Kate Fink

Kate Fink is an Associate Professor in the Department of Media & Communication Arts at Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, Pace University. She serves as the Graduate Program Director and teaches a wide range of courses in journalism, digital storytelling, and communication. Her office is located in Choate House, Westchester campus, room 223N, with regular office hours on Mondays and Tuesdays from 1:30 PM to 4:00 PM.

Her educational background includes a PhD and MPhil in Communications from Columbia University, an MBA from Duquesne University, and a BA in Slavic Languages and Literatures from the University of Virginia.

Kate Fink’s research focuses on critical issues in contemporary journalism, including digital media, freedom of expression, nonprofit news sustainability, student journalism, and algorithmic accountability. Her work bridges academic scholarship with real-world media challenges, particularly in local and community journalism. She investigates how journalistic labor is shaped by technological pressures, how news organizations maintain independence amid donor influence, and how marginalized communities are represented in the media.

Her recent publications span topics such as transgender representation in news, public records access, data journalism, and experiential learning in communication education. The articles reflect a strong trend toward media ethics, transparency, civic engagement, and the evolving business models of journalism in the digital age.

Scientific Awards:

• Covert Award, Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication History Division, 2015
• Top Academic Paper, Journalist's Resource, Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy, Harvard University, 2014

Kate Fink is actively involved in mentoring students and leading curriculum development, particularly through her role as Graduate Program Director. She has secured research funding from the Helene and Grant Wilson Center for Social Entrepreneurship for her project Sustaining Local News Nonprofits, which examines the financial and ethical challenges facing nonprofit journalism. Her professional service includes membership in the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication and the International Communication Association, and she has served as a Faculty in Residence with the Office of Residential Life. She is also certified in online teaching and data-driven journalism, reflecting her commitment to innovative and effective pedagogy.

She leads research on nonprofit media sustainability and has developed expertise in digital storytelling, drone journalism, and multi-platform communication, contributing significantly to both academic discourse and practical media education.