The Columbia Journalism School has announced that Olivia Ndubuisi, a 2025 M.A. graduate in Science and Politics, has been awarded the prestigious 2025 Joan Konner Program in the Journalism of Ideas Fellowship.
As part of the fellowship, Ndubuisi will produce a podcast titled The Malaria Podcast—a three-part audio series that delves into the history, current state, and gene-editing future of malaria in sub-Saharan Africa.
Her work will explore the ethical dilemmas and public health implications surrounding the use of gene-editing technologies in the fight against one of the world’s deadliest diseases.
Ndubuisi aims to connect with diverse global audiences—from American listeners affected by blood donation restrictions to Nigerians grappling with how cutting-edge science may shape their future.
“With malaria, the past is as important as the future,” she says. “Understanding why past solutions failed may help us decide whether to embrace or reject the futuristic interventions being proposed.”
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A seasoned Nigerian journalist, Ndubuisi has extensive experience in production, reporting, and content commissioning across radio, television, and digital media.
At the BBC, she worked as a senior broadcast journalist, leading multimedia feature projects from Anglophone West Africa and contributing to acclaimed global initiatives such as Dear Daughter, which won Audible’s Podcast of the Year in 2022.
She is also the 2025 recipient of the Arthur J. Harrison Prize for her outstanding reporting and is currently investigating the effects of declining USAID support for neglected tropical diseases in Nigeria and across Africa.
The Joan Konner Fellowship honors the legacy of Joan Konner (’61 M.S.), a former Dean of Columbia Journalism School, documentary producer, and media executive.
Konner is also known for introducing major innovations at the School, including launching the part-time M.S. and Ph.D. programs.
Her family continues her legacy by supporting initiatives such as this fellowship, which is open to master’s graduates from the past six years and Ph.D. candidates who have completed coursework.
Source: https://journalism.columbia.edu/news/2025-konner-fellow
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