Jack Lewis '25
Jan 17, 2025
On Monday, January 13, 2025, Mercersburg Academy welcomed PBS NewsHour foreign affairs and defense correspondent Nick Schifrin as this year’s Schaff Lecture on Ethics and Morals. Schifrin shared powerful reflections on the role of empathy in journalism and the moral complications of reporting from conflict zones around the world.
Schifrin began his talk by recounting a poignant moment from his time covering the war in Ukraine. He met a Ukrainian mother whose son had been tortured and killed during the conflict. He stood with her as she identified his exhumed body. Despite the unimaginable pain she was enduring, Schifrin approached their conversation with empathy, asking her gently, “Tell me about your son.”
Schiffrin mentioned another moment when interviewing victims of war, admitting, “I was already crying before what she said was translated.” Her tone and body language expressed more than the translator’s words. He explained that as a reporter, he aimed to honor her story without exploiting her grief and described how this is the same for any journalist covering such events.
Schifrin has had an extensive career, taking him to some of the world’s most dangerous regions. From reporting on the annexation of Crimea and the war in Gaza to covering the Syrian conflict and the fallout of Osama bin Laden’s death, his work has had to respond to the realities of war and the ethical dilemmas journalists face in the field.
Schifrin noted the personal toll of his lifelong work, particularly on his family. Reflecting on a broadcast in 2014 in Gaza, he recalled a text he received from his mother in which she conveyed her fears for his safety. Despite this personal tug, he emphasized the importance of the work, describing it as a responsibility to inform the public and amplify the voices of those directly affected by conflict as well as a calling in his own life.
His emphasis on empathy extended beyond individual stories to the larger mission of journalism. Schifrin argued that ethical reporting requires journalists to truly listen and seek understanding, rather than simply chase headlines. He encouraged the audience to consider the moral weight of storytelling and the impact it has on both the subjects and the audience.
With a bachelor’s degree from Columbia University and a master’s degree from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, Schifrin has built his career on integrity and a commitment to uncovering truth. His work has received numerous awards, including the Peabody Award and the National Press Club’s Edwin M. Hood Award for Diplomatic Correspondence.
Schifrin concluded his formal lecture, leaving the audience eager to ask questions.
“I thought the speaker last night was incredible. I will remember his answer about world peace for a long time. The idea that humanity is the opposite of war resonated a lot with me,” Addie Heldman ‘25 explained. “I was also really excited that the school brought in someone who works in media and journalism because I think now more than ever, they impact our age group.”
“It was cool to see outside my bubble. I’m in a really good place, but there are people out there going through so much,” Asher Keim ‘28 said. “Seeing what others are dealing with and feeling for them was eye-opening.”