Three Questions for Rachel Hale (BA’24)

Name: Rachel Hale

Title and Organization: Youth Mental Health Reporting Fellow at USA TODAY

Graduation Year and Degrees: 2024 BAs in Journalism and Political Science

Rachel Hale (BA’24) was recently awarded the Religion News Association’s Chandler Award for Excellence in Student Religion Reporting for her article, “Fractured Solidarity: The Strain of the Israel-Hamas War on Wisconsin’s Jewish Community.” Hale’s reporting covered the immediate aftermath of October 7 through the growing intensity of conversations about Israel and Gaza at the Republic and Democratic National Conventions in 2024. The Chandler Award, established in 2002, was the first secular award in the country to recognize student journalists for religion reporting. Hale currently covers youth mental health as a USA Today Reporting Fellow. She shared what this award means to her as well as her advice for students who aspire to do conflict reporting after graduation.

When it comes to the Chandler Award, what are you most proud of?

I’m most proud of how my reporting utilized nuance during a time of misinformation and polarization. I wanted to cut through the tension and breaking news headlines to report features that provided insight into the impact of the Israel-Hamas war on Jews around the state. The vulnerability and trust of my sources was vital in putting forth empathetic storytelling.

What’s the best advice you have for a SJMC student who wants to do what you do?

When it comes to religion and conflict reporting, building trust with sources before news breaks is crucial. The most illuminating perspectives on campus may not always be the loudest or most easily accessible ones, but your reporting will be that much better because you took the time to find them. When reporting on polarizing situations, be quick to listen, slow to assume, and cognizant that multiple realities can be true at once.

What is your favorite SJMC memory?

I have fond memories of print nights in the Daily Cardinal office at Vilas Hall, where I ended up spending more time talking with friends than writing. I also enjoyed Stacy Forster’s Magazine Journalism course, where I had a ton of fun making a magazine with some of my closest friends in the J School.