Passionate about journalism? Ever wanted to be part of a major news organization? Want your writing published on the newspaper or online?
Then, the Joongang Student Reporters Program (JSR) is just for you. The JSR is proud to announce their 7th session this coming fall of 2012. This is a program that lasts for six months offered by the Korea Daily Newspaper Company (Joongang Ilbo) for motivated high school students interested in journalism where the students are able to get first-hand experience with journalistic writing. Students can report a variety of news beats such as, but not limited to: schools and education, sports, music, book and movie reviews, arts and entertainment, science and technology, social issues, and your community. During this time, you will be able to write articles that may be published in the weekly Education section or the daily pages of The Korea Daily and the official website, www.jstudentboard.com.
With almost 100 student reporters from different areas in Southern California joining this program every reporting session, this program not only provides you the opportunity to express your love and passion for writing, but also allows you to experience diversity with other high school students during periodic writing workshops, seminars, and orientations.
Once students are part of JSR, they will be assigned to a beat group led by the group’s editor. Every group will be required to submit a group article where every member will contribute their portion of the news article. This gives students the opportunity to collaborate with their peers and improve their communications skills through interviews and group discussions.
“Participating in the JSR program for the past four sessions has been such an amazing, invaluable learning experience that has augmented my passion for journalism and writing,” Chelsea Lim, a senior and Education Beat Co-Editor, said. “The program has served as a wonderful avenue through which I could raise awareness regarding issues that I hold close to my heart, and it has exposed me to the professional reporting environment. I loved the experience of writing articles, leading group projects in collaboration with others, acquiring feedback, and developing the AP reporting style. This program provides JSR reporters with a supportive environment that fosters professionalism, growth, and learning in students of all ages.”
The editors like Lim take a large step further by taking the responsibility as both a student reporter and a group leader. However, the student editors are also part of this program to help the new incoming student reporters adapt to the activities easier, where the both the new group members and the continuing reporters are welcome to shoot an email to their editors for any questions about the program and assignments.
Since this past 6th session, Eric Sagata was the JSR coordinator who handles all of the articles submitted by the student reporters where he gives back feedback, advice, suggestions, and helpful comments. Additionally, he has added another part to this program to benefit the student reporters by giving AP-style guides and tips for writing their articles.
“While I have only been coordinator briefly, I can see that the current student reporters are very motivated individuals with a passion for news writing, since they take the program very seriously,” Sagata said. “From a coordinator’s perspective I believe that this program offers is a great resource for students since it introduces them to a professional level of journalism early on in their academic careers. I wish that when I was in high school, I had the opportunity to participate in an active news writing program like this one. But since I couldn’t, I’ve made it my goal to offer the current and future student reporters the chance to adapt themselves to and learn about journalism as a field before they enter college. Who knows, maybe this program will inspire some students to seriously consider career in journalism.”
The JSR family looks forward to seeing you in the fall!
The new application is now available online at www.jstudentboard.com and the deadline is Wednesday, June 20, 2012. For more questions, please contact Eric Sagata at jstudentboard@gmail.com or call 213-368-2540.
