Workshop Enhances Journalism Skills for High School Students

The VCU Scholastic Journalism Workshop (SJW), which is directed by VCU professor and former USA Today wire editor Mary Ann Owens, offers local high school students experience writing stories, participating in news conferences and conducting interviews. This year's workshop ran from July 8 to July 19.

The students wrote stories about Richmond outdoor culture for publication in the workshop’s newspaper, the VCU Scholastic Reporter. The SJW curriculum is designed to teach journalistic convergence skills that will be demanded by future professional communicators in writing and producing for print, online and broadcast media. Social media and news production also are covered both by professors and local producers/editors.  

SJW participants included Aaron Clarke, 16, Thomas Dale High School; Jessica Escobar, 17, Manchester High School; Lana Ferguson, 17, Lee-Davis High School; Matthew Harris, 16, Hanover High School; Marci Logsdon, 17, Thomas Dale; Jamie Lund, 17, Varina High School; Alexis Manuel, 18, Manchester; Hayley Plotz, 16, Hanover; Madie Potts, 17, Hanover; Christine Ward, 17, Atlee High School; and Danielle White, 16, Hanover. SJW counselors included VCU students Will Gilbert, sophomore, broadcast major; Shanel Tyrus, junior, broadcast major; Kate Miller, senior, broadcast major; and Rajani Ganji, senior, public relations major. Jeannette Porter, VCU graduate student, served as the assistant workshop director.

 

Subscribe for free to the weekly VCU News email newsletter at http://newsletter.news.vcu.edu/ and receive a selection of stories, videos, photos, news clips and event listings in your inbox every Thursday.