On April 14, 2026, we welcomed Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times opinion columnist Carlos Lozada to campus as our annual New York Times Speaker. In “Defining Moments: Building a Career in Political Journalism,” Lozada reflected on his professional journey and the broader responsibilities of journalists in shaping public understanding of political and cultural issues. He emphasized the importance of intellectual curiosity, continuous learning, and adaptability when navigating career pathways in journalism.
Lozada also spoke about the long-term development of a journalism career, highlighting that meaningful professional growth often comes from the willingness to step outside comfort zones and continue evolving over time.
The talk was followed by a Q&A session where the audience engaged with Carlos on topics including media credibility, political discourse, current challenges in journalism, and the role of opinion writing.
Beyond the keynote, Lozada participated in classroom visits with FIU students on both the MMC and BBC campuses, an experience that he described as one of the most meaningful parts of his visit. During these sessions, he met with students in smaller academic settings and focused on media literacy, writing, and multimedia production. Conversations included evaluating credibility in information, strengthening communication skills, and understanding how journalism continues to evolve across digital platforms. These visits also allowed students to engage directly with Lozada, ask questions about career pathways, and receive guidance on their own professional development.
Marvin Poliard, a Political Science major with a minor in International Relations, shared that Lozada’s perspective on career evolution and continuous learning strongly resonated with his own academic journey and the importance of constructive respectful dialogue as a foundation of democratic engagement. Marvin described the conversation as a memorable experience, noting the opportunity to directly share ideas and receive thoughtful engagement from a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist.
The NYT Speaker Series is part of FIU’s broader effort to connect academic learning with real-world professional experience by bringing distinguished journalists to campus to explore global issues and current trends shaping media and storytelling. As FIU continues its partnership with The New York Times, the Speaker Series remains a cornerstone initiative that bridges classroom learning with global learning in practice, while empowering students to actively participate in conversations shaping today’s media landscape.