Thanks to a grant from Jackson’s Planning and Development Department, the African-American owned-and-operated newspaper, The Mississippi Link, is holding a Journalism Camp for eight interested high school students from Jim Hill and Lanier high schools.
The camp is a five-week program that involves hands-on training and in-class learning to help the students understand print journalism. The grant is one of many funded through the department to help promote economic growth and development under the city of Jackson’s Enterprise Community Program. Each student in the camp will receive stipends for their participation.
Jackie Hampton, publisher and co-owner of The Mississippi Link, said, “I felt the camp was needed to reach out to students interested in journalism. Whatever the students do, this camp will assist them in their writing and interviewing skills and their ability to work with people.”
Hampton plans to extend the program if it continues next year. She would like more training opportunities for students to experience attending press conferences and public meetings such as city council and county supervisors meetings.
“The Mississippi Link has been partners with Jackson Public Schools for over seven years, but this is the first program which will allow students to create their own positive image about The Mississippi Link and The Jackson Public Schools District,” she said.
Hampton believes that the quote, “Be true to thine own self then thou can’t be false to any man,” goes well with journalism because of the importance of reporting only facts which have been verified as being true.
The students chosen were recommended by either the school principal or other school faculty members, and they underwent a screening process by The Mississippi Link staff. The process included a pre-assessment of the students’ familiarity with journalism, an interview panel, an essay, and the completion of an application.
“This detailed screening process was a part of helping the potential campers gain real-life, job-seeking skills and experiences,” said Gail Brown, editor of The Mississippi Link. Brown is also camp director and journalism instructor.
During the first week, students were able to meet the different people who run the newspaper.
L. Socrates Garrett, chairman and founder of the statewide community newspaper, spent time with the campers to talk about how he started Garrett Enterprises Inc. and The Mississippi Link.
He wants the campers to become good writers, but he also wants them to think about media ownership. Garrett said, “He who controls the media, controls the water.” He also talked about the name of the paper and why it was named, “The Mississippi Link.”
Campers also met Minnie Garrett, managing editor; Talecia Garrett-Sa’Aadat, president of Garrett Enterprises; Dominique Grant, media specialist; Matthew Caston, intern; Kevin Robinson, freelance photographer and Kehinde’ Gaynor, graphic artist.
Basic news writing, copy editing, photo journalism, Internet posting, and newspaper graphics are only some of the many aspects of the newspaper business that the students are learning.
So far, the campers have positive things to say about the journalism camp. “It is a good learning experience about journalism overall,” said Crystal Thomas, a 17-year-old Jim Hill High School student. Jillian Ware,16, of Jim Hill High School, said, “Camp is enlightening.” Also from Jim Hill High School, Jarvis Gray, 17, said, “Camp has been a great opportunity to learn about journalism.”
The campers experienced an unexpected field trip Wednesday, July 29, when they received word that there had been a multiple car accident around the corner from the newspaper office. It was their first field assignment and many seemed excited.
They were taught the dos and don’ts of investigating all while gathering information at the scene of the accident.
The coming weeks of the camp should unveil stories that need investigating and exposure. The campers are also scheduled to produce a Back-to-School supplement for the newspaper.
Since the five-week camp extends into the school session by a week and a half, The Mississippi Link will work with the students after school according to their individual schedules.
“By the end of the camp on Aug. 21, the high schoolers should be able to effectively report and write soft news stories and be familiar with basic journalism,” Brown said.
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