Guest speaker: CNN reporter Chloe Melas

CNN’s Chloe Melas, a correspondent who specializes in investigative reporting, spoke at Columbia Journalism School for a 90-minute investigative workshop on Feb. 18, 2020.

Melas is one of CNN’s top entertainment and investigative journalists, reporting stories for both broadcast and digital. She is renowned for her deep Harvey Weinstein reporting, and breaking the #MeToo stories on allegations against actors Kevin Spacey and Morgan Freeman.

She answered questions about her career, how she got here, and shared tips for others to pursue deep investigations of their own.

Welcome @Chloe_Melas to @columbiajourn for @columbiaspj’s 1st event of 2020!

Chloe has “always been a talker”, she says. But she’s been walking the walk too, with critical coverage of the Weinstein case for @CNN.

And yes, the unstoppable @reedalexander is moderating! pic.twitter.com/NODkQFS6sr
— Columbia Univ. SPJ (@columbiaspj) February 18, 2020

“Report so thoroughly that you can always, always stand by your story. That’s what we do at @CNN,” says @Chloe_Melas to @reedalexander at our @columbiajourn Speaker’s Event.

Melas broke the Kevin Spacey sexual assault story. From IMDB to crying, she went through a lot, herself. pic.twitter.com/ujx4V4X8dC
— Columbia Univ. SPJ (@columbiaspj) February 18, 2020

Brilliant evening listening to how CNN’s @Chloe_Melas broke the sexual assault/harassment stories about Kevin Spacey and Morgan Freeman. She underscored the importance of protecting the identity of sources: “The names of my sources will go with me to my grave.”
— Jem Bartholomew (@JemBartholomew) February 18, 2020