OUR PROGRAMS
Journalism Teachers Enhance Skills at
Reynolds Institute By Kristin Couturier Photos by Michel Duarte As Dylan Smith, editor of the online news startup tucsonsentinel.com, lectured on the future of news and local journalism startups in the Cronkite Theater, 30 journalism students in the audience hurriedly prepared follow-up questions. As soon as the presentation ended, they would have two hours to submit news stories and photographs of the event. These weren’t typical Cronkite students, however; these were journalism teachers from across the nation attending the 2012 Reynolds High School Journalism Institute. For two weeks each June, journalism teachers and advisers come to Cronkite for a boot-campstyle training program. The institute, which is open to teachers with any level of journalism experience, is funded by the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation and operated by the American Society of News Editors. It also is held at four other universities across the country. Steve Elliott, the director of digital news for Cronkite News Service and a former Associated Press bureau chief, is the principal instructor. He said the goal of the program is strengthening journalism education by “making better, stronger journalism advisers.” According to Elliott, many high school teachers are asked to lead publications or journalism classes even though they lack experience. The institute is
designed to give enthusiastic journalism advisers the opportunity to learn new skills or, for those with past experience, give their skills a tuneup, he said. Sarah Noah, who had just completed her first year of teaching and advising the student newspaper at Goshen High School in Goshen, Ind., said she lacked the knowledge to lead the publication, often leaning on her editor-in-chief. She said she applied for the Reynolds Institute to become more knowledgeable about journalism and help create a stronger news operation. “I think it’s going to make me a better teacher,” Noah said. “Now I can hold my students more accountable for the quality of their work.” The teachers spent the two weeks covering topics ranging from First Amendment rights to diversity in the media to journalism ethics. They also got hands-on experience with new technology, learning to shoot video and use software such as Photoshop and Final Cut Pro. In addition, teachers were required to use social media such as Facebook and Twitter to get a feel for the impact those platforms have on journalism. Elliott said all of these exercises were designed to help teachers overcome the fear that often surrounds new technology by keeping them working slightly out of their comfort zones. continued on page 49
The Reynolds High School Journalism Institute is funded by the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation and operated by the American Society of News Editors. The Donald W. Reynolds Foundation is a national philanthropic organization founded in 1954 by the late media entrepreneur for whom it is named. Headquartered in Las Vegas, it has committed over $115 million nationwide through its Journalism Program. The American Society of News Editors comprises top editors at news organizations; deans, directors and endowed chairs at accredited journalism schools; and leaders of journalism foundations and training organizations.
The Cronkite Journal
2012-2013
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