Intensive Workshops for Would-Be Journalists Return This Summer

Investigative journalism is alive and well, and in the midst of passing the baton to a new generation.  That’s the premise driving a one-week journalism workshop being run by leading professionals, to be held at three locations for Connecticut high school students this summer.  It is the most extensive program of its kind in the state, and one of just three in New England.

With expert practitioners providing the instruction, high school students interested in refining their research and writing skills, while learning about the evolving field of journalism from award-winning writers and editors, are perfect candidates. Now in their fourth year, the specialized workshops, offered by the Connecticut Health Investigative Team (C-HIT) will be held at:

•   University of Connecticut (Storrs), July 14-18
•   Quinnipiac University (Hamden), July 21-25
•   Yale University (New Haven), July 28-Aug. 1

The non-profit C-HIT is a web-based news service dedicated to producing original, responsible, in-depth journalism on issues of health and safety, in Connecticut and the surrounding region. Consisting of a team of award-winning journalists, based in Connecticut, who have come together to provide the public with informative stories about health, safety and medical issues, C-HIT stories regularly appear in newspapers, on websites, and in broadcast media statewide.

The student workshops provide select students with the opportunity to spend a week on a university campus, learning the tools of investigative journalism by participating in seminars led by current, active professional journalists.  High school students age 16 and older are eligible to apply, and sessions are limited to 20 students each.  Full and partial scholarships are available.

Students will work on developing stories for publication, gaining first-hand experience in what it takes to assemble the research and do the homework essential to effective journalism.  In addition, as part of the program, the students will spend a day visiting local newsrooms.

The team of instructors include:  

• Kate Farrish, formerly an award-winning reporter for the Hartford Courant and now a UConn adjunct professor of journalism;
• Lisa Chedekel, C-HIT senior writer and co-founder, and formerly an investigative reporter for the Courant, where she won several national awards
• Lynne DeLucia, C-HIT Editor and a Pulitzer Prize-winning former Courant editor.

C-HIT's workshop graduates have gone on to study at major universities, have been awarded scholarships through the Dow Jones News Fund, and have secured internships at major newspapers, including the Courant.  For information, go to www.c-hit.org or contact Lynne DeLucia at delucia@c-hit.org.

The only other intensive journalism program for high school students in Connecticut is offered by the Yale Daily News, the university’s student-run newspaper.  The publication’s Summer Journalism Program runs for one week in mid-August, and is geared toward those with writing or journalism experience, although any Connecticut high-school student with an interest in journalism, writing or photography can apply.  Details are available at sjp@yaledailynews.com.