Date: Jul 08, 2009

Metropolitan Area Teens Investigate Diversity While Perfecting Their Journalism Skills

Innovative Free Summer Program Funded by The Rauch Foundation

Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY – Metropolitan area high school students will be challenged to investigate and report on some of the important issues facing their hometowns and Long Island as part of a free two-week summer camp called J-DIV. J-DIV, which stands for Journalism Diversity, is being funded by The Rauch Foundation.

The program, which began July 6, 2009, will allow 10 high school students who represent diverse populations to experience what it is like to be professional investigative reporters. The students will report on their communities using the Long Island Index’s interactive map and its reports to help focus their story angle. Guided by Hofstra’s journalism faculty, the teens will learn basic research and reporting techniques, as well as how to use some of Hofstra’s School of Communication state-of-the-art equipment to produce multimedia stories.

Once completed, the students’ story packages will be placed on a J-DIV Web site and will be presented at a roundtable discussion on problems facing local communities featuring representatives from Long Island organizations. The students will also be interviewed on WRHU Radio Hofstra University and receive a $200 stipend upon completion of the program.

“The world is going through some extraordinary changes right now, and it is important to have bright, curious, intelligent young men and women who know how to find the story and bring it home,” said Program Director Peter Goodman. “Our hope for these students at the completion of camp is that they realize what a difference their stories can actually make.”

For more informatin please visit www.hofstra.edu/jdiv

For more information: Program Directors, J-DIV

Peter Goodman                                    Carol Fletcher
Peter.Goodman@hofstra.edu                Carol.T.Fletcher@hofstra.edu
(516)463-6556                                     (516)463-6464
   

BIOS OF STUDENT PARTICIPANTS

Tatiana Bernard:  Tatiana is a senior at Hempstead High School. She is a member of the mock trial team and Junior Achievement. She also writes for her school paper.

Brianna Byrd:  Brianna is a senior at Sachem North High School in Lake Ronkonkoma. She began studying journalism this past year and enjoyed it immensely. Next year she plans to study creative writing, broadcast journalism and oral communication. Long before she was interested in journalism, Brianna was interested in dance. She has been dancing for 11 years, is a senior girl scout and works part time.

Danielle Evans:  Danielle is a senior at Hempstead High School. She is a member of the National Honor Society, Junior Achievement, Student Government, Band, the Badminton Team, the Junior Class Council and Teachers of Tomorrow.

Trisha Maharaj:  Trisha is a senior at New Hyde Park Memorial High School. She is
editor-in-chief of her school paper, The Chariot, and co-captain of the twirling team. She is also involved in Model United Nations and has been taking ballet lessons since the age of four.

Mariam Nik:  Mariam is a senior at W.T. Clarke High School in Westbury. She is co-editor-in-chief of her school newspaper, Vanguard. She is treasurer of the National Honor Society, a member of The Book Club, Red Cross, National English Honor Society and Amnesty International. She is a tutor in math and reading at Kumon Learning Center and also runs track and field.

Katie Prisco-Buxbaum: Katie is a senior at Plainedge High School. She has been editor-in-chief of her school newspaper, The Devil’s Tale, for three years. She has interned at the Long Island Press. She is the incoming president of the National Honor Society and is a member of the Math, English and Ben Franklin Honor Societies and the Debate Team. She is a varsity cheerleader and participates in a traveling all-star cheerleading team. She also has been working since she was a freshman on a research project for the INTEL Research Competition.

Amanda Rouch: Amanda is a senior at West Hempstead High School. She was copy editor of the school newspaper and will be editor-in-chief this coming year. She is a member of the Badminton Team and the Multicultural Club.

Jackie Salo: Jackie is a junior at Commack High School. She was assistant news editor of her school paper, The Courant, and will be editor-in-chief next year. She has had stories published in the Long Island Press and Boating Times Long Island. She participates in Student Council and Yearbook and is also on the Executive Board of her class.

Nishoba Josette (Shobie) Snow: Nishoba is a senior at Uniondale High School. She has been a member of the Student Council and is a member of the cheerleading team.

Shereen Torbati: Shereen is a senior at Kellenberg Memorial High School. She writes for her school newspaper, The Phoenix, and is a member of CROSS, a student group that volunteers at the Hempstead community shelter, The INN.

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