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I’m a longtime journalist, journalism researcher, and educator invested in helping…
Articles by Yelena
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Don't knock Baruch.
Don't knock Baruch.
On the day I learned I’d been accepted into my dream school, I jumped up and down and cried into my best friend’s arms.…
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Yelena Dzhanova reposted thisYelena Dzhanova reposted thisNearly 300 ultra-talented media professionals were suddenly left out in the cold — not only without a job but also without any severance — by The Messenger one week ago. Please do what you can to help. https://gofund.me/53b4d6efDonate to Help ex-Messenger Employees Left Without Severance, organized by Jody SerranoDonate to Help ex-Messenger Employees Left Without Severance, organized by Jody Serrano
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Yelena Dzhanova reposted thisYelena Dzhanova reposted thisI'm still processing the end of The Messenger, but on this first Monday after we were all laid off, the positive aspect I'm clinging to—and what most impresses me—is the continued support and camaraderie among my former colleagues. Thank you to everyone who has reached out. And thank you to the various colleagues who immediately shared hacks to preserve clips after the site disappeared, who saved contacts so we could keep in touch and who have all been supporting one another as we enter the job search after one of the worst months in media layoffs. I also need to give a special shout out to the Audience team specifically and their work at The Messenger. I’m so proud of these teams and what they accomplished and created in such a short time. Our Social Media Team, led by the kind and fiercely dedicated Josh Chavers, along with Jensen Rubinstein, Jessica Campisi, Liana Greenway, Regan Huston, Aishwarya Nag Choudhury, Emma Loewenthal, Jodi G., Sinobia Aiden, and Victoria Siwek, constantly adapted to changing strategies, new platforms, and evolving algorithms to find our audience on social. The Audience Editorial team, under the astute leadership and pitching power of Managing Editor Tanita A. Gaither (She/her) with Aysha Qamar, Blake Harper, Brinley Hineman, Carley Welch, Elizabeth Urban, Jenna Sundel, Nick Gallagher, Zachary Rogers, and Yelena Dzhanova, were idea machines who brought in millions of new readers and balanced service journalism with stories that end up in r/NotTheOnion. And, last but certainly not least, our Social Video team, helmed by the caring and creative Hallie Steiner, alongside Alex Coles, Brianna Burke, Carina Francisco, Frances Shirley, Ilana Karp, Monica Mendoza, Noa Wollstein, Pilar Belendez-Desha, and Yanise Cabrera, built a social video following from the ground up and went viral week after week with their thoughtful observations of the news and world around us. If you’ve made it this far, you’re probably confused by the photos attached. This is also to say: Thank you for putting up with me when I came to team meetings or Slack with the world's worst photoshops and graphics — usually at your expense. You made a hectic, weird ride fun. To the industry peers reading this: if you seek individuals who are not just talented but possess an indomitable spirit, who can innovate under pressure and elevate your projects with their passion and expertise, then the solution is simple: hire all of these people immediately. #TheMessenger #layoffs #openforwork #reporting #socialmedia #videoproduction #audiencedevelopment
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Yelena Dzhanova shared thisTanita is a star story spotter and storyteller, and I’m happy to have had the chance to learn from and work with her. She’s also a compassionate and candid manager who always worked to uplift me and the rest of the team. Hire her!!Yelena Dzhanova shared thisI've worked a lot of places, and I've worked since I was 15 — the downfall of The Messenger will be a really interesting 3-part doc on Netflix one day (happy to be a consultant on that project for a nominal fee). In case you haven't heard, like all employees heard from the The New York Times, Semafor, Axios, The Daily Beast and others before we even got the email (with the first paragraph copy and pasted twice) — The Messenger unceremoniously folded on Wednesday, Jan. 31. An untimely death for a website on a respirator, but the staff fought hard to breathe on their own. I really loved my gig as Managing Editor of Audience, more than that, I worked with 9 of the most talented of my peers ever — and I am proud that they allowed me to work with them and lead them daily. I'm going to tag them in the comments below so you know who they are. They are really terrific. At any rate, this means that I am officially on the market and looking again! So if you are in need of a maverick newsroom leader, writer, reporter, editor, and all-around good woman to know — feel free to reach out. https://lnkd.in/eKBUCW6JThe Messenger Didn’t Even Tell Staff Before Shutting DownThe Messenger Didn’t Even Tell Staff Before Shutting Down
