Help SPJ train the next generation of journalists!
Are you a journalist in the Columbus area who wants to help teach Columbus City Schools students about the news, storytelling, media ethics, and introduce them to careers in journalism? We’d love for you to volunteer as part of a new program launching in 2023 called Columbus Journalists In Training.
Columbus Journalists in Training is a partnership between the Columbus Dispatch, Columbus City Schools and the Central Ohio chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.
This is a free, six-week journalism training program for Columbus City Schools students where they will take part in interactive, engaging exercises and be coached by media professionals. The purpose is to expose students to careers in journalism and build media literacy and critical thinking skills.
We’re seeking volunteers to help us put on this program and we’d love to have the students meet and learn from the people working at our local media outlets and in our community.
We’re looking for people to serve as mentors, program facilitators and experts for programming on the following dates (programming will take place roughly from 10 a.m. 1 p.m. on each of these dates):
-Jan. 28, 2023: What is news, what it isn’t, and why it matters / Elements of News
-Feb. 18, 2023: Telling a compelling story / crime reporting
-March 11, 2023: Social media
-April 1, 2023: Breaking news/ broadcast practice
-April 22, 2023: Pursuing journalism in college
-May 6, 2023: Panel of local journalists at “graduation” session
If you are interested in being part of this program and helping lend your expertise at one or more of these sessions, please fill out this form. You can also contact Amelia Robinson of the Columbus Dispatch at ameliarobinson@
In addition, we hosted an informal Zoom presentation on the project; click here to view that so you can learn more about the program.
We’re excited to put on this programming to help inspire the next generation of journalists and we hope to work with you!