THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, May 3, 1996 TAG: 9605030045
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: MICHELLE MIZAL CAMPUS, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Long : 115 lines
THE SMALL conference room located on the second floor of 150 Brambleton Avenue in The Virginian-Pilot newsroom is often used for brief editor conferences or as a haven for quick lunch breaks by starving reporters.
But every summer the conference room seems to boom with activity as high school students participate in the annual two-week Summer Minority High School Journalism Program.
More than 130 minority high school students have participated in the program, which is in its 10th year. This summer, 13 more ethnic students will have a chance to get the inside scoop on journalism.
The youngsters can experience anything from seeing their names in print to visiting the state capitol - all for free.
Graduates of the program still remember the action-packed days of training from real reporters.
Dacrie Brooks, 19, a 1994 program graduate and campus correspondent at Mary Baldwin College in Staunton, Va. said she learned how to interview and use the computers.
``One day we were given a scenario like this man was killed . . . and we only had two minutes to write the lead (introduction) of the story,'' said Dacrie, who will help with this summer's program. ``I liked it because it was realistic.''
The program, from June 17-28, also offers other realistic roles and activities.
Students can meet photographers, editors and even get a sneak peek at an upcoming movie with movie critic Mal Vincent. The paper also gives an all-expense-paid trip to Richmond to meet a government official and see how reporters cover politics. In the past, students have met and had a chance to interview officials, including former Govs. L. Douglas Wilder and Gerald Baliles and Lt. Gov. Don Beyer.
This year program advisers hope for more hands-on activity.
``I hope to take the students to a radio station, in addition to a television station, and see how they do news since radio news is another form of journalism,'' said Denise Watson, an education reporter who will help facilitate the program.
Watson also hopes to introduce movie reviews and pair students ``one-on-one'' with photographers.
The program gives young minority writers a jump start to a career in journalism.
``The workshop is wonderful because it opens doors to minorities,'' said Valerie Carino, 20, a rising senior at Old Dominion University. ``Historically, journalism has not opened doors for minorities.'' Valerie is now a campus correspondent for the Virginian-Pilot and will be an intern for the News and Observer in Raleigh, N.C., this summer.
A recent survey by the American Society of Newspaper Editors showed the need for minorities in newsrooms across America. This year more than 6,000 minority professionals were employed at newspapers compared to the 49,000 white professionals working in the newsroom.
That's why the minority journalism program was started 10 years ago - less than 7 percent of minorities were employed in daily newspapers. The program became a way to motivate minorities to write for newspapers.
``There is a very big demand for minority reporters. We (newspaper professionals) want papers that reflect our community and the only way to do that is to have a staff reflective of society,'' said Marvin L. Lake, director of recruitment.
He also said that minority writers bring their culture to the newsroom and reflect it in their stories - adding diversity to the paper.
With more minority writers, ethnic communities now have a voice in the local paper.
``As an Asian-American female,'' Valerie said, ``I can now break down the stereotype of being submissive and passive. People are taken aback when I tell them that I write for the paper. It's an aggressive job and it's my turn to speak up.''
Larry Brown, who covers spot news, also went through a similar program at the Roanoke Times in 1988. It was through the Roanoke program that Brown became an editorial assistant at 17.
``I'm still one of the only full-time black male reporters here. Once other minorities get involved they could try to make a difference by getting their viewpoints across in their writing,'' said Brown, who helps to co-ordinate the program.
Brown majored in journalism at Howard University in Washington D.C., did a number of internships. He was hired last year at a reporter at the age of 22.
Like Brown, others can have the same opportunity to work for the paper.
``Those who go through the program can become high school correspondents so right away they could build a portfolio and experience,'' Lake said.
Lake also said that once students have their foot in the door and finish college they now have great opportunities to be employed by newspapers nationwide.
``We try to stay in touch with these students so that we could supply them with summer employment and maybe eventually with full-time jobs,'' said Lake. MEMO: Michelle Mizal is a graduate of the Summer Minority High School
Journalism Program and will be an intern at The Virginian-Pilot this
summer.
ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
FILE
Dacrie Brooks, 19, graduated from the program and now is a campus
correspondent at Mary Baldwin College.
\ Photo
Michelle Mizal
Graphic
APPLY NOW
The Virginian-Pilot program is open to Asian, Black, Hispanic and
Native American high school students who are rising juniors or
seniors. Applications are available from high school journalism
teachers and are due by May 17. For more information or
applications, please call Marvin Lake at 446-2538.
by CNB