UMass program marks a milestone

By Tuan N. Pham
This year, the UMass Boston High School Journalism Program turns 10-years-old, proving that this successful venture is here to stay.

Once a year since 1988, about 20 high school students of color have joined together
to create magic. More than 175 writers and photographers have passed through the doors of UMass Boston. They have faced pressure and overcome obstacles to meet deadlines and create a newspaper.

Funded by the Dow Jones Newspaper Fund, UMass Boston, and New England newspapers, this program has been opening previously closed doors for minorities. It has provided workshops in headline writing, photography and Internet broadcast. The workshops were taught by volunteer journalists, such as Jason Johnson from the Boston Herald, Jose Martinez, a freelance journalist, and Leah Lamson from the Telegram and Gazette.

By covering various topics from Generation X to Boston Harbor to this year's theme of the Arts in Boston, the program continues to achieve its mission statement: to make an impact by giving 20 capable students a chance to examine print journalism firsthand.

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