Reinvent: A Video Innovation Summit
Reimagining storytelling in a digital age

Thank you to our presenters and attendees!

Northeastern University, Boston Campus

Our two-day conference at Northeastern University delved into the forefront of innovation in video storytelling — from novel advancements in news reporting to the growing influence of social media. We’ll talked about new and emerging methods of video storytelling on digital platforms, artificial intelligence, the business side of video production, and more. We had keynotes from industry trailblazers and hands-on workshops as attendees learned, interacted and collaborated with fellow storytellers from across the country.

Keynote Speakers

Swati Sharma is the editor-in-chief and publisher of Vox, the premier explanatory journalism brand at Vox Media. In this role, she oversees the publication’s editorial vision and business strategy as it reaches wider audiences in more places and in more formats than ever before. Sharma previously spent her career at legacy news organizations, most recently as a managing editor at The Atlantic, where she oversaw digital coverage through a pandemic, a racial reckoning, and a historic election. Before that, she spent more than four years at The Washington Post, where she was the deputy general assignment editor working on breaking news during President Trump’s first year in office.

The Washington Post Tik Tok Team

Carmella Boykin is a host and producer on The Washington Post Universe team. She writes, shoots and edits vertical news videos that often involve creating clones of herself to explain news topics. Previously, Carmella worked as a local TV reporter in Rochester, NY where she started her TikTok account. She joined the Post in December 2021 and holds a degree in Broadcast and Digital Journalism from Syracuse University.

David Jorgenson is a senior video reporter leading the Washington Post TikTok Team. He launched the TikTok channel in May of 2019 and no one ever told him to stop. He also interviews kids around the country for his show “Short Takes.” Honors and Awards include Forbes Media 30 Under 30, 2021; Best Influencer — The Webby Awards.

Joseph Ferguson is a host and producer on The Washington Post Universe team, where he writes, shoots, and edits, engaging vertical news videos that blend humor with informative content. Previously, he worked as a video producer for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, where he launched the explainer series “In Context.” Joseph holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Winthrop University.

Maribel Lopez is the Senior Director and Head of PBS Digital Studios, where she oversees award-winning digital programming and partnerships with PBS member stations to engage the next generation of public media supporters. Under her leadership, PBS Digital Studios has become a leader in online content creation for adults 18-44, reaching over 30 million users and generating 50 million views monthly on YouTube. Before joining PBS in 2021, Maribel held creative and leadership roles at Twin Cities PBS, where she served as executive producer of the award-winning YouTube series Sound Field and managing director of Racism Unveiled, an initiative on racism in Minnesota. Maribel is a passionate advocate for engaging younger audiences and cultivating future public media leaders. She is an Aspen Ideas Festival Fellow, a Poynter Leadership Academy alum, and has served as a mentor for PBS Digital Immersion and Public Media Women in Leadership. Maribel holds a bachelor’s degree in mass communications and Spanish from Wartburg College.

Full Schedule

Friday, March 21, 2025 – Alumni Center

9:00 a.m. – Event opens

  • Breakfast pastries & coffee

9:45 a.m.

  • PANEL: The Future of Local TV News: Lessons from the 2023-24 Reinventing TV Fellows
    • Gabby Aidam, Animation Fellow
    • Angela Chen, WLS Fellow
    • Maggie Cole, WCBS Fellow
    • Margaret Cronan, WCVB News Director
    • Nneka Nwosu Faison, WLS Vice President, Marketing
    • Leanna Scachetti, WCVB Fellow
    • Cathy Shallcross, WCBS Streaming & Digital Director

11:15 a.m.

  • PANEL: Local News Trends Uncovered: What The Data Tells Us
    • Seth Geiger, SmithGeiger President
    • Keren Henderson, Syracuse University Associate Professor

12:30 p.m.

  • PANEL: The Power of Voice: Building a Distinct Digital News Identity
    • Tara McGowan, COURIER Founder + Publisher 
    • Phil Tenser, WCVB Digital Media Manager

1:30 p.m. – Lunch

2:00 p.m.

  • PANEL: Storytelling Unbound: Experimental Video Student & Alumni Showcase
    • Danae Bucci, WCVB Reporter
    • Jonathan Mejia, FOX26 Houston Reporter
    • Mike Beaudet’s Experimental Video Storytelling students

3:00 p.m.

  • PANEL: Newsroom 2.0: Harnessing AI for Video and Beyond
    • David Cohn, Advance Digital Senior Director, Generative AI Innovation for Content and the Newsroom
    • Meghan Murphy, Online News Association Director of Programs

4:00 p.m. – Day session ends

6:00 p.m. – Reception begins

  • Drinks & appetizers

7:00 p.m.

  • KEYNOTE by Swati Sharma, Vox Editor-in-Chief & Publisher 

Saturday, March 22, 2025 – ISEC

Saturday, March 22, 2025 – ISEC

9:00 a.m. – Event opens

  • Breakfast pastries & coffee

9:30 a.m.

  • KEYNOTE by Maribel Lopez, Senior Director & Head of PBS Digital Studios

11:30 a.m.

  • PANELS:
    • From Graphics to Narrative: Animation in News Storytelling
      • Gabby Aidam, Animation Fellow
      • Adriana Aguilar, Former WLS Animation Fellow
      • Bob Curran, Former WCVB Animation Fellow
      • Joey Sendaydiego, Vox.com Art Director
    • Accessible Storytelling: Making Video Inclusive for All
      • Jody Santos, Northeastern University & Disability Justice Project
      • Jason Strother, Lens15 Media
    • Right Story, Right Platform: Mastering Social Video
      • Craig Duff, The Medill School at Northwestern University Professor
      • Adriana Lacy, Adriana Lacy Consulting

12:30 p.m. – Lunch

1:30 p.m.

  • KEYNOTE by Carmella Boykin, Joseph Ferguson, and Dave Jorgenson of the Washington Post’s TikTok team

3:00 p.m.

  • HANDS-ON WORKSHOPS:
    • Going Viral with Matt Shearer: Social Media Storytelling Workshop
      • Matt Shearer, WBZ NewsRadio
    • The AI Toolbox: Enhancing Newsroom Workflows
      • Keren Henderson, Syracuse University Associate Professor
  • PANEL: Video Storytelling at a Crossroads: Business Strategies & Insights
    • Evie Kintzer, GBH Vice President Strategy & Business Development
    • Dan Lothian, GBH News Editor-In-Chief
    • Sean McLaughlin, Graham Media Group Vice President of News

4:30 p.m.

  • HANDS-ON WORKSHOPS:
    • B-Side Breakdown: Social Video & Newsletters with Emily Schario
      • Emily Schario, Director of Multimedia Storytelling and Head of Content for The B-Side
    • Hidden Gems: Finding & Producing Underreported Stories
      • Gabby Aidam, Animation Fellow
      • Angela Chen, WLS Fellow
      • Maggie Cole, WCBS Fellow
      • Leanna Scachetti, WCVB Fellow
    • Shoot Like a Pro: Essential Videography Skills Workshop
      • Bob Crowley, CNN Senior Photojournalist
      • Jennifer Platt-Ure, WCVB Chronicle Videographer

Funded by The Stanton Foundation