Journalism Education · Consulting · Photography

Building the next
generation of journalists.

Educator, consultant, author, and advocate. Partnering with organizations at the intersection of journalism, news literacy, and community.

Work With Me My Story

About

25 years building voices
through storytelling.

I believe student journalists change the world — and I've spent my career proving it. Over more than 25 years in classrooms from Minnesota to Silicon Valley, I've had the privilege of building scholastic journalism programs from the ground up, advising nationally award-winning publications and watching young people discover their voices through storytelling.

Today, I channel that experience into consulting, teaching and advocacy. Through Birch Avenue Creative, I partner with organizations at the intersection of journalism education, news literacy and community.

I teach in the Master's Program in Journalism Education at Kent State University, and I co-authored a journalism textbook used across the U.S. and Canada. What drives me is simple: young people deserve access to quality youth journalism education, and journalism educators deserve to be recognized, supported and inspired.

Recognition

2026 Linda S. Puntney Teacher Inspiration Award

Journalism Education Association

Dow Jones News Fund National High School Journalism Teacher of the Year

Dow Jones News Fund

Co-Author, Journalism: Publishing across Media

Goodheart-Willcox Company, Chicago · Third Edition 2025 · Used across the U.S. & Canada

Faculty, Master's Program in Journalism Education

Kent State University

Consulting

At the intersection of journalism,
education and community.

Through Birch Avenue Creative, I partner with organizations that believe in the power of student voice, press freedom and the future of journalism education.

01

Program Development

Building and strengthening scholastic journalism programs from the ground up — curriculum, culture and sustainability.

02

Educator Support

Professional development, coaching, and advocacy for journalism educators who deserve recognition and inspiration.

03

News Literacy

Helping communities and organizations build critical media literacy in an era of information complexity.

Clients & Partners Press Pass NYC Journalistic Learning Initiative Center for Community News Kent State University

Photography

Seeing the world through
a storyteller's eye.

From the streets of Florence to the Scottish shore — photography as a way of paying attention to the world. Click any photo to view full size.

Scooters (Florence)
Scooters (Florence)
Cotswolds Doorway (England)
Cotswolds Doorway (England)
Canterbury Cathedral (England)
Canterbury Cathedral (England)
Inner Hebrides (Scotland)
Inner Hebrides (Scotland)
Pleasant Hill (Kentucky, USA)
Pleasant Hill (Kentucky, USA)
Ponte Vecchio (Florence)
Ponte Vecchio (Florence)
Pasta bar owner (Florence)
Pasta bar owner (Florence)
Duomo (Florence)
Duomo (Florence)
Florence restaurant
Florence restaurant
Lola on the Salt Flats (Nevada, USA)
Lola on the Salt Flats (Nevada, USA)
Laurent House by Frank Lloyd Wright (Illinois, USA)
Laurent House by Frank Lloyd Wright (Illinois, USA)
TWA Lobby (JFK Airport, New York)
TWA Lobby (JFK Airport, New York)

© Ellen Austin | Birch Avenue Creative — all rights reserved

Interested in using or purchasing any of these images? Get in touch.

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© Ellen Austin | Birch Avenue Creative — all rights reserved
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Writing

On journalism, creativity,
& finding joy.

Austintations is where the professional and the personal meet. I write about journalism and education, but also about photography, travel and creativity — and what it means to find joy and meaning in a complicated time.

Journalism Creativity Travel Photography Finding Joy
Read Austintations on Substack

From Austintations

"Young people deserve access to quality journalism education."

Reflections on 25 years of watching student journalists discover their voices — and why that work matters more than ever.

Contact

If you care about student voice,
let's connect.

Whether you're an organization looking to build or strengthen a journalism program, an educator seeking support or someone who simply believes in the power of student storytelling — I'd love to hear from you.

Austintations on Substack LinkedIn — Ellen Austin birchavenuecreative@gmail.com birchavenuecreative.com