10 Days in Angola: My search for identity through historical investigative journalism

Nichelle Smith, former enterprise 
and investigative editor at USA TODAY and founder of the publication’s annual 
Black History Month editions, was the leader of several award-winning projects, including
 1619: Searching for Answers.

On Tuesday February 28th as part of the Carleton School of Journalism and Communications Black History Month lecture series, Smith will deliver a talk on why historical journalism is important, her recent investigative reporting on the ground in Angola, and project creation in the newsroom as it pertains to People of Color.

Smith is a 33-year veteran journalist. Her specialty is historical investigative journalism, which combines investigative techniques with historical research to surface untold stories and correct or enhance the record about people of colour.

Smith is a former enterprise and investigative editor at USA TODAY and founder of the publication’s annual Black History Month editions. She was the leader of several award-winning race and diversity projects, including Civil Rights in America, Changing Face of America, 1968, 1619: Searching for Answers, and Never Been Told: The Lost History of People of Color.

Prior to arriving at USA TODAY, Nichelle was features editor at Gannett News Service, a public affairs specialist for the Smithsonian Institution, copy chief for Black Entertainment Television's Weekend Magazine, and a writer and editor for the Dayton Daily News, the (Gary, Ind.) Post-Tribune and the Fort Wayne (Ind.) News-Sentinel.

She has won 4 National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) Salute to Excellence Awards for her many projects.

As part of the Carleton School of Journalism and Communications 2023 Black History Month lecture series, Nichelle will deliver a talk on why historical journalism is important, her recent investigative reporting on the ground in Angola, and project creation in the newsroom as it pertains to People of Color.

During her three-day stay, Nichelle will also participate in at least three OCDSB school related events. These encounters with local Ottawa high school students are part of the Carleton School of Journalism’s ongoing efforts to recruit more Black and racialized students. The school visits will involve brief presentations and Q &A sessions.