UA to Host 23rd Multicultural Journalism Workshop

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The University of Alabama journalism department is recruiting high school students to attend its 23rd annual Multicultural Journalism Workshop this summer.

Students who will be in the 9th grade through freshman year in college in fall 2006 are eligible to attend the July 9-19 workshop. They will study and practice journalism under UA faculty and top journalists, learning how professionals report, write and present the news in print, online and broadcasting.

Applicants are accepted on the basis of interest in a journalism career and completion of an application that includes a transcript of grades, evidence of high school journalism activities and other writing, and a recommendation from a publications adviser, guidance counselor or professional journalist.

Deadline to apply is May 1. There is no cost. Students receive transportation, meals, housing and supplies.

Students can request an application form by writing, calling or e-mailing the Journalism Department, University of Alabama, Box 870172, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487. Students can also get information and download an application form by going to http://www.cis.ua.edu/mjw/index.html.

While the focus is on attracting minorities because of their low representation in the media, students who are not a member of a minority group are also eligible to attend. Workshop students will have the opportunity to learn print, broadcast and online journalism in the facilities of one of the nation’s leading communication programs. Its facilities include modern computer, photo and research labs as well as broadcast studios and multimedia classrooms.

The workshop is one of the oldest of its kind in the country and is part of the University’s Minority Journalism Program, which is designed to recruit minorities into the media. The department maintains a database of all MJW alums that is used by news media across the nation to find top prospects. Former workshop attendees return each summer to mentor the new group.

“More than 1,000 minority students have come through our doors and walked out a few years later to take their place as a journalist, one of the most important roles in a democratic society. This workshop was the first step for many of them,” said Dr. Ed Mullins, UA professor of journalism, who will direct this summer’s workshop. Mullins, a veteran journalism educator who has been a member of the workshop faculty for all previous workshops, will be assisted by Jonathan McElvy and Christina Jesson, both veteran journalists.

Past participants have joined the media profession with top newspaper, magazine, broadcasting, public relations, advertising and online organizations. One of the most important days in the workshop is Visiting Professionals Day. Although visiting professionals are present throughout the workshop, on this day as many as two dozen professionals, contributing their time at no cost, coach the students as they prepare their stories and images for publication and presentation. Eighteen states and the District of Columbia are represented in the full list of workshop attendees.

Workshop sponsors have included Dow Jones Newspaper Fund, Cox Radio in Birmingham, Alabama Press Association, Alabama Broadcasters Association, Mobile Register, Mercedes-Benz US International and The Tuscaloosa News.

Web site: http://www.ccom.ua.edu/mjw/index.html