Staying Above the Fold

Sarah Clune Hartman’s (Class of 1997) storied career in journalism could easily be turned into a fast-paced streaming series. From reporting on pivotal elections and global health crises to rushing toward the scene of often dangerous incidents, she has dedicated the past 25 years of her career to PBS Newshour, covering stories from 30 states and 14 countries.

But long before Sarah was sharing global headlines, she was putting her nascent journalistic talents to work by shining a light on an environmental scandal happening at JIS: the scourge of disposable plastic foam.

“It was titled 'Foam Crisis Must End' — complete with an illustration by yours truly. Apparently, I've been anti-plastic for a very long time!”

Though she laughs about it now, the article would be one of many influential milestones in her journey as a student reporter for Feedback magazine. It also gave her an outlet for the persistent questions she had about the political upheaval gripping Indonesia at the time. 

“I was alone in Jakarta during the 1996 riots, when a government-backed militia raided the opposition party's headquarters in Menteng and ousted PDI-P [Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle] leader Megawati Soekarnoputri,” she recounts. “ In those mostly pre-internet days, reliable news was hard to come by. I remember being fascinated by first-hand accounts and wanting to know more, constantly coming up with follow-up questions in my head.” 

These experiences, along with the sound guidance of Feedback Advisor Ed Goodell, instilled a passion for seeking answers and telling meaningful stories. 

“Feedback was my first newsroom. It showed me that journalism isn't just asking questions. It's listening to other people, collaborating and telling stories that help people better understand the world around them.” 

This guiding principle stayed with her through her time at Boston College, where Sarah earned a degree in Political Science and Government, and into her first role at PBS NewsHour as a Desk Assistant in 2001. Her introduction to professional journalism would become a trial by fire when, four months into the job, she found herself covering one of the most devastating events in recent US history — 9/11.

“The years that followed felt like a time warp [...] Those events cemented my decision to stay in journalism,” she shares. “Growing up abroad and attending JIS prepared me for this work in ways I couldn't have appreciated at the time. I'm comfortable talking with people from different backgrounds and cultures, whether I'm interviewing a rancher in rural Oregon, a climate activist in Pakistan, or a front-line Ebola worker at Uganda’s border, [...] and it’s still my favorite part of the job.”

We recently caught up with Sarah, who shared fascinating stories from her journey from the Feedback newsroom at JIS to PBS NewsHour, as well as reflections on growing up in Indonesia and the friendships she made along the way. She also offers some thoughtful advice for the next generation of JIS Dragons who may be eyeing a career in journalism. 

Can you tell us about your time in Jakarta and JIS? 

My family moved to Jakarta in 1993 when my dad was posted there as a Foreign Service officer at the United States Embassy. I attended Jakarta International School, as it was known then, for all four years of high school, graduating in June 1997.

When did you first develop an interest in journalism? Did your time at JIS influence or support your path in news media and broadcasting?

Growing up abroad and paying attention to international news from a young age fueled my love of journalism. During my High School years at JIS (1993-1997), Indonesia was on the cusp of huge political changes. I was alone in Jakarta during the 1996 riots, when a government-backed militia raided the opposition party's headquarters in Menteng and ousted PDI-P [Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle] leader Megawati Soekarnoputri. In those mostly pre-internet days, reliable, up-to-date news was hard to come by. I remember being fascinated by first-hand accounts and wanting to know more, constantly coming up with follow-up questions in my head. 

Those questions found an outlet at JIS, where I joined Feedback magazine. I remember sitting around the table with Mr. Goodell and my classmates brainstorming story ideas and creating something out of nothing. One of my favorite parts of the class was that it brought together students from different social circles. I loved getting to know people I might not otherwise have met, and hearing their perspectives reinforced something I still believe today: the more voices represented in our reporting, the better. 

Feedback was my first newsroom. It showed me that journalism isn't just asking questions. It's listening to other people, collaborating and telling stories that help people better understand the world around them. 

When I returned to Jakarta this January, I was lucky enough to run into Yuichiro Hara, the current Feedback advisor. It was such a delight to sit in the classroom where today's students are carrying the torch. We even looked up some of my old reporting! One article in particular made me laugh. It was titled "Foam Crisis Must End" (complete with an illustration by yours truly). Apparently, I've been anti-plastic for a very long time. As a mom, we've tried to eliminate as much plastic as possible from our kitchen, and in 2019 I was part of the PBS News team that won a Peabody Award for our reporting on "The Plastic Problem." 

What are your fondest and most enduring memories of JIS? Have you stayed in touch with many of your former classmates?

Yes! My closest friends are from JIS. My “ride or die” Ursula Sherwood! And one of my closest (yet farthest away) pals, Derice Sumantri. And I still keep in occasional touch with Caitlain Lewis, Jamie Hardy, and a handful of others. All attended my wedding in Mount Vernon in July 2012! 

