You Must Be Intentional

            

         Staffing to build diversity in the school journalism, how it can be achieved, was our topic of discussion Tuesday. Our invited speakers were Retha Hill, Executive Director, Digital Innovation at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication and Gerald Jordan, Associate Professor, University of Arkansas’ Walter J. Lemke Department of Journalism. The classes of 30 teachers were engaged not only by the topic, but also by the tool, which they choose to teach us. We played a game. The games presented us with several thought provoking situations of what would you do in diversity situations?

            You must be intentional, to bring diversity to your staff. Talk to the parents of students you want to recruit, let them know that journalism improves verbal skills, broadens their child’s knowledge of current events. Diversity should be reflected in your content. Use social media, Facebook and create a page for your school.

            “Look at your staff and see who is missing and aggressively recruit, they’re there. Get out there and beat the bushes,” Hill said.

            Jordan said, “above all else, remember that you are storytellers, students want to know you care about their experiences. Tell their stories.”

Denise Powell

Bok Technical High School

Philadelphia, PA