NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State University’s Society of Professional Journalists, in partnership with Purple Media Network, will host a panel event in honor of Student Press Freedom Day. The event is open to NSU students and the Natchitoches community and will take place Wednesday, Feb. 25 at 5:30 p.m. in the Lucile Hendrick Room on the first floor of the NSU Student Union, 185 Sam Sibley Drive. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in discussions about press freedom through a panel featuring faculty and student media representatives.
Kallie Bourgeois, editor-in-chief of The Current Sauce and president of NSU’s Society of Professional Journalists chapter, spoke on the event’s significance.
“As we hold our second annual Student Press Freedom Panel event, I hope the NSU and Natchitoches community will understand the importance of fighting for free press and speech, especially during these trying times as student journalists,” she said. “I’ve decided to bring in other student media to showcase how active we are on campus. This panel is not just for our industry, but it demonstrates the importance of ethical and accurate journalism for our community.”
The collaborative effort brings together student leaders and members from across Purple Media to recognize the importance of student press freedom and the role of student journalists in today’s media landscape.
This year’s panelists include Bourgeois, Dr. Keith Dromm, Daviion Telsee, Dr. Greg Granger and K.C. Thompson.
Dromm serves as interim director of the Louisiana Scholars’ College at NSU and is a professor of philosophy. His work focuses on ethics, civic discourse and interdisciplinary learning, and he contributes to student research and honors programs within the Scholars’ College.
Telsee is a multimedia journalist and reporter for KALB-TV. He joined the station in 2024 after graduating from NSU with a bachelor’s degree in communication and minors in creative writing and film. At NSU, he contributed to The Current Sauce and NSU-TV news, served as vice president of NSU-TV news, worked as an ESPN+ camera operator and hosted his own podcast, “In the Den with Davo: Real People, Real Conversation.” Outside of journalism, he enjoys spending time with family, working out, playing basketball and attending his grandfather’s church.
Granger earned his doctorate in political science from the University of New Orleans in 1996 and has taught political science and history at NSU since 1995.
Thompson, a junior communications major, serves as external music director and Demon Fest co-chair of KNWD and vice president of NSU’s Society of Professional Journalists chapter.
NSU’s Purple Media organizations and SPJ encourage members of the community to attend as they honor Student Press Freedom Day.