Published: October 01, 2000
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High school programs

Two effective programs

Dow Jones Newspaper Fund

The Dow Jones Newspaper Fund, headquartered in Princeton, N.J., has a long history of supporting journalism training for students, especially minority students. It provides seed money and a “jump start” for collaborative efforts, usually between universities and newspapers, to help young people learn reporting, writing, copy editing and, in some cases, the business side of newspapers. In 1999, DJNF sponsored 33 such workshops. DJNF also provides strong support for journalism advisers to school newspapers. For more information, contact: Rich Holden, executive director, or Linda Waller, deputy director: 609/452-2820; newsfund@wsj.dowjones.com.

The Media Academy

The Media Academy at Fremont High School in Oakland, Calif., is a three-way partnership between the state of California, the Oakland school district and private industry.

Approximately 180 to 200 students enroll each year. Almost all are students of color; over 40 percent have limited proficiency in English.

Students produce newspapers, magazines, radio and television broadcasts and are working on a Web site. Each summer, many are placed in internships and paid summer jobs.

Says Steve O’Donoghue, director: “The professionals provide assistance we could never buy. Bob Maynard, the late editor and publisher of The Oakland (Calif.) Tribune, once ran a photo and story (on Page One) of a student who had been suspended for trying to cover a story of a student shot on campus. (It turned out to be an accident.) The student was reinstated and an entire generation of young people has been able to write about issues that affect them most deeply without censorship as a result.”  For more information contact O’Donoghue: 510/879-1125; SteveOD@hooked.net.