Summer Journalism Visitation Program

High School Students Explore Journalism in the Digital Age
By Barbara Little, Role Models Today Youth Coordinator

Florida high school students were off and running early Saturday morning June 23 at the University of Florida Summer Journalism Visitation. Their charge was to develop a multimedia project about campus life.

From interviewing fraternity members at a big fraternity house clean-up to talking with visitors at the hallowed "Swamp," participants worked on four stories and shared their final video presentations with approximately 160 workshop attendees in the afternoon.

The theme of the event was Journalism in the Digital Age. The morning began with an opening general session with Star-Banner Newspaper panelists Joe Byrnes, online reporter; Kamau Hosten, newsroom assistant; and Anthony Violanti, reporter and Go/Ocala.com personality. The session was moderated by Doug Engle, multimedia editor for the Star-Banner Newspaper and Ocala.com.

Students then broke out into four separate groups to work on multimedia projects encompassing student life at the University of Florida. Joining them as facilitators were Bruce Ackerman, Star-Banner Newspaper photographer/videographer; Joe Byrnes, Star-Banner Newspaper online reporter; Doug Engle, Star-Banner Newspaper and Ocala.com multimedia editor; Julie Garrett, Santa Fe Community College communications specialist; Kamau Hosten, Star-Banner Newspaper newsroom assistant; David Houder, Santa Fe Community College websmith; Dave Schlenker, Star-Banner Newspaper assistant features editor; Anthony Violanti, Star-Banner Newspaper reporter and Go/Ocala.com personality; and Jannet Walsh, Star-Banner Newspaper photographer/videographer.

Parents, chaperones and advisors received information on University of Florida Financial Aid and Admissions. In the afternoon they were encouraged to explore the university campus on their own.

Everyone was treated to a free continental breakfast, boxed lunch, and a special serving of ice cream.

The event was co-sponsored by Role Models Foundation, Inc., Star-Banner Newspaper, the Knight Division at the University of Florida College of Journalism Communications, St. Petersburg Times and Alachua/Bradford College~Careers Tech Prep.

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