Stories that Matter

A conversation with Michael Bolden, Sandra Kegel and Liliana Michelena

As local newsrooms continue to shrink and “news deserts” expand, how can journalism rebuild trust, serve communities, and strengthen democracy? Join us for an evening with Sandra Kegel, literary and media editor of Germany’s Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung; Liliana Michelena, Mission Local reporter and multimedia producer; and Michael Bolden, Dean of the UC Berkeley School of Journalism and former CEO of the American Press Institute.

Together, they will explore how storytelling connects communities across borders and how local journalism can remain a vital force in civic life. The conversation will also examine the creative and civic potential of cross-cultural reporting — and what the future of the press might look like in an age of both booming AI, global interconnection and local decline.

This event is co-presented in partnership with the Thomas Mann House.

About the Speakers

Sandra Kegel
Sandra Kegel studied literature, theater, film and media studies in Aix-en-Provence, Vienna and Frankfurt. She has been an editor at the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung since 1999. She worked in the media and literature departments for many years and has been head of the FAZ features section since 2019. In 2005, she was awarded the Ravensburg Media Prize. During her current Thomas Mann House fellowship, Sandra Kegel is investigating the extent to which the decline of the (local) press is promoting populism and mistrust in democratic structures and what lessons can be learned from the findings for the German newspaper landscape. She will also examine the use of AI in media companies and its implications for the journalistic ecosystem.

Liliana Michelena
Liliana Michelena is a multimedia journalist and producer from Lima, Peru, whose career spans international reporting and community-focused storytelling. She has covered stories ranging from Olympic competition to political accountability for The New York Times, The Guardian, The Associated Press, and Spain's El País. A former elite soccer player and graduate of UC Berkeley's Graduate School of Journalism, Liliana works across languages, borders, and media formats. Her interdisciplinary approach to journalism draws on investigative reporting, narrative storytelling, and audience engagement, navigating the tensions between global news coverage and the deeply local work of connecting with communities.

Michael Bolden
Michael Bolden is the UC Berkeley School of Journalism’s new dean. He previously served as the CEO of the American Press Institute and has had a distinguished career spanning The Washington Post, San Francisco Chronicle, Knight Foundation, Stanford University and API. He has worked as a reporter, editor, educator and nonprofit leader. His research focuses on leadership and belonging in news organizations and community-engaged journalism.

Photo Credits (left to right): Douglas Zimmerman ; ZDF ; Serginho Roosblad