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Yelena Dzhanova shared thisUnited Way is one of the largest nonprofits in the country. For Business Insider, I spoke with nine former employees who detailed to me their experiences with sexism and misogyny at the nonprofit. They said sexism has run rampant at the organization for decades, and top leadership has for years rewarded men who engaged in misogynistic behavior. And when women reported this behavior or complained about it to senior management or HR, they were often shut down or ignored, they told me. Read more in my story for Business Insider: https://lnkd.in/d8zxbhi #nonprofit #inclusion #culture #unitedway
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Yelena Dzhanova shared thisYelena Dzhanova shared this"Too often, the blind and visually impaired and people with disabilities...are forgotten. It's a sighted world, and it's not that often that computer scientists, information technologists, myself, that are totally blind, have the expertise to be able to look at websites and evaluate them for compliance with the ADA..." says Virginia Jacko. Kudos to Yelena Dzhanova Business Insider for her thorough reporting on a critically important issue of website #accessibility. See Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Inc. latest report on board of election websites here: https://bit.ly/3j3Dq6XMillions of disabled voters could be sidelined in 12 battleground states because of their election websites, new report showsMillions of disabled voters could be sidelined in 12 battleground states because of their election websites, new report shows
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Yelena Dzhanova shared thisThis isn’t my story, but it’s an important one. Nike CEO Mark Parker will step down in January. Just this morning, Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank said he’s stepping down on Jan. 1. https://lnkd.in/dMFW522Nike CEO Mark Parker to step down—ex-eBay CEO John Donahoe to replace himNike CEO Mark Parker to step down—ex-eBay CEO John Donahoe to replace him
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Yelena Dzhanova shared thisThis isn’t my story, but it’s an important one. Nike CEO Mark Parker will step down in January. Just this morning, Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank said he’s stepping down on Jan. 1. https://lnkd.in/dMFW522Nike CEO Mark Parker to step down—ex-eBay CEO John Donahoe to replace himNike CEO Mark Parker to step down—ex-eBay CEO John Donahoe to replace him
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Yelena Dzhanova shared thisI graduated from Baruch College on Monday with a triple major in English, political science, and journalism — and a minor in Spanish. I'm moving on to a full-time role at CNBC, where I'll report and produce news, politics, and your occasional business story. I'm immensely grateful for my time at Baruch, so grateful that I wrote a reflection about it. I thought I'd hate this school, and many people think I do because of the articles The Ticker put out. But I couldn't have asked for a more fulfilling college experience. Thank you, Baruch. #journalism #cnbc #college #grateful #graduation #thanks https://lnkd.in/eKyj-Eg
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Yelena Dzhanova shared thisBuzzFeed News turned out to be an experience I never saw coming. From the beginning of my internship, the news org wowed me. It’s a bustling and energetic environment that simultaneously encourages frequent breaks and lunches with friends. BuzzFeed News believes in its people and strives to make sure they’re happy with themselves and with the work they’re doing. But at the same time, BuzzFeed News grinds hard. The team does great work out on the field and inside a newsroom. And everyone is uplifting and positive. It’s a newsroom like no other. My experience here this summer taught me most of all to be intentional about everything I do in the newsroom. I learned to defend my edits and communicate my thoughts and ideas in different ways. I became deeply familiar with multiple editing styles (AP, UK, Chicago) and was part of significant editorial decision-making. My time here taught me that you CAN work hard and have plenty of fun along the way. I received bylines and skills that I’ll use at both my school newspaper, in independent projects, and at CNN, where I will work in the fall. Thank you for everything, BuzzFeed. This summer was spectacular.
Yelena Dzhanova commented on a post
8mo
This is so cool!
