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�ձ�av��Ƶ Master of Mass Communication student Jenny Albers is wrapping up a prestigious fellowship from the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting for her project focusing on mental well-being among women who experienced pregnancy after loss. 

Through her multimedia reporting, Albers aims to raise awareness and promote understanding among health care providers, mental health professionals and the public about the complex emotional experiences surrounding pregnancy after loss. 

Albers’ path to the fellowship was shaped by years of experience in digital storytelling and her own personal story with pregnancy loss. Her work has ranged from managing social media and content creation to authoring a book for mothers navigating pregnancy after loss. 

Turning to �ձ�av��Ƶ to pursue her master’s degree, Albers wanted to deepen her understanding of communication strategy and storytelling. 

When Albers’ advisor shared information about the Pulitzer Center fellowship, she immediately saw a connection to her research interests. The fellowship’s theme of mental well-being aligned closely with her focus on pregnancy loss and pregnancy after loss. 

“Mental well-being comes into play for both of those,” Albers said. “It just felt like a really good fit.” 

Her proposal, accepted by the Pulitzer Center earlier this year, examines the emotional and psychological challenges women face during subsequent pregnancies after experiencing a loss. 

Albers began her research in June by finding sources and scheduling interviews. In August, she traveled to New York City to report on a clinic that specializes in pregnancy after loss, which was the first of its kind in the United States. There, she conducted in-depth interviews with patients, physicians and social workers and collected multimedia materials. 

While the study was open to those who have experienced loss at any week gestation, the participants all experienced stillbirth later in pregnancy. 

For Albers, the fellowship has been as much about growth as it has been about storytelling. She’s learned how to handle sensitive conversations with care and tell complex, emotional stories with empathy. 

“I hope this experience helps me to continue speaking about this topic in different ways,” Albers said. “I mean, I have written a book about it; that was just my story … I want to bring this to people’s attention on a greater level.” 

In October, Albers traveled to Washington, D.C., for the Pulitzer Center’s Washington Weekend, an annual event that brings together the center’s Campus Consortium Reporting Fellows. The event offered opportunities for students to share about their reporting projects and learn from seasoned journalists. 

“It was an honor to represent �ձ�av��Ƶ at this event,” Albers said. “I was especially moved by the Journalism and Mental Health Panel. Not only was the discussion relevant, but it was a reminder to prioritize people before the story.” 

Albers will submit her final story to the Pulitzer Center in November. She hopes her work will foster dialogue and compassion for those experiencing pregnancy after loss and inspire others to share their stories. 

“The story will definitely focus on the experience of pregnancy after loss, but also the emotional experience and mental well-being,” Albers said. “Specialized care is needed for this community, and we don’t talk about it.” 

The supports independent journalists who cover underreported global issues. 

Learn more about the Master of Mass Communication program at �ձ�av��Ƶ.