Students Selected for AAJA Journalism Camp

The Asian American Journalists Association yesterday announced the 42 high school students selected for J Camp, a six-day program that brings together a multicultural group to sharpen their journalism skills. J Camp will be held July 18-23 at Loyola University Chicago, just prior to the UNITY: Journalists of Color Convention.

Students are selected from a competitive application process in which academic achievement and journalism talent are among the strongest considerations.

J Camp 2008 is co-directed by Neal Justin, TV critic and internship coordinator for the Minneapolis Star Tribune, and Clea Benson, senior writer at CQ Weekly, Congressional Quarterly’s weekly magazine in Washington, D.C.

“It’s inspiring to see such a promising group of high school students who have the talent and the drive to make a difference in our industry,” said AAJA National President Jeanne Mariani-Belding. “Through J Camp, these kids will be given top-notch training that will better prepare them to make the most of their college years and beyond  - it’s a valuable head start on what I’m certain will be promising careers.”

The students selected are listed here.

J Camp 2008 is made possible through a grant from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, with major support from Bloomberg, The McClatchy Company and Scripps Howard Foundation. Additional funding is provided from the National Association of Black Journalists, parents of alumni, AAJA’s National Endowment and the following AAJA chapters: Arizona, Chicago, Florida, Hawai`i, Los Angeles, Minnesota, New York, Sacramento, San Francisco Bay Area, and Washington, D.C.

“J Camp gives students the confidence to make a difference with a future career in journalism,” said Douglas W. Nelson, president and CEO of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the largest charitable organization in the world solely dedicated to helping build better futures for disadvantaged children. “I can’t think of a better program that allows teens to learn about this rapidly changing field from the top writers, editors, and producers in the country. The Casey Foundation believes strongly in giving young people a voice, increasing their opportunities for future leadership, and making a strong connection to the community — our sponsorship of the 2008 program is a great fit with our mission.”

The Asian American Journalists Association is an alliance partner in UNITY: Journalists of Color, along with the Native American Journalists Association, National Association of Hispanic Journalists, and National Association of Black Journalists.