Note: As of February 2025, our interview subject is Charlie Spicer (he/him). This interview was conducted in March 2023.

On this episode of The Journalism Salute, we’re joined by Sarah Spicer. Sarah is a news editor for the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). She was just named to Editor & Publisher’s “25 Under 35.” Sarah is a graduate of Emporia State University in Kansas, where she was editor-in-chief of her school paper, as well as Columbia School of Journalism.

Sarah talked about her current role and the work that CPJ does to fight for reporter’s rights and safety worldwide (the organization helped free 130 journalists in 2022). She also shared her journalism origin story and walked us through the award-winning team coverage she was a part of at Emporia State exposing a Title IX sexual assault cover-up involving a tenured professor and a student. She spoke about her time in the Report for America program covering climate change and what a polarizing topic that was in Kansas.

Sarah also discussed the dangers of being a journalist in 2023, gave advice for aspiring journalists specific to finding a niche, and told us about some of her other projects, including a memoir about her life and the navigation of Kansas’ foster care system.

Sarah’s salutes: Nellie Bly, Dorothy Thompson, Emily Atkin, Zoya Teirstein.

Thank you as always for listening. Please send us feedback at [email protected], visit our website at thejournalismsalute.org and Mark's website (MarkSimonmedia.com) or tweet us at @journalismpod.