Illinois Journalism Alumni

06/19/2026

We're looking for someone to join our communications team and oversee social media! The ALPLM has great stories to tell about , Illinois history and our hard-working staff. We need someone to help tell those stories in creative ways.

Details here: https://ow.ly/IUgM50Zesrr

06/18/2026

Congratulations to alumnus Robert Lowe and his fiancee Lauren Asplund on their engagement. Robert earned his undergraduate degree at Illinois in 2012. He earned a master’s degree at Columbia University in NYC

06/17/2026

Alumna Madison Holcomb checks in from California. She is a 2025 graduate.

“Hey there! My name's Madison, and I'm a multimedia reporter based in Shasta County, California. I'm starting a new page to document my adventures and thoughts as a journalist. A few things about me:
- I'm currently a multimedia community reporter at Shasta Scout
- I'm part of the Chips Quinn Reporter Fellowship and an Investigative Reporters and Editors member
- I graduated last May from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- I've worked at places like Invisible Institute, Illinois Public Media News, Illinois Student Newsroom, St. Louis Public Radio and WGN Radio, and I've freelanced for Investigate Midwest
- I competed at the Hearst Journalism Awards last year after receiving a national award in explanatory reporting
- I've spoken at several conferences, including PMJA and the Logan Symposium
- I report on a wide range of topics, but my favorites to cover are politics, accountability, social justice, law enforcement and the environment
I'm excited to bring you along my reporting experiences (especially this week at the IRE conference)!”

06/16/2026

Kavitha Cardoza (MS ’02, journalism) is an assistant professor of journalism at the University of Richmond, and an award-winning reporter, recently receiving the prestigious American Mosaic Journalism Prize for exemplifying excellence in reporting on underrepresented communities in the United States.

Her work has been seen, heard, and read by millions on outlets like NPR, BBC World News, The Washington Post, The Guardian, and The Atlantic. She was also the host of "Breaking Ground with Kavitha Cardoza," a documentary series on education that aired on more than 150 public radio stations.

Cardoza says her decision to get a master’s degree in journalism at the College of Media completely changed her life. Read more about this Media alum who has been passionately elevating stories on “the last, the least, and the littlest,” for the past 20 years.

https://buff.ly/QrfZHlx

06/16/2026

Remembering Gene Shalit, U of I alumnus and film critic, who passed away on June 12 at the age of 100. Shalit wrote for the Daily Illini (he was named Illini Sports Editor in 1945) and graduated in 1949. He was well-known for his regular appearances on The Today Show, beginning in 1973 and continuing for 37 years.

Search issues of the DI:
go.library.illinois.edu/DailyIllini

06/16/2026

Alumnus Carlos Caceres of the Jacksonville Jaguars is featured in an article about his video job. He is a 2008 Journalism graduate.

SVG GameDay's recent feature is Carlos Caceres, the Senior Director of Gameday and Event Production for the Jacksonville Jaguars. In Episode 19 of their series, Caceres takes viewers behind the scenes of live NFL production, sharing what it takes to deliver the game-day experience for fans from EverBank Stadium to London.
He discusses the excitement of hosting an AFC Wild Card game, the significance of upcoming stadium renovations, and the path that led him from the University of Illinois and the Chicago Bears to leading productions in Jacksonville.
Get a glimpse of what Caceres does in the control room to create an electric experience for fans.

06/16/2026

Journalism alumnus Scott Adametz has been named Chief Technology Officer at the Pac-12 Conference. He is a 2007 UI graduate

Pac-12 is the first conference in FBS to hire a Chief Technology Officer
(CTO). This role is responsible for aligning technology strategy with the Pac-12's mission and vision, helping the league remain at the forefront of innovation, fan engagement, and operational excellence and leverage technology, data, and Al as a key part of its go-forward strategy and business model. The role will oversee all aspects of technology, blending strategic leadership with hands-on operational oversight, while also serving as a key member of the conference's leadership.

06/13/2026

U of I alumnus Gene Shalit, long time
“Today Show” film critic dies. The 1949 graduate wrote for the Daily Illini.

He stood out from the TV pack with his bowties, bushy moustache and movie reviews studded with cheeky turns of phrase.

06/12/2026

Remembering Ben Holden, who taught Media Law in the Department of Journalism from 2014-2022.

He led the L-E’s newsroom for six years.

06/11/2026

According to Champaign-Urbana photographer Cary Frye, steel is going up at the new Illini Hall 2 site at Wright and John.