University of Texas at Austin and Community Impact Newspaper announce project to increase diversity in coverage in the Austin metro
[ad_1]
Through a new partnership between Community Impact Newspaper and the University of Texas at Austin, student journalists will explore local communities, connect with residents and business owners, and help create and implement a broader coverage plan.
A partnership between the Community Impact Newspaper and the University of Texas at the Austin School of Journalism will focus on reporting on the fast growing and diverse communities in the Austin Metro.
The new initiative, supported by the School of Journalism and Media’s Dallas Morning News Innovation Endowment, will generate, validate, and study residential and business growth in more than a dozen communities served by the Pflugerville newspaper group.
“This project will ensure that students gain valuable experience writing and publishing relevant local journalism and help Community Impact build our commitment to ensuring that everyone, regardless of socioeconomic status, should have access to quality journalism,” said Joe Warner, Editor-in-Chief of the Community Impact Newspaper. “Building a closer relationship with the University of Texas School of Journalism is also a strategic asset for Community Impact as we continue to grow.”
Journalism students and juniors at the University of Texas at Austin will apply for the program, go through an interview process, and work in paid positions with editorial teams from the Community Impact Newspaper. Student journalists will study local communities, connect with local residents and business owners, and help create and implement a plan for greater coverage.
“The hallmark of this is working with professionals,” said school principal Kathleen McElroy. With this partnership she added: “We are part of what the industry does – not in our own silo.”
Christian McDonald, director of the foundation and assistant professor of practice, said he’s always been passionate about the intersection of journalism and technology, and working on the program helps instill that same passion for student journalists.
“Funding for this comes from and fits in with the mission of telling better stories and reaching more of our community,” said McDonald.
[ad_2]
