In 1989, Mark Russell, then a Plain Dealer staff writer, decided to create a program in Cleveland that would teach high school students about the journalism field. He recruited a mix of minority students from Cleveland-area schools and convinced his journalism colleagues to come talk to the youths and share their expertise. The result was the Urban Journalism Workshop, a series of Saturday classes that trained students in the art of interviewing and writing.
Since then, Mark Russell has gone on to becoming one of the highest-ranking blacks in newspapers, as managing editor of the Orlando Sentinel in Florida. And his brainchild, the Urban Journalism Workshop, has been a big achiever too. This program has been continuously presented every year, and many of its graduates have gone on to earn college degrees. Some are journalism professionals who have landed jobs working at respected news agencies.
In 2009, organizers of the Urban Journalism Workshop will celebrate their 20th year of putting on the purely volunteer-driven educational program.
Established as a result of the need for newsrooms to reflect diversity, racial sensitivity and understanding, the goal of the UJW is to encourage students of color to become interested in print and broadcast journalism through involvement and exposure. Each year, up to 30 high school students are accepted for this free in-depth program.
The workshop is held in the O’Malley Center on the campus of John Carroll University in University Heights, Ohio. Under the instruction of professional Cleveland journalists, students accepted into this free workshop will learn how to:
- Discriminate between news and entertainment.
- Write, edit and report news.
- Produce a newscast.
Publish a newspaper.
Produce their own blog.
An exposure trip (to an area location with state-of-the-art media capability) and a graduation reception are essential components of the program. The workshop takes place each spring, on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. It begins promptly each morning with a news quiz. Each week, the students receive a comprehensive journalism education, continental breakfast and lunch. The student is responsible for transportation to and from John Carroll University.
To qualify, students must have an interest in journalism and have solid grammar skills. While grade point average is not a factor in acceptance to the program, a demonstrated interest and prior involvement in journalism will be helpful.
Each student must complete an application and also send in two letters of recommendation (from a teacher, advisor or other individual familiar with the student’s ability to comprehend and write).
In 2009, a gala salute to the Urban Journalism Workshop will be held, to celebrate its success and raise money to continue its work with Cleveland youth.
To learn more, please contact UJW Director Greg Richards at grichard@plaind.com or by telephone at 216-999-4621.
