Freedom Forum Names 23 Chips Quinn Scholars for Summer 2011 Internship Program

NASHVILLE, Tenn., May 16, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Twenty-three students and young journalists from diverse backgrounds have been named Chips Quinn Scholars for summer 2011 by the Freedom Forum Diversity Institute and participating news organizations. The Chips Quinn Scholar orientation and training will take place May 16 to 24 at the Freedom Forum's John Seigenthaler Center in Nashville, Tenn.

The 2011 scholars will work in paid internships at 20 different newsrooms across the country immediately following a weeklong orientation program and multimedia journalism class. They bring to 1,248 the number of men and women placed as reporters, copy editors, photographers, graphic artists and multimedia journalists since the program began with six Scholars in 1991. This year marks the Chips Quinn Scholar program's 20th anniversary.

"Responsible, relevant journalism flourishes when newsrooms and news content reflect our society's rich, vast and growing diversity," said Jack Marsh, president of the Freedom Forum Diversity Institute. "For 20 years, the Chips Quinn Scholars program has remained true to that goal."

Chips Quinn Scholars are college students or recent graduates interested in journalism careers. After completing the intensive orientation and multimedia training program with veteran journalists, they will work in 10- to 12-week internships or in full-time jobs. Scholars are eligible for housing and travel stipends in addition to ongoing mentoring from the Freedom Forum.

"Our newsroom has been a faithful supporter of the Chips Quinn Scholars program since its early days," said Martin Reynolds, editor of The Oakland Tribune. "As an alum of the program, who has come up through the ranks from intern to editor, the Chips Quinn Scholars program is essential to ensuring that the industry of journalism is reflective of the nation it endeavors to serve."

The training sessions in Nashville will include presentations and teaching by experienced journalists and industry leaders. Among the speakers are John C. Quinn, founder of the Chips Quinn Scholars program; John Seigenthaler, founder of the First Amendment Center; Ken Paulson, president and chief executive officer of the First Amendment Center; Jack Marsh, president and chief operating officer of the Freedom Forum Diversity Institute; Val Hoeppner, director of education at the Freedom Forum Diversity Institute; and career coaches Colleen Fitzpatrick and Mary Ann Hogan. Other speakers will include veteran alums of the program including reporters Getahn Ward and Julie Hubbard, The Tennessean; Talia Buford, freelance reporter; Sue Stock, The News & Observer in Raleigh, N.C.; editor and columnist Manny Lopez, The Detroit News; and photographers Danese Kenon, The Indianapolis Star and Jason McKibben, the Post-Star in Glen Falls, N.Y.

The Chips Quinn Scholars program (freedomforumdiversity.org) is an initiative of the Freedom Forum Diversity Institute to help news organizations increase diversity in their newsrooms.

Former Freedom Forum trustee John C. Quinn and his late wife, Loie, established the Chips Quinn Scholars program in memory of their son John C. "Chips" Quinn Jr., who was managing editor of the Poughkeepsie (N.Y.) Journal when he died in an automobile accident in 1990 at the age of 34.

SOURCE Freedom Forum Diversity Institute