Thursday, January 25, 2007

Freedom Forum names 13 Chips Quinn Scholars for spring 2007 internship program

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ARLINGTON, Va. — Thirteen students of color have been named Chips Quinn Scholars for Spring 2007 by the Freedom Forum and participating newspapers.

Scholars will work in paid internships across the country at 12 daily newspapers beginning in early February.

They bring to 1,033 the number of journalists trained as reporters, copy editors, photographers and graphic artists since the program began with six Scholars in 1991. Of the Scholars who have completed their education, 67 percent are working at news organizations across the country.

Chips Quinn Scholars are college students or recent graduates with career aspirations in journalism. After completing an intensive four-day orientation with veteran journalists Jan. 25-28 at the Freedom Forum Diversity Institute in Nashville, Tenn., they will work in 10- to 12-week internships. Scholars also will be eligible for $1,600 in scholarships and stipends and ongoing mentoring from the Freedom Forum.

“These young talented Chips Quinn Scholars have a fresh perspective and contagious enthusiasm,” said Jack Marsh, Freedom Forum vice president for diversity programs. “We believe their diversity, skills and passion for journalism will benefit newsrooms with enriched coverage of the communities they serve.”

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

Getahn Ward, a business reporter at The Tennessean, will welcome the new class on behalf of all alumni. Alums Kristen Go, an action team leader at The Arizona Republic in Phoenix, Wendy Isom, a reporter at The Jackson (Tenn.) Sun, and Sue Stock, a retail reporter at The News & Observer in Raleigh, N.C., will serve on a panel discussion about working in an online world. Chris Viola, a photographer at The Florida Times-Union, Georgia bureau, will lead a session on photography and Manny Lopez, an editorial writer at The Detroit News, will moderate a panel on developing story ideas.

First-time participants in the Chips Quinn Scholars program this spring include Madera (Calif.) Tribune and University of California-Santa Barbara.

The Chips Quinn Scholars program 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 for three or more years.

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

Freedom Forum 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 when he died in an automobile accident in 1990 at the age of 34.

The list of Spring 2007 Scholars, their schools, hometowns and sponsoring newspapers follows:

Scholar	College	Hometown	Internship Newspaper
Ashley Anthony	University of Houston	Chicago, Ill.	The Jackson (Tenn.) Sun
Stephanie Armenta	Arizona State University	Phoenix, Ariz.	The Arizona Republic, Phoenix
Alexandria Burris	Louisiana State University	Baton Rouge, La.	The Daily Advertiser, Lafayette, La.
Deanna Dent	Arizona State University	Tempe, Ariz.	The Bulletin, Bend, Ore.
Diana Diroy	San Jose State University	Daly City, Calif.	The Oakland (Calif.) Tribune
Gabriela Gonzalez	California State University-Northridge	Los Angeles, Calif.	Ventura County (Calif.) Star
Craig Henry	University of Oklahoma	Locust Grove, Okla.	Argus Leader, Sioux Falls, S.D.
Kellie Hwang	University of Washington	Danville, Calif.	The Arizona Republic, Phoenix
Connie Llanos	California State University-Northridge	Los Angeles, Calif.	Daily News, Los Angeles
Mariecar Mendoza	California Polytechnic State University	San Jose, Calif.	The Desert Sun, Palm Springs, Calif.
Maria Miranda	California State University-Fresno	Madera, Calif.	Madera (Calif.) Tribune
Tara-Lynne Pixley	Florida A&M University	Atlanta, Ga.	The Greenville (S.C.) News
Cathy Tran	University of California-Santa Barbara	Westminster, Calif.	The Orange County (Calif.) Register