Connecting California students with Journalism Program (United States)

The students build connections with the journalists covering their communities, learn about the inner workings of newsrooms and gain many of the skills needed to succeed in professional and academic realms. Most importantly, they return home equipped with the knowledge and tools to tell the stories of their communities. Each cohort is carefully selected to reflect the diversity of California residents and serve communities that newsrooms may be overlooking. They encourage students of any ethnic background to apply.

JCal leaders will select about 25 students who will spend 5 days together in Sacramento. Based in the CalMatters newsroom, the students will learn from journalism and civics professionals from all over California. Students will also produce reporting projects focused on California’s Next Workforce, which will be ready to publish locally.

This innovative program is produced through a unique partnership between the Asian American Journalists Association and CalMatters.

Themes

• This year’s JCal theme is California’s Next Workforce.
• California’s economy faces drastic changes prompted by artificial intelligence, climate, population shifts, globalization, and much more. One of the state’s biggest challenges is matching young people entering the workforce with the kinds of jobs that are needed in the fast changing economy.
• This year’s JCal reporting projects will focus on solutions – the ways high schools, community colleges, local governments, philanthropies, employers, unions and others are collaborating on innovative training programs that give younger workers the skills they need for careers with livable wages.
• This program will enable important storytelling that informs communities and encourages young journalists to reimagine their state’s future. Campers will attend workshops online before JCal and do some initial reporting on workforce issues in their local communities. Part of the workshop will be devoted to completing the stories with the help of mentors and fellow students. The resulting stories will be offered to local news outlets statewide.

Cost Covered

• Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be provided by them via catering to the office and also taking participants out to local restaurants. They will have 1 supervising adult mentor per 6 youth.
• Students selected for the program have all costs covered including travel, housing and meals.

Eligibility Criteria

• Any high school aged California student may apply. International students may apply, but only if they are enrolled in a California high school.

For more information, visit AAJA.