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Yelena Dzhanova reacted on thisYelena Dzhanova reacted on thisSay it with me now and make me want to say Amen! "Student journalists ARE JOURNALISTS." https://lnkd.in/gVJEw2HS'Cornell Daily Sun' reporting brought light to alleged campus assault'Cornell Daily Sun' reporting brought light to alleged campus assault
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Yelena Dzhanova reacted on thisYelena Dzhanova reacted on thisEarlier this month, I wrapped up my summer internship with the TNT Sports Marketing team at Warner Bros. Discovery in New York City. Throughout my internship, I supported marketing campaigns for NHL, US Soccer, boxing, and Spikes Under the Lights, a new women’s college volleyball event I took the lead on. From building creative briefs for tentpole events to contributing to paid media efforts to coordinating graphics for broadcasts, I learned so much and built on my skills in sports marketing. Working on a variety of sports and projects made every day different, and I’m grateful for this opportunity to grow as a marketer. I’d like to thank Dylan Harrison, Brodie Wasserman, and David Wingfield for being an amazing team and making me feel so welcome this summer. Make sure to tune into NHL on TNT’s opening night tonight, it’s going to be epic and we’ve got a great season ahead!🔥
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Yelena Dzhanova liked thisYelena Dzhanova liked thisMy mom is a former English professor and has edited everything from my college essays on Gilgamesh, my angsty articles in the university newspaper, and finally my doctoral dissertation on diarrhea. I figured she earned her retirement and didn’t ask her to read my last article on Women’s Health because I had AI check my grammar. She read it. And then sent me pages she photocopied out of her tech writing textbooks in the mail. The papers smelled like cigarettes, judgement, and of course motherly love. 😂 You may have Claude to help you write, but I have Carol Hamm.
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Yelena Dzhanova liked thisI’m looking forward to speaking alongside pathbreaking scholars and practitioners at this timely event. To those interested in questions surrounding political meaning-making and the connection between sports, pop culture, and politics, this is a can’t-miss symposium. Register while you can!Yelena Dzhanova liked thisAnyone interested in social media and politics should check this out! As digital spaces increasingly replace traditional civic institutions as sites of political meaning-making, it is essential to understand social media's influence on politics beyond the framework of political polarization. This conference brings together content creators including Adam Aleksic (@etymologynerd), researchers such as Danielle Tomson (University of Washington), and movement strategists including Tara McGowan, to theorize online and digital political formation. We hope you will join us from Oct 15-16 at Yale University for this groundbreaking conference. Conference Details: https://lnkd.in/gbY-ii98 Register Here: https://lnkd.in/gRbiZ8CM #Polarization #ProDemocracy #SocialMedia #PoliticalCommunication #PoliticalResearch
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Yelena Dzhanova reacted on thisYelena Dzhanova reacted on thisMuch gratitude to Anita Varma for visiting Klein College of Media and Communication to share insights from her new Columbia University Press book Solidarity in Journalism! https://lnkd.in/gWRFpJBR
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Yelena Dzhanova reacted on thisYelena Dzhanova reacted on thisA lot of people in my age bracket like to say, “Student media doesn’t exist,” or ask, “Who actually reads their school newspaper?” But what The Beacon at WPUNJ has accomplished in the month of September alone has been unbelievable. On September 1, for the first time since before COVID-19, The Beacon released a print issue. We printed 750 copies and placed them throughout the university — and there isn’t a single copy left. The response has been incredible. Day in and day out, I’ve heard from fellow students, peers, faculty, mentors and others connected to William Paterson University of New Jersey about how much of a spark this has brought to campus. And spoiler alert: The next print issue is already in the early planning stages. Beyond the success of our print edition, September has been just as significant digitally. We gained more than 300 new Instagram followers this month, bringing our total to well over 1,400. When I first became Editor-in-Chief, The Beacon had around 880 followers. Being on pace to nearly double that number in a year is something that is still surreal to think about. In September alone, we published 10 stories that surpassed 100 views, three that surpassed 300 views and one that reached more than 1,500 page views. Altogether, we generated more than 8,000 page views this month — a number that, just a year ago, we were struggling to reach in an entire year. And we’re not just chasing numbers. We’ve covered hard news. We’ve covered breaking news. We’ve quite literally run out to the scene when a car was on fire. We’re showing up, telling stories and making sure the William Paterson community has a place to turn for campus news. One of our stories have even made TikTok and accumulated over 180,000 views and over 10,000 likes. (https://lnkd.in/e-Gav-rx) As October approaches, there is still so much more to come for The Beacon. I’m incredibly fortunate to be at the forefront of it all and to work alongside a team that continues to prove that student media is very much alive. And, as always, a huge thank you to Nick Hirshon for all of his guidance and to Sara Birns for giving us the opportunity to create this masterpiece. The best is still ahead. 🗞️
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Yelena Dzhanova liked thisYelena Dzhanova liked thisA student forgot to delete this from the end of his assignment: "This version is way more straightforward and doesn't use a bunch of words you probably wouldn't normally use." Clearly, he had forgotten to delete the part where his AI was talking to him. Being a professor of writing has changed so much in recent years. It's wild. I now find myself obsessed with getting my students to care about using their own voice. To care about finding their voices. To care about putting their name on writing that doesn't reflect their writing, talent, and beliefs. Which is frustrating! But if I can get them to care about these things, I'm probably tapping into something deep and lasting -- maybe even creating a lifelong learner. Still! Young people of the world, just be YOU in your writing! I promise you, your writing professors want the real you, warts and all. Just maybe it's the warts that make you great, anyway.
