Summer journalism program draws minorities to campus

Looking around the room at an Ivy League newspaper editors conference at Brown in the spring of his senior year, Richard Just '01 noticed something. "It was a sea of white faces," he said.

Just was already familiar with the problems college newspapers had attracting minority writers. As editor-in-chief of The Daily Princetonian, he had run a series on race, including an editorial about the problems with diversity at the 'Prince.'

After the conference, Just was inspired to do something about the underrepresentation of black and Latino writers on college papers. With fellow Class of 2001 'Prince' editors Rich Tucker, Michael Koike and Greg Mancini, he discussed the idea of a journalism program for minority high school students.

"Journalists write about problems but rarely get a chance to actually fix them," Just said. "We were very attracted to the idea that after having exposed this problem, here was something we could do that wouldn't just be talk."

Just approached Vice President for Campus Life Janet Dickerson about his idea, and the University set up a makeshift newsroom in the Friend Center.

"I thought it was fabulous," Dickerson said. "Newspapers are often agents for social change, and he saw that opportunity."

Hodding Carter III '57, president and CEO of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation — an organization that supports community and journalistic initiatives — agreed to support the program.

In August, 21 students from cities in the northeast arrived on campus for a weeklong program about journalism, organized by 26 'Prince' writers. The program brought in guest speakers from The Miami Herald, The Philadelphia Inquirer and The Washington Post.

In addition to journalistic workshops, students participated in a mock press conference at the State House with N.J. Secretary of State Regena Thomas and took a day trip into New York City to tour ABC News and the New York Times and attend a Yankees game.

They also attended college admission sessions with several admission officers, including Dean of Admission Fred Hargadon. Throughout the week students reported on articles for a mock issue of the 'Prince.'

"My favorite part of the week was staying up late putting out the paper," said Vanessa Logan, a program participant from Hartford, Conn. "You know it's worth it staying up late writing the article because you can put your whole heart into the story."

Logan said she hesitated before applying to the program but said she is very glad she did it. Her outlook on college changed greatly because of what she learned at the program.

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"Before I came, never in a million years would I have thought of applying to Princeton," she said. "Now I am determined not to limit myself in my college applications."

Throughout the year, 'Prince' staffers will stay in touch with the students they mentored at the program, fielding questions about journalism, college and other issues facing the students as they prepare to graduate this spring.

Just said he hopes to build on the success of this year's program, continuing and possibly expanding it next summer.