Friday, January 27, 2006

16 students named to spring Chips Quinn Scholars class 16 students named to spring Chips Quinn Scholars class

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ARLINGTON, Va. — Sixteen students of color have been named Chips Quinn Scholars for Spring 2006 by the Freedom Forum and participating newspapers.

Scholars will work in paid internships at 14 daily newspapers across the country beginning in early February.

They bring to 969 the number of young journalists trained as reporters, copy editors, photographers and graphics artists since the program began with six scholars in 1991.

“Chips Quinn Scholars are an impressive group of young journalists,” said Charles L. Overby, chairman, chief executive officer and president of the Freedom Forum. “America’s newsrooms and communities benefit from their enthusiasm, abilities and diversity.”

Chips Quinn Scholars are college students or recent graduates with career aspirations in newspaper journalism. After completing an intensive four-day orientation with veteran journalists and journalism educators at the Freedom Forum in Arlington, Va., Jan. 26-29, they will work in 10- to 12-week paid internships at U.S. daily newspapers. After successfully completing the program, scholars also receive $1,600 in scholarships and stipends and ongoing mentoring from the Freedom Forum.

Nine Chips Quinn alumni are returning to orientation to lead sessions.

Willie Allen Jr., a photographer at the St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times, will welcome the group on Thursday on behalf of all alumni and will work with the scholar photographers.  Alums Sholnn Freeman, a business reporter at The Washington Post; Rhina Guidos, an assistant city editor at The News Journal in Wilmington, Del.; and Sue Stock, a retail reporter at The News & Observer in Raleigh, N.C., will serve on a panel discussion on Saturday about developing story ideas.   Lina Hashem, a former copy editor at The News Journal in Wilmington, will work with the copy editors.  Kristen Go, an assistant city editor at The Arizona Republic in Phoenix, will lead a session on interviewing. Mauro Diaz, sports editor at Al Dia (a publication of The Dallas Morning News); Michelle Tan, a reporter at the Army Times; and Derrick  Henry, a senior online producer at The New York Times, will serve on a Sunday-morning editor/peers panel.

"I love to return to the orientation programs.  Hearing the questions and the optimism of those who still see the possibilities of the privilege we take part in each day renews my spirit," said Rhina Guidos, assistant city editor of The News Journal in Wilmington, Del.., and a 1998 graduate of the program .

First-time participants in the Chips Quinn Scholars program this spring include three newspapers and two colleges and universities: the Daily News of Los Angeles, Calif.; the Peninsula Daily News in Port Angeles, Wash.; the St. Louis Post-Dispatch; City University of New York-Hunter College; and Texas State University-San Marcos.

Cynthia Todd, director of newsroom recruitment at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, said this about the program:  “In addition to the meaningful experience provided the student, the Post-Dispatch and our readers gain through the diversity of thought added to our newsroom and the opportunity we have to connect with the vast network of talented Chips Quinn journalists.”

The Chips Quinn Scholars program (chipsquinn.org) is a key component of the Freedom Forum’s efforts to help daily newspapers increase diversity in their newsrooms. A fellowship component of the program provides professional-development opportunities for alumni who have been working in newsrooms at least three years.

Details on other Freedom Forum diversity programs are available at freedomforum.org.

Freedom Forum advisory trustee John C. Quinn and his late wife Loie established the Chips Quinn Scholars program in memory of their son, John C. “Chips” Quinn Jr., who was managing editor of the Poughkeepsie (N.Y.) Journal.  He died in an automobile accident in 1990 at the age of 34.       

The list of Spring 2006 Scholars, their schools, hometowns and sponsoring newspapers follows: