The Harry J. Anderson Memorial Trust and The Kewanee Voice are teaming up to offer The Kewanee Voice Student Journalism Program. The trustees of the Harry Anderson fund voted last week to grant the program $10,000 to get off the ground.
A student journalism program was always a goal for The Kewanee Voice, said Publisher Mike Berry.
“From early on, when we spoke to various groups, we always put forth the idea to bring students into the fold,” he said. “It was an early goal for us.”
But a collaboration between the trust administrator, Carole Blake and the Voice’s board chair, TD Welch, set the wheels in motion. The two discussed the collaboration last month.
“During a casual conversation with a friend, I was informed of a new program that was being discussed by The Kewanee Voice, ” said Blake. “This program would help to expand their coverage to include more high school sports. In order for this program to come together, students from both high schools would be needed. Their journalism program was a perfect fit for The Harry J. Anderson Memorial Trust.”
Blake said that she is optimistic that the program will develop, and the Trust can be applied to give youth in the community a head start in life.
“At this point, I feel very confident there will be an ongoing, amicable relationship between the Trust and The Kewanee Voice. It’s very important that high school students realize all available opportunities to help them grow and learn,” said Blake.
Through the program, The Kewanee Voice will recruit and train young writers and photographers from both Wethersfield and Kewanee to cover sports. The Kewanee Voice will administer the program and provide a program advisor to work with the students during the school year. The students will be paid for their coverage and learn new skills that will give them an advantage.
Susan DeVilder, managing editor of The Kewanee Voice, said she is excited about the new program and is grateful to The Harry J. Anderson Memorial Trust board, as well as to Blake and Welch, for understanding the program’s vision.
“The school districts have wonderful programs for students with so many talents, but there is next to nothing for students who want to use their gifts of writing and photography. I see the journalism program as a way for young writers and photographers to get their feet wet and see if journalism is a career they might want to pursue after high school.The bonus is that they will get paid for their work.”
Within a few days, The Kewanee Voice will meet with both school administrations, principals and English teachers to discuss the launch of the program. The program is open to WHS and KHS juniors and seniors. Students can attend the first meeting, the date of which will be announced soon. Training sessions and editorial meetings will be a requirement. Student journalists will receive t-shirts and press passes so they can attend games and events.
The program will be limited to covering certain sporting events for now, but the goal is to expand coverage to include all sports, with the future goal of branching out to cover other school activities and organizations.
The Kewanee Voice Board Chair Welch said she is thrilled that the two organizations have partnered to make the program a reality.
“This is an exciting new program that will benefit not only the youth in the community but the community as a whole,” she said. “I look forward to the continued partnership with the Harry Anderson Trust well into the future.”
Juniors and seniors from both WHS and KHS who are interested in the program are invited to reach out to their English teachers. Posters will go up in the schools within the next week and the first meeting of The Kewanee Voice Student Journalism Program is expected to be announced soon.
