Reynolds Institutes to inspire high school journalism advisers

• By: ASNE staff
• On: 02/16/2007 15:32:00
• In: Education for Journalism

RESTON, Va. – ASNE will receive a $2.3 million, three-year grant from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation to provide intensive two-week training programs to enable high school teachers to become effective journalism advisers.

“This program is a linchpin in ASNE's ambitious efforts to nurture the next diverse generation of young journalists, build independent scholastic media and help all teens gain a greater appreciation of the First Amendment. The Reynolds Institutes will provide a unique, top-flight training and support system for journalism advisers,” said ASNE President David A. Zeeck, executive editor of The News Tribune, Tacoma, Wash. “We are most grateful to the Reynolds Foundation for sharing in this vision and making this generous and substantial commitment.”

During the two weeks of training, competitively selected newspaper advisers will be steeped in journalistic practices and responsibilities, ethical decision making and press freedom issues. ASNE's recruitment includes intensive outreach to schools in urban and rural areas where journalism programs are most under stress.

Every key expense is covered by the grant, including travel, housing, meals, tuition, graduate/continuing education credits, and instruction materials. This removes financial obstacles for teachers who can't afford to pay for this kind of specialized training or who teach in cash- strapped school districts. With the financial support of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, ASNE trained 1,007 high school teachers from 2001-06. Knight continues its important support of other core programs of the ASNE High School Journalism Initiative.

Faculty from high schools that lack scholastic media are encouraged to apply. This summer, the Reynolds Institute will take place at three accredited j-schools:

• Arizona State University, Tempe, June 17-29.
• University of Missouri, Columbia, July 8-20.
• University of Nevada, Reno, July 15-27.

The 2007 application brochure may be downloaded at:
http://www.highschooljournalism.org/images/teachers/2007ASNEHSJInstituteApplication.pdf

Each school will host 35 teachers recruited by ASNE. In 2008 and 2009, two additional Reynolds Institutes will take place, bringing the total to five in each of those two years.

The Donald W. Reynolds Foundation is a national philanthropic organization founded in 1954 by the late media entrepreneur for whom it is named. Headquartered in Las Vegas, it is of one of the largest private foundations in the United States.

ASNE is the principal organization of the top editors at daily newspapers. Founded in 1922 as a non-profit organization, ASNE focuses on professional development and journalism-related issues, including the First Amendment, diversity in newsroom staffing and coverage diversity, journalism education, editorial innovation and credibility.