Wednesday, May 14, 2025
Jake Tiger to attend University of Maryland with focus on investigative journalism
by Natalie Andreyev
Senior journalism major Jake Tiger has accepted a full-ride fellowship to the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland. He will pursue a master鈥檚 in journalism and report for the program鈥檚 Howard Center for Investigative Journalism.
At the Howard Center, students collaborate with news organizations across the country to report on stories of national and international significance. Students gain hands-on experience by diving into data and asking tough questions to tell their stories in new and compelling ways.
鈥淚 am most excited for the year-long investigative projects,鈥 Tiger says. 鈥淪ome of my best work was when I had a longer time to write and curate a story, so I am looking forward to being able to spend more time on stories to tell them as best as I possibly can. 鈥
Recently, The Howard Center was named a Pulitzer Prize finalist for its project 鈥淟ethal Restraint,鈥 which included reporting from Rider alumni Stephen Neukam 鈥21 and Sarah Siock 鈥22.
Tiger is the outgoing executive editor of Rider鈥檚 student newspaper, The Rider News, overseeing its staff of writers, editors, photographers and designers. This academic year, he led the staff to 11 New Jersey Press Foundation awards, earning four individual awards for his own work in news, investigative and biography writing, as well as for a web project.
鈥淚 tell everyone at The Rider News that stepping out of your comfort zone is one of the most important things I have learned,鈥 says Tiger, who also earned the Frederick L. Ferris Trophy for his outstanding career as a Rider student journalist. 鈥淚f something is scary or makes you anxious, just do it. Those are the challenges that make you better and help you grow as a person and as a professional in the journalism field.鈥
Rider has given me so many incredible, life-changing opportunities.鈥
Though Tiger was an exercise science major, when he first entered Rider, he decided to ultimately pursue what he was really passionate about 鈥 journalism. After making the switch in the fall of 2021, he became a writer for the newspaper, continually climbing the ranks to sports editor and managing editor before his role as executive editor.
Tiger credits the paper鈥檚 adviser, Dr. Jackie Incollingo, for his success at the paper and in the classroom, saying she encouraged him to take on new challenges and gave him the motivation and guidance needed during his time as an editor of The Rider News.
鈥淩ider was the best fit for me,鈥 he says, noting that Rider鈥檚 small, close-knit community allowed him to fully immerse himself as a student journalist. 鈥淚t felt like home and will always be the place where I was able to truly soar and find myself.鈥
Outside the classroom, Tiger completed an internship through the New Jersey Press Foundation at The SandPaper on Long Beach Island, New Jersey, and has been a freelance writer for NJ.com covering high school sports.
鈥淓very step of the way, Rider has shown me that I made the right decision by changing my major and following my heart,鈥 he says. 鈥淩ider has given me so many incredible, life-changing opportunities.鈥
The Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland is consistently ranked among the world's top journalism schools. Its alumni and faculty have earned numerous prestigious honors, including Pulitzer Prizes, Peabody Awards and Emmy Awards. Notable graduates include television anchor and correspondent Connie Chung and SportsCenter鈥檚 Scott Van Pelt. The college is also home to Capital News Service, a student-run organization that delivers award-winning coverage of Maryland and Washington, D.C.