Journalism Student Alina Ajaz awarded Pulitzer Fellowship

Alina Ajaz is the recipient of this summer’s School of Journalism and Media Studies-Pulitzer Center Reporting Fellowship. This fellowship marks the second time that JMS has partnered with the Pulitzer Center to offer a reporting fellowship, which comes with Pulitzer Center mentorship, networking opportunities and a stipend to be spent on travel and reporting costs. As a reporting fellow, Ajaz will travel to Lahore, Pakistan with a mission to investigate the ongoing pollution crisis.

“My parents were born in Pakistan. When I would go there, it felt like a whole different world,” shared Ajaz. “It has always been a dream of mine to give back to my community. When I think long term, I have always wanted to go back to Pakistan and do reporting there.” 

Ajaz hopes that their reporting brings a real human connection to the pollution crisis and draws international attention to the issue.

“This region needs to be humanized. These are just people like you and I but the things they are suffering through are awful. It’s incredibly difficult to go through your life when you can barely breathe. A lot of western media outlets have not reported on this,” said Ajaz.

Ajaz hopes that their reporting will make a difference in people’s lives and that the work from their fellowship will have a lasting impact.

“I wanted to do something that I have close connections with culturally and help give back to a community that has given me so much. All I want to do, really, is make a difference in these people’s lives,” said Ajaz.

Ajaz has been fortunate enough to have many mentors while in the JMS program. However, one professor in particular stands out.

“David Coddon has been instrumental to my process. He has just been such a great help,” said Ajaz.

After they graduate next year, Ajaz hopes to work as a journalist.

“I would like to do more in the investigative journalism realm. I would love to do international affairs reporting and government watchdog reporting,” said Ajaz.