TCU's Schieffer School of Journalism hosts High School Journalism Workshop

Fort Worth, TX

6/23/2009

Texas Christian University hosted 10 area high school students at this year’s High School Journalism Workshop on June 8 – 12. The workshop annually invites area high school students to apply for admission to attend the two-week workshop held on TCU’s campus.

The Dow Jones Newspaper Fund sponsors similar workshops across the country to promote careers in journalism, particularly among students who may have faced barriers to practicing journalism and pursuing careers in the news field.

Dozens of area high school students applied for admission for TCU’s workshop, and those admitted were provided full scholarships to cover the cost of hosting them on campus. Area professionals and TCU faculty trained the students on topics covering news reporting, writing, editing, photography, design, and ethics. As a final project, this year’s students produced a six-page newspaper, which they named the Carter Ten Telegram, representing the 10 students in the workshop and the Carter Hall dormitory on TCU’s campus where they stayed.

“We had another great bunch of students this year, and I couldn’t be more proud of their work,” said Chip Stewart, an assistant professor in the Schieffer School of Journalism who serves as the workshop’s director.  “These young journalists represent the future of the news business, and I look forward to their achievements in our field.”

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the Dow Jones Newspaper Fund, the Schieffer School of Journalism, the TCU Office of Inclusiveness & Intercultural Services, and the Society of Professional Journalists – Fort Worth Pro Chapter, provided funding for this year’s TCU Journalism Workshop.

The participants in this year’s workshop were:
•    Keisha-Marie Alridge, North Crowley High School, Fort Worth
•    Andres Arce, Trinity Valley High School, Fort Worth
•    Drew Brown, Arlington High School, Arlington
•    David Cohen, North Crowley High School, Fort Worth
•    Seth Dahle, Arlington Heights High School, Fort Worth
•    Vicky Gonzalez, Mesquite High School, Mesquite
•    David Roberts, John Tyler High School, Tyler
•    Augusta Robinson, John Tyler High School, Tyler
•    Melissa Rodriguez, North Crowley High School, Fort Worth
•    Melecio Silva, John Tyler High School, Tyler

Three students were given awards for their performance at the workshop.  Melecio Silva was given the Most Outstanding Reporter award; Augusta Robinson was given the Most Outstanding Photographer award; and Seth Dahle was given the Most Outstanding Opinion Writing award.

Workshop activities this year included:
•    Interviews with former U.S. Speaker of the House Jim Wright and TCU Provost Nowell Donovan
•    An editing brainstorming session guided by Fort Worth Star-Telegram Managing Editor Lois Norder
•    A photography workshop led by Star-Telegram photographer Rodger Mallison
•    Instruction on multimedia storytelling by star-telegram.com Multimedia Editor Jen Friedberg
•    A session on opinion and editorial writing led by Star-Telegram Vice President/Associate Editor Bob Ray Sanders and retired Vice President and former Editorial Director Paul Harral
•    Direction on layout and design by Schieffer School professor Broc Sears
•    A tour of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram office in downtown Fort Worth