Columbus City Schools students shine at journalism program graduation

Taijuan Moorman, The Columbus Dispatch
·2 min read
Moments from the finale of the Columbus Journalists in Training ceremony held Saturday at the Denison EDGE in downtown Columbus.
Moments from the finale of the Columbus Journalists in Training ceremony held Saturday at the Denison EDGE in downtown Columbus.

The future of journalism is up to the next generation, and if Columbus City Schools students are any indication, it is in good hands.

Columbus Journalists in Training, an initiative launched by The Columbus Dispatch and the Society of Professional Journalists Central Ohio pro-chapter, held its graduation ceremony on Saturday and featured the work of over a dozen CCS high school students, which can be viewed on Dispatch.com.

Columbus Journalists in Training: CCS students created opinion essays, news articles, podcasts and videos for inaugural program

The interactive program, launched in January, sought to encourage a new generation of journalists through workshops, panels and mentorship with professionals from The Dispatch, NBC4, WOSU Public Media, iHeart Media, Ohio State University, Lee Enterprises, Spectrum News 1, Denison University, The Ohio Newsroom, Ohio University, USA Today Network, WCBE and other media outlets and higher education institutions.

"We're looking for the next generation of truth seekers," said Dispatch Executive Editor Edwina Blackwell Clark. "That's what journalists do. We are truth seekers, and we need you guys. We need you in this profession."

In a panel Saturday, a few students reflected on their time over the last five months. They described the experience as eye-opening as they learned the importance of seeking the truth and how to tell a story, among other skills applicable to more than just journalism.

"I learned how to communicate better with my peers. I learned how to communicate better with advisors," said Timothy Walsh, a student at Briggs High School. "Overall, I've really grown as a person throughout these five months because of this program."

Student journalists discuss their successes with the Columbus Journalists in Training program. From left is Timothy Walsh of Briggs High School; Clementine Easton of Whetstone High School; Amari King of Centennial High School; Citlali Leon of Beechcroft; and Angel Pinto of Beechcroft High School. This was one of the moments from the finale of the Columbus Journalists in Training ceremony held Saturday at the Denison EDGE in downtown Columbus.

Students received certificates of completion for finishing the program. Some of the top projects completed at the end of the program were awarded prizes.

Eliana Brownwell, a student at Whetstone High School, won first place for her story: Ukrainian exchange student reflects on the war and what's to come. O'laun Bonds, a student at Mifflin High School, won second place for her podcast: Traci Lukemire finding success by the dozen. And Brielle Coleman won third place for her story: Underfunding of tennis program at Eastmoor Academy raises concerns.

Honorable mentions were given to Nadirah Scriven, a student at Eastmoor, for her project: Franklin County Sheriff's Office DEI director talks youth gun violence; and Clementine Easton, a student at Whetstone, for her story: The Dad Band: How a group of Clintonville dads is impacting their community through music.

tmoorman@dispatch.com

@taijuannichole

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus City Schools students graduate from journalism program