David Medina Director of External Communications Tel: (860)695-8862 [email protected]
Hartford Courant To Partner With Journalism & Media Academy
(Tuesday, January 21, 2014) The Hartford Courant, America’s Oldest Continuously Published Newspaper, has agreed to join with Hartford Public Schools and CPBN in training the next generation of news media professionals from the district’s Journalism & Media Academy Magnet School (JMA).
Preliminary discussions between the district and the Courant have centered around establishing a select number of internships for students who show the greatest promise, professional development sessions for the faculty, an advisory role in the writing, editing and design of the academy’s online student newspaper and guest lecturing.
"As the Hartford Courant embarks an unprecedented milestone in American journalism - 250 years of continuous publication," said Nancy A. Meyer, the Hartford Courant's publisher, "we are excited about the opportunity to be an integral part of cultivating the importance of journalism with the next generation of storytellers.”
This year, the academy moved to a newly redesigned building at 150 Tower Avenue and was designated a magnet school under the Sheff v. O’Neill agreement. As a magnet school, JMA recruits half of its student body from suburban towns throughout Greater Hartford during the School Choice application period that ends on Friday, Feb. 28. The Courant will be supporting the academy’s efforts in that area.
“When we developed the concept of the academy back in 2007, I had always dreamed that The Hartford Courant could join us in making the school an attractive option for students and contribute to their success,” said Superintendent Christina M. Kishimoto, “I am thrilled that the relationship is finally taking shape.”
The Journalism & Media Academy is part of the district’s reform strategy of creating smaller learning communities with career themes that make education relevant to future success, thereby, increasing test scores and graduation rates.
960 Main Street Hartford CT 06103 ∞ www.hartfordschools.org
This approach to learning relies heavily on partnerships with members of Hartford’s corporate and philanthropic communities. Enrollment at the 9th-through-12th-grade academy is limited to 400 students.
Students at the academy are taught their core academic subjects as they learn TV production, radio production, photography, graphic design and online news reporting. They are expected to create a final media capstone project before they graduate.
JMA, under the direction of Principal Leonard Epps, has a historic partnership with the Connecticut Public Broadcasting Network (CPBN). Under a 10-year agreement signed in September 2011, senior-year students from the academy spend their entire school day taking digital arts, journalism, video and radio production classes aided by CPBN professionals at the JMA satellite campus housed at the CPBN Learning Lab at 1049 Asylum Avenue in Hartford.
“My vision for the Journalism and Media Academy is based on providing an engaging and relevant curriculum,” Mr. Epps said. “The partnership with the Hartford Courant is an excellent opportunity for students to apply their knowledge and learn from professionals in the industry.”
About The Hartford Courant CT1 Media, Tribune's Connecticut properties, consists of The Hartford Courant, FOX CT, WCCT-TV, foxct.com, courant.com, CTNOW, ValuMail, Hartford Magazine and New Having Living. Tribune is America's largest employee-owned media company, operating businesses in publishing, interactive and broadcasting. Popular news and information websites complement Tribune's print and broadcast properties and extend the company's nationwide audience. At Tribune, we take what we do seriously and with a great deal of pride.
About The Journalism & Media Academy Magnet School Life at JMA is full and fulfilling. Students are expected to achieve at a high academic level, as they delight in a process that is tailored to support their creative dreams. They settle into a robust schedule that combines traditional learning with hands-on exploration of media, journalism, photography and graphic design. A typical day is filled with creative expression, collaborative learning, and energetic support from fellow students and faculty. In JMA culture, students develop as independent thinkers with a sense of personal and social responsibility that enables them to participate successfully in a global economy. They take great pride in their ability to write, research, think critically and utilize advanced technology. For more information, visit the school website at http://jma.hartfordschools.org or watch our video at http://vimeo.com/84315947.
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960 Main Street Hartford CT 06103 ∞ www.hartfordschools.org