Former student journalist and current Nicholls Worth advisor Christon Singleton recounts how his college newsroom published its first color issue during 9/11 and how student reporters gave a voice to Hurricane Katrina survivors.

For nearly 25 years, former Nicholls student and journalist Christian Singleton has reflected on his journey into reporting. It all began with one simple decision—to follow his love for sports.

“When I got to Nicholls, I had no idea what I wanted to do,” Singleton said. “I was just an 18-year-old kid who always played sports growing up. Obviously, we can’t all play forever. So, I thought if I couldn’t play sports, maybe I could write about them.”

That curiosity led him to join The Nicholls Worth in the fall of 2001 after seeing an ad looking for writers. Though he had never written a story before, his passion for athletics quickly turned into a lifelong career.

“I was shy, but I knew I loved sports,” Singleton said. “They hired me as a sports reporter my first semester, and that’s where it all started. I didn’t know it at the time, but that decision would shape the next two decades of my life.”

Covering Tragedy as a Student Journalist

That same semester, tragedy struck the nation. On Sept. 11, 2001, while preparing for his morning class, Singleton turned on the television and saw the Twin Towers burning.

“I’ll never forget that morning,” he said. “I saw smoke coming out of one of the buildings, and at first, I thought it was an accident. But then I saw the second plane hit, and I realized—this wasn’t an accident. We were under attack.”

The staff of The Nicholls Worth immediately stopped production on their weekly issue to cover the unfolding tragedy. The result was a historic publication: the first full-color printed edition in the newspaper’s history.

“We wanted to give students the latest information,” Singleton said. “We didn’t have social media back then—no Facebook, no Twitter—so it was up to us to keep people informed. That edition was the first time “The Nicholls Worth” ever printed in color, and we made sure the Twin Towers were on the front page.”

Reporting Through Hurricane Katrina

Four years later, in 2005, Singleton faced another defining moment—Hurricane Katrina. As a senior at Nicholls, he worked alongside journalism professor Dr. Stewart and other students to create “The Word,” a temporary campus publication for evacuees housed in Stopher Gym.

“A lot of those victims had no way to find out what was happening back home,” Singleton recalled. “They lost everything—phones, clothes, family members. We just wanted to give them information about FEMA, food drives, and what was going on in New Orleans.”

He shared stories of survivors. Some were searching for loved ones, others were grieving.

“I remember one young mother crying because she couldn’t find her baby,” Singleton said quietly. “Her father drowned in the floodwaters. That was tough for me as a young journalist, but I had to put my emotions aside and focus on telling her story.”

Even now, he still thinks about those evacuees and fellow students from New Orleans who never returned to campus.

“I wonder where they are today,” he said. “Some of them I never saw again. You don’t forget people like that.”

Lessons in Journalism and Humanity

Regarding handling the emotional toll of covering such tragedies, Singleton emphasized the importance of balance and empathy.

“You can’t let your emotions take over,” he said. “It’s not your story. It’s theirs. Your job is to tell it truthfully and respectfully.”

He also reflected on the unity both 9/11 and Katrina inspired.

“Both tragedies brought people together,” Singleton said. “It wasn’t about race, politics, or money. It was about helping others. That’s what journalism should do—inform, connect, and heal.”

Advice for the Next Generation

For young journalists preparing to cover major crises, Singleton offered simple but powerful advice.

“Keep your emotions in check, ask the hard questions, and never give up,” he said. “People think college reporters don’t matter, but you have a voice. You can tell stories that impact your community right now.”

He also encouraged students to focus on accuracy and compassion.

“We don’t always have all the answers at first,” he said. “Our job is to find them—and to do it the right way.”

Nearly two decades after his first byline at The Nicholls Worth, Singleton’s reflections remind current students that journalism is more than headlines—it’s about humanity.

“Looking back, I’m proud,” he said. “We were just college reporters, but we did our job. We told the stories that mattered.”