#MeetOurAlumni: Ann Simmons, '88 M.S.

What does a day of reporting or storytelling look like for you, and what work are you most proud of?

In my role as executive editor of Northeastern Global News (NGN), Northeastern University’s award-winning news website, I manage a team of talented journalists located in Boston, Oakland and London. They report on everything from experiential learning, entrepreneurship and scientific discoveries to trending and breaking news and human-interest stories.

My job involves editing articles for content, accuracy and style; developing innovative editorial strategies; brainstorming with my team to identify story ideas that promote the university’s mission; and ensuring that standards, ethics and best journalistic practices are employed.

Our most impactful pieces showcase studies and research by Northeastern University faculty and we use their expertise to provide commentary and analysis that drive national and global conversations on a host of topics, including the use of artificial intelligence, the U.S. judicial system, and geopolitical conflicts.

I am proud when mainstream commercial news organizations pick up stories first reported by NGN and cite Northeastern experts, such as articles we have recently written on the longevity and wellness craze and about developments in the field of AI. 

Which CJS skill do you find yourself using most often?

The skills I most employ in my day-to-day tasks that were instilled in me by CJS professors are my ability to employ critical thinking, clearly evaluate circumstances and never to rush to judgement. The training I received at CJS in the fundamentals of good journalism enables me to file stories on deadline, do thorough and accurate edits, and execute my current leadership role with confidence.

What’s the most unexpected place your CJS degree has taken you, geographically or professionally?

My CJS degree allowed me to gain employment at reputable mainstream news organizations, where I got the opportunity to become a foreign correspondent and travel to all corners of the globe. I reported from Yakutia in northeastern Siberia, widely considered to be the coldest region on earth, on the threat of rapidly melting permafrost to the Russian economy and to human existence. I had the chance to go hunting with Baka pygmies in the Central African Republic for a story on their efforts to protect wildlife while preserving their nomadic, hunter-gatherer way of life. From Basra in southern Iraq, I reported on the quest of Black Iraqis to learn more about their African roots and heritage.

What does being a Columbia Journalism School alum mean to you today?

Being a CJS graduate gives me a sense of community and pride, knowing that I have learned from some of the best writers and reporters in the business, and I now have the privilege of belonging to a very special club of journalism practitioners.

If you could give one piece of advice to current CJS students right now, what would it be?

When out reporting, ask the tough questions, but don’t be afraid to ask what may seem, on the surface, a “too simple” question. It is often the basic queries that elicit the most pertinent responses. In my newsroom, no question is a silly question.