By Sandie Garrison | Health Careers High School

The Dow Jones Summer Diversity Institute is for students interested in journalism and it’s a scholarship opportunity the students had to apply for. The students stayed on campus for the week in McDowell Hall, and the workshops were located in Franklin Hall.

The students were given the opportunity to choose the workshops of their choice. The students in news and Web workshop were able to write articles on the topic of their choice. The students in the broadcast produced videos, all of which were posted on the Web site: jmc.kent.edu/djwksp2008.

Assistant professor and academic adviser Gene Shelton said, “This program was basically created to encourage students of color to work together.”

“By the end of the week the students should’ve learned a bunch of different things like how o better write a story, how to hold a camera, how to broadcast, and more things but its really skills based,” Shelton said.

“The main goal for the broadcast workshop is to teach the students how to use camera equipment, how to record audio, how to edit video and put together a broadcast package,” diversity assistant TaLeiza Calloway said.

“The main goal for the web and news workshop is to give students an opportunity to advance their education, learn beyond the classroom and introduce them to journalism,” Calloway said.

“I want to give the students a taste of what journalism is like in the real world, and I want the students to have a little practice interviewing and editing a story,” said Candace Bowen, Web and news workshop teacher. “I want them to have the excitement of seeing their work on the Web site.”

Instructor of journalism and mass communication and pan-African studies Traci Williams said, “All my classes I teach are media and by the end of this week my broadcast students should have learned how to produce a television show.” Assistant professor Dave Smeltzer was also a lead instructor for the broadcast workshop.

Charles-Michael Robinson from Bedford High School said, “I like broadcasting in front of the camera and editing videos and I learned how to edit film and how to operate and set up the camera.”

“I have been here for five years and I came here because I was referred by Gene Shelton, academic diversity adviser,” Robinson said. “I came here because of my sports  broadcasting skills.”

“McDowell Hall is okay but it’s not what I thought it would be,” said Brittany McDonnal from Saint Martin DePorres High School. “I like the lobby because it’s the best place and I can just relax.”

“I liked having the experience to be able to see where the production of television shows takes place,” Gabriela Lemus from Scranton K-8 School said.

 “This is my first year and I learned how to type like a real journalist A.P. style,” said Lemus.

“This workshop has been a good learning experience,” said NorReese Bailey from Euclid High School.