Jackson State University last semester, has been named a Chips Quinn Scholar and will spend the spring 2012 semester in Washington, D.C., writing stories and developing multi-media projects as an intern for the Scripps Howard Foundation Wire.
Kelly is a 21-year old senior mass communications major from Jackson, Miss., with a concentration in multimedia journalism and a minor in art. She applied and was recommended for the Chips Quinn Scholars Program for Diversity in Journalism in October. The program, operated by the Diversity Institute and funded by the Freedom Forum, provides internships, training, an intense one-week college course in multimedia skills and financial assistance to college students from multicultural backgrounds who are pursuing careers in journalism.
“I am very excited about going to D.C. and interning. I like that it’s an 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., full-time internship, and I hope to better prepare myself for life after college with this internship,” said Kelly. “I plan to represent myself and my school well while interning, and write stories on a variety of topics including national news, political news, and possibly local news that may have a D.C. connection.”
Kelly’s recommendations came as a result of her good academic standing, her work and writing for The Flash, The Jackson Free Press, the JSU Mass Communications Department, and other freelance opportunities. She will complete her internship on April 13.
Jody Beck, director of the Semester in Washington internship program for Scripps Howard Foundation Wire, stated in a letter to Kelly: “Your strong application, stories and recommendations make it clear you are ready to be a reporter in Washington.”
JSU Student Publications Director Sylvia Watley said she was happy to recommend Brooke for the program.
“I encouraged her to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity and to learn as much and write as much as possible,” said Watley. “The great thing about being a Chips Quinn scholar is the fact that the program offers students hands-on training and mentoring by news veterans from around the country and opens doors to newsrooms throughout the nation.
“While we will miss Brooke at The Flash this semester, we are looking forward to hearing about her adventures and reading her stories on the Scripps Howard Foundation Wire site (www.shfwire.com). With this additional training and support, I expect her to be a great career journalist.”
The Chips Quinn program, according to the Freedom Forum website, is named for John “Chips” Quinn Jr., editor of the Poughkeepsie (N.Y.) Journal, who died at age 34. His commitment to diversity has become his legacy. The former editor was the son of John Quinn, advisory trustee and former deputy chairman of the Freedom Forum, and Loie Quinn, who together founded the program in 1991. Nearly 1,200 men and women have been named Chips Quinn Scholars since 1991, making it the largest and most enduring diversity initiative of the Freedom Forum.
– JSU –
About Jackson State University: Challenging Minds, Changing Lives
Jackson State University, founded in 1877, is a historically black, high research activity university located in Jackson, the capital city of the state of Mississippi. Jackson State’s nurturing academic environment challenges individuals to change lives through teaching, research and service. Officially designated as Mississippi’s Urban University, Jackson State continues to enhance the state, nation and world through comprehensive economic development, health-care, technological and educational initiatives. The only public university in the Jackson metropolitan area, Jackson State is located near downtown, with three satellite campuses throughout the city. For more information, visit www.jsums.edu.