By Aurora Martínez, Journalism senior
An enthusiastic journalist since middle school and a self-described political junkie, CJC student Brett Posner-Ferdman wanted to be the change he wants to see in the world. Media literacy and holding a global perspective kept him on the right track.
Posner-Ferdman, a Journalism senior, is originally from Toronto and doesn’t let a day go by without checking three different news sources: one focused on American news, like CNN, The New York Times or The Washington Post; one with a more global perspective, like BBC; and the Toronto Star, Canada’s largest daily newspaper.
“It gives me a holistic picture,” he said. “If you’re only listening to what’s happening in your own country, then you’re deaf to the rest of the world.”
The 21-year-old moved to Miami in 2011 and is now a senior double majoring in journalism and political science. Since his freshman year, he has gained hands-on experience doing investigative digging and developing data analysis skills with the Brechner Center for the Advancement of the First Amendment.
Cognizant that from a very young age journalism and politics have been the cornerstone of his identity, Posner-Ferdman’s experience with research and data literacy as well as the mentorship of former Brechner Center Director Frank LoMonte led him to intern at the CNN Washington, D.C., bureau this past summer. He joined The Row team, which he describes as the backbone of CNN, a team that works on securing editorial quality — from fact-checking and copy editing to assigning and keeping track of stories developing at bureaus across the world.
“There’s a very rapid sort of element of getting things done in The Row,” Posner-Ferdman said. “You have to work fast; you have to work accurately.”
He said the job wasn’t easy, but it was rewarding. He rubbed shoulders and worked with high-profile professionals, including award-winning reporter Marshall Cohen and justice and crime reporter Katelyn Polantz. Whether providing feedback on stories, responding to correspondence within a minute or fact-checking Mike Pence’s and Chris Christie’s town halls as they were happening, Posner-Ferdman said there was never a dull moment.
“One minute, you could be working on a piece about the war in Ukraine. The next minute, it could be a Trump piece. And then the third piece could be a story about a seahorse hotel in Australia,” Posner-Ferdman said.
Outside of work, living in a new city was challenging, he said, because he lacked a social circle, but he still used his free time to make his own fun. He would explore places in the city and surrounding areas without any pressures, taking advantage of the capital’s public transport, distinct neighborhoods and array of free museums.
