Monday, January 28, 2008

Freedom Forum Names 16 Chips Quinn Scholars For Spring 2008 Internship Program

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WASHINGTON — Sixteen students of color have been named Chips Quinn Scholars for spring 2008 by the Freedom Forum Diversity Institute and participating newspapers.

Scholars are employed at or will work in paid internships across the country in 14 newsrooms beginning in early February.

They bring to 1,096 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. 24-27 at the Newseum in Washington, D.C., 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.

“We congratulate these outstanding young journalists for earning the distinction of being Chips Quinn Scholars,” said Jack Marsh, vice president of the Freedom Forum and Diversity Institute. “Their life experiences, curiosity, skills and passion for good journalism will benefit newsrooms with enriched coverage of the communities they serve.”

Orientation features presentations and coaching by experienced journalists and industry leaders. Among the speakers are John C. Quinn, founder of the Chips Quinn Scholars program: John Seigenthaler, founder of the First Amendment Center; Mark Briggs, assistant managing editor-interactive at The News Tribune in Tacoma, Wash.; Ju-Don Marshall Roberts, managing editor at washingtonpost.com; Catalina Camia, politics editor at USA TODAY; Joe Grimm, recruiting and development editor at the Detroit Free-Press and Chips Quinn alumni Eddy Ramirez, education reporter at the U.S. News & World Report; Jamesetta Walker, assistant features editor at The Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk; Anthony Dimaano, photographer at The Bulletin in Bend, Ore.; Lina Hashem, copy editor at the Loudoun Times-Mirror in Leesburg, Va.; Sue Stock, retail reporter at The News & Observer in Raleigh, N.C.; Veronica Torrejon, reporter at The Morning Call in Allentown, Pa.; Adam Behsudi, reporter at the Frederick (Md.) News Post; Rhina Guidos, editor, Midstate Living, Wilmington, Del.; and Tanika White, reporter, The Sun, Baltimore, Md.

“Chips Quinn Scholars are among the sharpest kids coming into our industry. It just makes sense to recruit them for your newsroom,” said Linda Austin, editor of the Lexington (Ky.) Herald-Leader. “As I often tell people, be good to them. You’ll be working for them someday!”

The Chips Quinn Scholars program (www.chipsquinn.org) is a major initiative of the Freedom Forum to help news organizations increase diversity in their newsrooms. A fellowship component of the program provides professional-development opportunities for alumni who have been working in newsrooms for two or more years.

Jamesetta Walker, Chips Quinn alumni and assistant features editor at The Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk said, “As a mid-career journalist, it is so invigorating to see the Chips Quinn program growing and thriving. Orientation in summer 1993 prepared me for the professional expectations and demands unique to this industry. Without it, I’m not sure I would have fared as well during my internship nor lasted for nearly 15 years in this field. Returning as part of the orientation program is a testament that the program clearly provides the right foundation. It is here you will get the building blocks to your future.”

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

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 2008 Scholars, their schools, hometowns and sponsoring newspapers follows.

Chips Quinn Scholars — Spring 2008 Program
(Scholar, College, Hometown, Internship Newspaper)

Maria Chercoles
Florida University
Miami, Fla.
The Orange County (Calif.) Register

Ashlee Clark
Western Kentucky University
Louisville, Ky.
Lexington (Ky.) Herald-Leader

Matthew Cooper
Howard University
Oakland, Calif.
The Jackson (Tenn.) Sun

Ana Cubias
California State University-Northridge
Fillmore, Calif.
Ventura County (Calif.) Star

Sergio Delgado
California State University-Chico
Chico, Calif.
Contra Costa Times, Walnut Creek, Calif.

Astrid Galvan
Arizona State University
El Paso, Texas
The Arizona Republic, Phoenix

Shawntaye Hopkins
Western Kentucky University
Lexington, Ky.
Lexington (Ky.) Herald-Leader

Jacqueline Lee
University of Southern California
Monterey Park, Calif.
The Des Moines (Iowa) Register

Martha Ramirez
California State University-Dominguez Hills
Inglewood, Calif.
Excelsior (Orange County, Calif.)

Rickeena Richards
St. Louis University
Kansas City, Mo.
Belleville (Ill.) News-Democrat

Carlos Silva
University of Texas-El Paso
El Paso, Texas.
Tallahassee (Fla.) Democrat

Argenis Villa
California State University-Dominguez Hills
San Diego, Calif.
Lincoln (Neb.) Journal Star

Andrew Villegas
University of Colorado
Denver, Colo.
Greeley (Colo.) Daily Tribune

Chris Vongsarath
California State University-Chico
Modesto, Calif.
Saratoga (Calif.) News

Devin Wagner
University of Montana
Billings, Mont.
The Bulletin (Bend, Ore.)

Sharon Yep
California State University-Chico
San Francisco, Calif.
The Arizona Republic, Phoenix