I’ve found that whenever I see JIS pals, it’s always as if no time has passed — even if we don’t stay in close touch. And whenever I’m reporting from overseas, I always try to think of JIS pals in the area; most recently with Hans Lukiman (Class of 1997) in Jakarta,  and Ali Hamid (1997) in Karachi, Pakistan.

My most enduring memories of my High School years in Jakarta are actually off campus: exploring 1990s Jakarta Selatan on foot with my camera, wandering Blok M, spending time at Pasaraya, bargaining for batik in the markets and drooling over the Jelly Belly candies at Matahari. I also loved taking photos of rallies during the run-up to the 1997 presidential election.

Can you tell us about your current role at PBS? What do you think were the pivotal moments that eventually brought you to this position?

Two weeks after graduating from Boston College in 2001, I started as a Desk Assistant at PBS NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, as it was known then. Four months later, the 9/11 attacks reshaped the news landscape and my career. Our studio is just a half mile south of the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. I remember seeing a plane flying unusually low overhead and assumed it was a cargo plane coming in to land at nearby Reagan National Airport. It was American Airlines Flight 77. 

In the chaotic newsroom, we didn't hear the impact, but about 40 minutes later, when part of the Pentagon's roof collapsed, it sounded like a sonic boom. Our camera crew was the first to arrive at the Pentagon. During the attacks, Arlington Police told us to close our blinds (not the most comforting advice, given our proximity). Live news feeds and wire reports quickly filled in many of the details, and soon we were hearing firsthand accounts from colleagues who had driven past the Pentagon on their way to work. Tragically, one colleague lost her stepson, who was aboard Flight 77 as part of a National Geographic school field trip. 

The years that followed felt like a time warp, [but] those events cemented my decision to stay in journalism. And with the passage of time, new challenges and adventures that kept me at the NewsHour. Over the past 25 years, I've quite literally done almost every job there: Broadcast Desk Assistant, Online Desk Assistant, Desk Assistant manager, Production Assistant, Associate Producer, Health Producer, and now a Producer. I've gone from delivering scripts to Jim Lehrer on set to writing scripts for the nightly news summary and writing, producing and editing long-form stories from around the world. 

Today, my primary focus is producing longer-form pieces with former anchor Judy Woodruff, an icon of broadcast journalism, on her series America at a Crossroads. 

I love meeting people I never would have met otherwise. I've reported from more than 30 states and 14 countries (soon to be 16), including Russia, Rwanda, Cambodia, India, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. 

Growing up abroad and attending JIS prepared me for this work in ways I couldn't have appreciated at the time. I'm comfortable talking with people from different backgrounds and cultures, whether I'm interviewing a cattle rancher in rural Oregon or Namibia, a climate activist in Pakistan, or a front-line Ebola worker at Uganda’s border. I’ve always been curious about people’s stories and backgrounds — and it’s still my favorite part of the job. 

During my 25 years at the NewsHour, I've been part of teams that have won two Peabody Awards (2019 and 2024) and two Walter Cronkite Awards for Excellence in Journalism (2010 and 2025). I've also received reporting grants from the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting for climate change coverage in Pakistan (2022) and India (2023). In 2013, I was selected as a Harvard Medical School Media Fellow, and in 2012, I was a National Press Foundation Cancer Fellow. 

For current JIS students who may be interested in journalism or media, what advice would you give about getting started and building a meaningful career in this field?

Be curious about everything. Journalism isn’t so much about writing or being on TV (or producing behind the scenes); it’s about being genuinely interested in how other people live and asking endless questions. 

As a JIS student, you’ve got the incredible advantage of growing up in an international environment. Don’t underestimate how valuable that is. Being able to talk to people from all walks of life and different cultures and backgrounds is an enormous asset, whether you go into journalism or something completely different. 

I’d also encourage students to get out and talk to people you wouldn’t normally talk to. Strike up conversations, wander around your neighborhood, take photos, and read widely. Curiosity is a skill that gets better with practice. Take this from someone who used to hate cold calling people and now does it almost daily! My favorite memories from Jakarta were walking around “JakSel” with my camera and paying attention to what was happening around me. 

Say “yes” to opportunities — even if they don’t look exactly like what you’ve imagined for yourself. Know that careers are rarely linear, so don’t worry too much about mapping out your entire career. Always do the grunt work, and know that to be good at your job, you’ll keep on doing grunt work! 

Journalism is challenging — mentally, physically. And let’s be honest, it’s not always the most lucrative profession; we face criticism for our reporting. But I still feel incredibly lucky that my job allows me to travel the world, meet fascinating people, and ask questions for a living. 

Meet other JIS Alumni whose passion for journalism has shaped our beloved student magazine in this decade retrospective of Feedback Editors in Chief: "Passing on the Masthead".