Two Alumni Storytellers Return to Campus

Two Seven Hills alumni, who use journalism and photography to tell stories about sports and the natural world, returned to campus to share their expertise with Upper School students.

Charlie Goldsmith ’17

Sports reporter Charlie Goldsmith ’17 told students the importance of building relationships and being prepared in sports journalism. He credits his ability to write stories under pressure, like at the Super Bowl between the Bengals and the Rams, to his time at Seven Hills.

“A strong foundation of writing was really stressed at every level here at Seven Hills, from what Madame Curry taught me about strong verbs, to what Mrs. Hoar and Mr. Gleiner taught me about analysis, and the community elements that run through everything. It prepared me for that moment,” Goldsmith told the Upper Schoolers during an all-school assembly.

Goldsmith has covered the Bengals and the Reds for the Cincinnati Enquirer and his Substack Charlie’s Chalkboard and has made regular appearances on FOX19 Sports, EPSN1530, WLW, and numerous local and national radio shows and podcasts. He attended Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism and was the sports editor for the Daily Northwestern, covering basketball and football.

Samuel James ’05

Photographer and naturalist Samuel James ’05 shared his work on the study and conservation of life in the Eastern Deciduous Forests in Ohio’s Allegheny Plateau with member of the environmental club. He uses photography to document all parts of the ecosystem and show their interconnectedness.

Samuel James ’05 shares this work with members of the environmental club.

“I do work as a photographer. When you distill it all down, it is about telling stories. I tell stories with pictures. I also work as a field biologist, which is kind of the same thing. I am out looking at the world and telling stories about the world,” James told students during his talk at the all-school assembly.

During his visit, Goldsmith had lunch with the Upper School sports business and sports broadcasting clubs and answered student questions about his work, how he avoids bias, and the human side of sports coverage.

“It is the excitement about the nugget that no one else knows that someone opens up to you because they trust you and you are a part of that community. Those are the best stories, that is what gets me excited,” he said.