CJI Attracts Students Nationwide
Sep 3, 2009
Nineteen high school students from Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Maryland and Virginia attended the 7th annual Cornerstone Journalism Institute (CJI) from July 26-31.
Alan Blanchard, associate professor of journalism and CJI director, described CJI as an “annual journalism boot camp.”
The week-long camp provides high school students with a rigorous schedule of learning the basics of news writing and photojournalism.
Students checked into campus residence halls on July 26 and began working on journalism stories until 11 p.m. their first night.
Campers started workshops at 9 a.m. after a morning walk, breakfast in the campus dining hall and a group devotion.
“We were busy all day,” said Eleanor Staricka, 17, from Big Lake, Minn. “I’m learning a lot of new things and there’s a lot to take in.”
Campers participated in news writing or photojournalism workshops, classes and assignments from 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., with a half-hour lunch break.
CJI instructors included: Emily Zoladz, a photojournalist for the The Grand Rapids Press; Luke Stier, a producer for WOOD-TV8; Alan Babbitt, a sports editor with the The Holland Sentinel; and Ryan Jeltema, assistant news editor for the The Greenville Daily News.
“On Monday, Russ Pulliam (associate editor of The Indianapolis Star) went over basic grammar, punctuation and news writing skills,” said Blanchard. “On Tuesday Cornerstone journalism instructor Bob Becker, former long-time sports editor of The Grand Rapids Press, engaged the CJI’ers for a full two hours as he gave them a crash course on how to write opinion columns before turning them loose to craft their opinions on issues ranging from President Obama to health care to domestic violence.”
After dinner each night, campers enjoyed physical activities, additional journalism assignments and games before returning to their dorms at 11 p.m.
Campers finished up journalism assignments Thursday night by writing movie reviews of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. John Serba, movie critic for The Grand Rapids Press, lectured on movie reviews before the campers watched the film at a local IMAX theatre.
On the last day, campers attended an awards ceremony and were able to see the product of their week in a printed CJI Times newspaper.
“I came here to see if I want to do (news writing) in college,” said Brittanie Joyner, 17, from Alexandria, Va. “And, now that I’ve done it, I think I can handle it.”
To learn more about the journalism program at Cornerstone, visit www.cornerstone.edu/academics/com_and_media/journalism.
