Newspaper image via flickr user Jon S under a Creative Commons license, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

In a move aimed at building diversity and inclusion, the Institute for Media and Public Trust has been awarded a $201,000 grant by California Endowment to continue its Journalists of Color training program.

The program, consisting of 18 student journalists, is now seeking applicants for its fourth cohort. Each is paid a monthly $300 stipend during the school year and are allowed to remain in the program for up to five years beginning as seniors in high school through four years of college.

“Journalism is key to informing our community, and to reach a diverse community we must have journalists who are as diverse as California,” said Sarah Reyes, chief communications officer for The California Endowment. “The work the Institute for Media and Public Trust at Fresno State is doing will train youth journalists from diverse and marginalized communities to be the journalists of the future who will inform the Valley for generations.”

The program partners with journalism programs at Fresno City College, Fresno State and The kNOw Youth Media, which works under the Youth Leadership Institute. Since 2006, The kNOw Youth Media has helped train young journalists to tell stories in their communities.

Fresno State student and journalism major Jazmin Alvarado has been part of the program since she was a senior in high school.

“I think programs like this are super important because they’re encouraging students to continue pursuing journalism,” Alvarado said. “I think it’s good to emphasize the importance of community journalism and that it’s never too early to start working in journalism.”

Alvarado hopes to one day work in the news industry as a news reporter or anchor and says the connections that the program has facilitated have exposed her to a number of local media personalities.

The program focuses on different areas of journalism based on the cohort they start the program in. Each Cohort focuses on a different element of journalism, from Cohort 1’s inclusion of audio/radio journalism and podcasting, to Cohort 3, focusing on digital and print journalism.

The grant presents an opportunity for the program to expand into a fourth cohort.

Fresno City College journalism instructor and Journalists of Color steering committee member Kathleen Schock said that the program provides a “life-changing educational opportunity for local students,” providing them a gateway to a journalism career.

“As the program continues to expand, we are building a pipeline of journalists who are well-trained, experienced, diverse and ready to tell the stories of the Central Valley with nuance and cultural sensitivity,” Schock said.

A fourth Cohort and its curriculum is expected to be finalized by summer 2024 with a fifth expected in 2025.

“They are working on community news, covering stories on education, politics, economics, mental health and culture,” said Program Manager Johnsen Del Rosario said. “Through this program, the young journalists are networking with news industries and learning from media professionals throughout the Central Valley, in the place they hope to start their careers.”

The grant marks the second California Endowment grant for the program. The program is also financially supported by the James B. McClatchy Foundation, Microsoft, and The Institute for Media and Public Trust.

Students interested in the program can contact Johnsen Del Rosario at jdelrosario@yli.org or (559) 400-2992, or Daniel Gonzalez at dgonzalez@yli.org or (559) 457-9486.