Cronkite Hosts Summer Journalism Institutes for High School Students

Thirty-eight high school students will learn digital and broadcast journalism skills this summer at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University. Entravision Communications Corp. sponsors the Entravision Summer Digital Media Institute, while the Arizona Broadcasters Association and the Scripps Howard Foundation are the longtime supporters of the Summer High School Broadcast Institute. The students, many from underrepresented communities, will live on campus and attend classes from June 3-15 at the Cronkite School on ASU’s Downtown Phoenix campus. They receive full scholarships to cover housing, meals and training. The 20 students participating in the Entravision Summer Digital Media Institute will attend class sessions taught by Cronkite faculty on reporting, writing and multimedia journalism. They also will tour local media outlets and produce a news website. “Entravision Communications is pleased to continue to partner with the Cronkite School on the Entravision Summer Digital Media Institute,” said Chris Moncayo, vice president and general manager of Entravision Communications Phoenix. “This is a unique program and a great opportunity for high school students to gain real-world experience in the media industry.” Eighteen students will attend the Summer High School Broadcast Institute, where they will take classes in reporting, writing, videography and editing; meet with broadcast professionals; visit local broadcast outlets; and write, anchor, produce and direct their own newscasts. “There is no other opportunity like this for students to get a real glimpse into the broadcast industry,” said Art Brooks, president and CEO of the Arizona Broadcasters Association. “It’s an honor for us to have such a positive impact on the lives of students.” The institutes are directed by Anita Luera, the Cronkite School’s director of high school journalism programs and past president of the Arizona Latino Media Association. Classes are taught by Luera and other Cronkite faculty and staff, including Associate Professor Craig Allen, Production Specialist Brian Snyder, and Faculty Associate David Cornelius. “Each year our Summer Journalism Institutes get stronger as we improve the experience we offer students,” Luera said. “It is intense, deadlines are quicker and the opportunity to learn new skills is tremendous.” In addition to the high school institutes, the Cronkite School will host from June 17-29 the Reynolds High School Journalism Institute, which provides professional development to high school journalism teachers. The Reynolds Institute is funded by the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation and operated by the American Society of News Editors.