RI High School Journalism Day

Before I begin, I would like to give a huge thank you to Mrs. Buffington for inviting Rebecca Farias and myself to attend Rhode Island High School Journalism Day. I also have to extend thanks to The Rhode Island Press Association, Rhode Island PBS, and all of the journalists who volunteered their time to educate future journalists. From nine to one, we were able to attend and participate in four unique sessions hosted by different journalists who specialized in the topic. 

The first session was “Women in Journalism”. It was hosted by Jamie Coelho (RI Monthly), Amanda Milkovits (The Globe Rhode Island), Katie Mulvaney (The Providence Journals, and Melissa Sardelli (WPRI). We were able to hear the ladies’ own personal struggles as women in what many still see as a male-dominated field. We learned about the difference between sharing reports with your face attached to them instead of just your name. Melissa Sardelli told of the harassment she receives, especially online, like the outfit she chose to wear that day. All ladies agreed that even though there have been many big strides in making the journalism field more equal, women still need to keep a thick skin. One told the story of how she was talked down to when interviewing another man for a story. She then continued on that she can connect better to other women interviewees, especially those who are victims of harassment or abuse. They all agreed that as long as you have a passion for your writing and the willingness to stand up for yourself, you will make it far.

The second session we attended was “Investigate It!” During this session we were joined by two local investigative journalists, Tim White and Amanda Milkovits, and one local who now worked for a nationwide news team, Luke Barr. They all walked us through the steps of finding and reporting on a story. As Tim White puts it best, “Rhode Island is a reporter’s playground.” Our close knit community means just about everyone knows something that is going on. Once getting a lead, the next step is to do your research on it. This can include interfering with people involved, going through public records, and looking at similar cases from the past. Once you are 100% confident that you have all of the facts, you can finally publish the piece. All three advised to always air on the side of caution, as you never want to report false or misleading information. You are not only telling a story but forever changing people’s lives. 

The third session was “The Ins and Out of the Business”. This session was hosted by Ted Nesi (WPRI), Lylah Alphonese (The Globe RI), and John Pantalone (department chair of Journalism at URI). They all covered how to get into the journalism world and make it into a full time career. The best tactic to become a journalist is to read. Not only are you informing yourself on a topic, but you are also seeing how to structure and write a good story. Ted Nesi also suggests saying yes to every opportunity you can get, as it may not come around again. When getting into the field, don;t be afraid to take risks and follow your passion. 

The fourth and final session was “Lifestyle Journalism”, which was hosted by Dana Laverty (RI Monthly), Sarah Francis (former editor at RI Monthly), and Elyse Major (Providence Media). Lifestyle journalism includes crafting, homes, and lifestyles. It is just as important as other forms of journalism, as they report on the cultural aspects of life. A challenge that is mostly seen only in this form of journalism is the struggle to keep stories fresh and exciting. Writers are constantly looking for new and innovative twists to the same old seasonal stories. These keep the tradition of seasonal articles while still being interesting to readers. The multimedia approach is also very important. You have to make sure that the photos and designs associated with the article add to it, not take value away from it. It is a great entry point for writers, as it leaves many avenues open to explore further.

Overall, I am very grateful for this opportunity. It was lovely to be able to ask questions to the journalists I have grown up reading or watching. To anyone considering a career in journalism, I highly suggest attending next year’s Journalism Day.