

Most recently, she joined the 2024’ Dow Jones News Fund intern class focusing on data journalism with the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

She worked on the “Essential and Exposed” series with the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism, investigating which workers were most vulnerable in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic and how regulators were often overwhelmed, resulting in a published piece with The Associated Press.

Born in Peru but raised in Arkansas, Rachell is most passionate about multilingual reporting and improving representation in newsrooms, founding the only active NAHJ chapter in the state.

In her free time, she enjoys cooking various international dishes, learning languages to “chismear” in or simply cuddling with her rescue cat, Beef.

Meghan E. Irons

Meghan E. Irons is an award-winning Boston journalist and investigative reporter. She is an associate professor of the practice of impact journalism at Boston University, a position she took after more than 20 years at The Boston Globe, where she was a member of the elite Spotlight Team.

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Host or Publisher Boston University Howard Thurman Center