Three UFCJC faculty recognized as a 2026 Faculty Champion by the Center for Community News
The Center for Community News (CCN) at the University of Vermont (UVM) has named three University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications (UFCJC) faculty members to the CCN 2026 Faculty Champions cohort.
Innovation News Center Sports Director Jeremy St. Louis and Summer Media Institute Director Maria Fernanda Camacho along with Journalism Assistant Professor Antoine Haywood are three of 150 journalism leaders from colleges across the country who were recognized for their efforts to start or expand university-led reporting programs in their region, and their contribution to a national movement of student-powered community reporting.
“At the core of all of these university-led student reporting programs are innovative and entrepreneurial faculty committed to student success,” said CCN Director Richard Watts. “These programs are a win-win for everyone: students receive high-impact experiences and communities benefit from more reliable news. This program is a chance to say thank you to the faculty who make it all possible.”
The 2026 Faculty Champions represent 41 states and two Canadian provinces. They are affiliated with 15 community colleges, 41 Minority-Serving Institutions, four Historically Black Colleges and Universities, 30 Hispanic-Serving Institutions and seven public media outlets.
Each Faculty Champion will receive a $1000 reward, peer support and coaching throughout the year. As part of CCN’s expanded approach to the Champions program this year, participants will work in dedicated cohorts that are organized around beats, communities and geographic regions and led by program alums with expertise in their focus area.
The CCN at UVM is a nonpartisan nonprofit working to grow and strengthen university-led reporting programs around the country to create a more sustainable future for local news outlets and the communities they serve. It works with a network of more than 4,000 faculty and news leaders and it’s the only organization dedicated to growing the field of student-powered community reporting.
Category: College News
Tagged: Antoine Haywood Center for Community News Faculty Champions Jeremy St. Louis Maria Fernanda Camacho
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