Marie Colvin's Journalism Legacy to be Memorialized at New SBU Center

Fundraising is under way at the Stony Brook School of Journalism to establish a program in honor of Marie Colvin, the journalist and Long Island native who was killed in February during a rocket attack while covering a violent conflict in Syria.

According to the university's announcement last week, the Marie Colvin Center for International Reporting will meet three needs: the need to "grow the next generation of overseas reporters" through curriculum and other program opportunities; raise awareness of the need in society for in-depth foreign news coverage; and establish a fellowship to bring in outstanding war correspondents to teach at Stony Brook.

Ilana Ozernoy, an assistant professor in the School of Journalism, called the center an ever-evolving idea that will "promote and protect her legacy and nurture the next generation of war correspondents."

Ozernoy herself had the chance to meet Colvin on several occasions while they were reporters in Iraq between 2003 and 2005. She described Colvin as a driven, courageous, and tenacious journalist and a warm, open person as well. Additionally, she said, it's important for young women in the field to have an accomplished female journalist to look up to among a population of mostly male war correspondents.

"I think it's really important when you're coming up in the world of journalism to have role models, because it really is an uphill battle," she said.

According to Ozernoy, the announcement has been met with enthusiasm by many students in the School of Journalism.

"It's interesting when you're in J-School at the undergraduate level," she said.
"... We're going to be able to prepare them for the demands of working in the field."