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Yelena Dzhanova reacted on thisYelena Dzhanova reacted on thisA big moment many years in the making for youth journalism in NYC. To support NYC Youth Journalism Coalition's Journalism for All program, the New York City Council allocated $280,000 to scale and grow the program. In the 2025-2026 academic year: -135 schools across the five boroughs offered at least one journalism course (+90 YoY). 5,700 students completed a journalism course (+76% YoY) -Students with disabilities taking journalism courses jumped 101% to nearly 1,140 students -ELL student participation rose 107% to about 470 students Councilmember Eric Dinowitz said it well: "When a student picks up a notebook or a microphone and starts asking questions, they learn to think critically, communicate clearly, and hold power accountable, skills serving them well beyond the classroom." Taylor McGraw, CJ Sánchez (FKA Wechsler), Sophie Mode, Malik James, Lara Rice Bergen, Helen Gurley Brown Foundation, Charles H. Revson Foundation, Laurel Dumont, Nadav Zeimer Eve Burton https://lnkd.in/gFnMQ-Y2As NYC high school journalism expands, City Council promises more fundingAs NYC high school journalism expands, City Council promises more funding
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Yelena Dzhanova reacted on thisYelena Dzhanova reacted on thisAs I trade journalism for entrepreneurship, there’s something wonderfully fitting about launching my next chapter at a market located on “Communication Avenue.” Next month, I’ll begin introducing Dulcino (my new dessert company inspired by Argentine traditions) at outdoor markets and food fairs across South Florida. Getting here has meant: • Testing many, many, many recipes (and upping my jogging miles after every tasting) • Building the Dulcino brand, from the logo to the market setup and packaging • Navigating permits, insurance, and commercial-kitchen requirements • Working through a very long checklist of everything needed to serve our first customers There’s still plenty happening behind the scenes, and more Dulcino news to come. For now, I’m focused on preparing for our very first market... so if you're in South Florida, please stop by and say hi!
Experience & Education
Volunteer Experience
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Canvasser for Dmytro Fedkowskyj
Dmytro Fedkowskyj for NYS Assembly
- 4 months
Conducted voter contact through phone-banking, canvassing, visibility, and literature development. Analyzed contact data through voter database software post-canvassing.
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Camp Counselor
Queens Community House
- 2 years 3 months
Children
Supervised campers during trips. Played and interacted with kids. Enforced rules and maintained positive atmosphere.
Publications
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“Hi, I’m a researcher”: Correspondence as a neglected methodological dimension of digital ethnography
Critical Studies in Media Communication
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(Re)Imagining Parallels Between Journalistic Instruction and Queerness: A Proposal to Connect Journalism and Queerness at the College Level
Theory, Research, and Action in Urban Education
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How the U.S. Mainstream Media Perpetuates Cis White Masculine Hegemony
The CUNY Graduate Center
Languages
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English
Native or bilingual proficiency
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Russian
Native or bilingual proficiency
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Spanish
Full professional proficiency
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Latin
Limited working proficiency
Organizations
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The Beacon at William Paterson University
Advisory Board Member
- Present -
Qwoted
Advisory Board Member
- Present -
The Youth Journalism Coalition
Steering Committee Member
- Present -
The Newswomen's Club of New York
Deputy Membership Chair
- Present -
The Baruch College Alumni Association
Scholarship Chair and Board Member
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The LCU Fund
Board Member
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