Meet the Reporters 2023
Klara Bauters is a Belgian journalist pursuing a master’s at Columbia Journalism School, where she’s also vice-president of the Women in Media affinity group. She graduated with a master’s degree in English Linguistics and Literature from Ghent University in 2023. She has experience in print, radio and television, with interests in social injustice, culture and international affairs.
LinkedIn: KlaraBauters Instagram: klarabauters
Xinyuan Cao is a graduate student at Columbia Journalism School. Born and raised in China, she earned a dual bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Sciences Po and The University of Hong Kong. She is interested in telling stories across cultures, covering social issues and international affairs. Her past working experience includes public relations and working as a legal assistant.
Ella Chakarian is a Columbia Journalism School graduate student. Prior to moving to New York City, Ella was a Los Angeles-based writer at E! News, where she wrote fashion, lifestyle and entertainment stories. With a deep curiosity for investigative reporting, Ella is passionate about telling meaningful stories about conflict, corruption, human rights issues and more.
Lauren Dalban was raised in London and given a bilingual French and English education. She is currently a Journalism Master’s student with experience in feature and news writing. She has a B.A. in English and history from the University of Virginia, and hopes to eventually write for popular magazines back home in London.
Connor Greene
Emily Injeian is a graduate student at Columbia Journalism School. She covers housing and government in New York City.
Jillian Magtoto is a graduate student at Columbia Journalism School. Originally from Los Angeles, she graduated from UC Berkeley in 2023 with degrees in ecosystems management and rhetoric. She has worked in food and sustainability consulting, and at an agricultural technology company for three years. She is interested in climate and science reporting.
Katie Moody, originally from Midcoast Maine, is a reporter and graduate student at Columbia Journalism School. She has a background in climate policy, nonprofit advocacy and environmental writing. She holds a bachelor’s degree in geography from Dartmouth College.
LinkedIn: Katelin Moody
Allison Otis is a graduate student at Columbia Journalism School. She graduated from Stanford University in 2014 with a bachelor’s in communications and a minor in art history. She has worked in New York City as a buyer for Bloomingdale’s for the past eight years. She is interested in arts, culture and entertainment reporting.
Surbhi Sharma is an international student pursuing a dual M.S. in Computer Science and Journalism. She has prior experience in various technical roles, including software engineering, project associate, web developer and technical writer. Surbhi holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science with honors from India.
Twitter: @ssurbhi560, Instagram: @surbhiii.sharma, LinkedIn: /in/ssurbhi560
Karthik Sreedhar is a graduate student at Columbia Journalism School and interested in reporting on animal welfare, sports and transportation in New York City. He graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, in 2023, majoring in electrical engineering & computer science, applied mathematics and history.
Bence Szechenyi is a master’s student at Columbia Journalism School. He was previously a Fulbright scholar in Budapest, Hungary
Amelia Valery is a graduate student at Columbia Journalism School. She earned a Bachelor’s in Mass Communication from the University of Montevallo in Spring 2023. She is interested in becoming a photojournalist, focusing on travel and conflict reporting.
LinkedIn: Amelia Valery
Shayeza Walid is a graduate student at Columbia Journalism School. She has lived in multiple cities, including Boston, Hong Kong, London, New York and Dhaka in Bangladesh. She was a dual degree major in Media Studies and Comparative Literature at Wellesley and MIT, before completing her undergraduate studies at University College London. She is interested in covering race, climate and arts and culture.
