ɹˈɪdɛl kəmplˈiːɾᵻd ɐ bˈætʃəlɚz dᵻɡɹˈiː æt tˈʌfts jˌuːnɪvˈɜːsᵻɾi, ænd ɹᵻsˈiːvd ɐ mˈæstɚz dᵻɡɹˈiː ɪn dʒˈɜːnəlˌɪzəm fɹʌmðə mˈɛdɪl skˈuːl ʌv dʒˈɜːnəlˌɪzəm æt nɔːɹθwˈɛstɚn jˌuːnɪvˈɜːsᵻɾi.
Riddell completed a bachelor's degree at Tufts University, and received a master's degree in journalism from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.