Special thanks to English instructor Spenser Simrill for this article and the photos:
COLUMBIA, S.C. – A group of students from Christ School traveled to the University of South Carolina last Tuesday to attend a public lecture on information literacy featuring investigative journalist Gina Smith, founder of SC Investigate and a 2024-25 Nieman Fellow at Harvard University.
The lecture, titled “Who Can You Trust?”, explored the growing challenges of misinformation and disinformation in the digital age and emphasized the role of investigative journalism in strengthening accountability and rebuilding public trust.
Before the lecture, students toured USC’s School of Journalism and Mass Communications, gaining firsthand exposure to student media, research initiatives, and the evolving landscape of modern journalism.
“This felt like a laboratory for the humanities,” said Evan Reich ’26. “A place where new ideas are tested, where experimentation is encouraged, and where journalism is treated as essential to democracy.”
Students reflected on the relevance of the lecture to their daily lives, particularly in navigating news and social media.
“I learned how to tell what’s real and what’s not,” said Dylan Twitty ’27. “It showed me that you can use social media for news – but you have to know how to evaluate it.”
Tyler Melvin ’27 echoed that sentiment, noting that the lecture addressed “one of the biggest problems in our society today – misinformation – and gave us tools to find reliable information.”
The visit was made possible in part through the support of Christ School alumnus Ed Roberts ’61, whose commitment to information literacy helped bring the program to life.
“Plainspoken and from the heart,” Roberts said of the lecture. “A powerful reminder of what journalism should be.”
The visit was hosted by USC School of Journalism and Mass Communications Dean Tom Reichert and Associate Professor Brett W. Robertson, who helped introduce students to the school’s academic programs and professional pathways.
Faculty chaperone Spenser Simrill noted the unique value of USC’s integrated approach. “To see theory, practice, and data science combined under one roof – with strong industry connections – was remarkable. This is one of the defining issues of our time – Information Literacy – and our students experienced it up close.”
The trip included the following students – Dylan, Evan, Keion Conley ‘27, Owen Brady ‘28, Owen Reich ‘29, Tyler Jones ‘26, Tyler Melvin ‘27, Whaley Nichols ‘28, Nolan Johnson ‘27, Henry Cronlund ‘27, Mike Burgos Resendiz ‘28, and Talin Patel ‘27, with faculty chaperones being Mr. Simrill and Mark Thompson P’24, P’26.
For many students, the visit offered not only a deeper understanding of journalism, but also a glimpse into their own future.
“I could see myself here,” said Keion.