Volunteers needed: Sign up to mentor student journalists!

Columbus Dispatch features editor Erica Thompson (right) listens as journalism professionals and students from various Columbus City Schools participate in the Columbus Journalists in Training seminar on Sat. Feb. 18, 2023 at Fort Hayes Career Center. Doral Chenoweth/The Columbus Dispatch

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 our innovative program for budding high school journalists: 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, immersive 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 their 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 Saturdays in 2024. Programming will take place from 10 a.m. 2 p.m. on each of these dates and breakfast/lunch will be provided:

Jan. 20, 2024

Feb. 3, 2024

Feb. 17, 2024

March 2, 2024

March 16, 2024

If you are interested in being part of this program and lending your expertise and mentorship to students, please fill out this form. You can also contact SPJ with questions at [email protected].

We’re excited to put on this program once again to help inspire the next generation of journalists — we hope to work with you!