Isiah Thomas among speakers at first Diversity Sports Media Institute at IU’s National Sports Journalism Center
June 21, 2010 3:50 p.m.
By John Oehser
National Sports Journalism Center Web Editor
INDIANAPOLIS – A chance to work with Isiah Thomas won’t be the only highlight.
But Thomas, a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame, will be among the speakers at the first Diversity Sports Media Institute this month organized by Indiana University’s National Sports Journalism Center for select high school students from Indianapolis and Chicago.
The McCormick Foundation of Chicago awarded a $35,000 grant to fund the project.
“We are in the midst of a serious high school dropout crisis in America, and it disproportionately affects cities like Indianapolis and Chicago, and people of color," said Tim Franklin, director of the National Sports Journalism Center and the Louis A. Weil, Jr. Chair in the School of Journalism.
“If we can turn students on to the exciting possibilities of careers in sports media, this will have been more than worth it. I’m very grateful to the McCormick Foundation for its support of this worthwhile program.”
Thomas, who had a Hall-of-Fame playing career with IU and the NBA’s Detroit Pistons, is now the coach at Florida International University, and is just one of the notable speakers at the Diversity Sports Media Institute. Others include:
*David Aldridge, NBA reporter for TNT, TBS and NBA-TV.
*Tom Crean, head basketball coach at IU.
*Ron Hunter, head basketball coach at IUPUI.
*Fred Mitchell, award-winning sports columnist for the Chicago Tribune.
*Chris Widlic, sports reporter/anchor for WISH-TV.
*Mike Wells, Indiana Pacers beat writer for The Indianapolis Star.
The institute will be conducted from June 27 to July 2 on the campus of Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), and will offer students intensive, hands-on training in the development and production of a sports broadcast and website.
The students will interview athletes, coaches and prominent sports journalists, then work with media professionals and IU faculty to produce a television segment and a Web page. They will participate in courses on the fundamentals of sports journalism. And, the students also will tour the NCAA Hall of Champions, Lucas Oil Stadium and Conseco Fieldhouse.
Students who successfully complete the institute, graduate from high school and go to college will receive $500 vouchers toward their education.
The most outstanding student will receive the equivalent of in-state tuition to study in the National Sports Journalism Center.
“We take our mission to serve diverse communities in Indiana and the Midwest seriously,” said Brad Hamm, dean of the IU School of Journalism. “This institute will give students an amazing, hands-on experience in sports media that could be life changing. We’re thrilled that the McCormick Foundation is partnering with us on this important initiative.”
Clark Bell, the journalism program director of the McCormick Foundation, said funding of the Diversity Sports Media Institute "directly addresses our vision of developing a more informed, news-literate and engaged citizenry. We applaud Tim Franklin and his staff for their passion in creating this innovative approach to youth journalism."
WFYI-TV, the public broadcasting station based in Indianapolis, is partnering with the National Sports Journalism Center on the institute, and will be assisting students in the production of the television sports segment. WFYI expects to air the segment later this year.
Franklin said IU would continue to work with the students after they leave the institute this summer, providing faculty critiques of work, career counseling and tracking their progress. He said that he hopes to make the diversity institute an annual event at IUPUI.
National Sports Journalism Center Web Editor
INDIANAPOLIS – A chance to work with Isiah Thomas won’t be the only highlight.
But Thomas, a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame, will be among the speakers at the first Diversity Sports Media Institute this month organized by Indiana University’s National Sports Journalism Center for select high school students from Indianapolis and Chicago.
The McCormick Foundation of Chicago awarded a $35,000 grant to fund the project.
.jpg) |
| Isiah Thomas |
“If we can turn students on to the exciting possibilities of careers in sports media, this will have been more than worth it. I’m very grateful to the McCormick Foundation for its support of this worthwhile program.”
Thomas, who had a Hall-of-Fame playing career with IU and the NBA’s Detroit Pistons, is now the coach at Florida International University, and is just one of the notable speakers at the Diversity Sports Media Institute. Others include:
*David Aldridge, NBA reporter for TNT, TBS and NBA-TV.
*Tom Crean, head basketball coach at IU.
 |
| Ron Hunter |
*Fred Mitchell, award-winning sports columnist for the Chicago Tribune.
*Chris Widlic, sports reporter/anchor for WISH-TV.
*Mike Wells, Indiana Pacers beat writer for The Indianapolis Star.
The institute will be conducted from June 27 to July 2 on the campus of Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), and will offer students intensive, hands-on training in the development and production of a sports broadcast and website.
The students will interview athletes, coaches and prominent sports journalists, then work with media professionals and IU faculty to produce a television segment and a Web page. They will participate in courses on the fundamentals of sports journalism. And, the students also will tour the NCAA Hall of Champions, Lucas Oil Stadium and Conseco Fieldhouse.
.jpg) |
| Fred Mitchell |
The most outstanding student will receive the equivalent of in-state tuition to study in the National Sports Journalism Center.
“We take our mission to serve diverse communities in Indiana and the Midwest seriously,” said Brad Hamm, dean of the IU School of Journalism. “This institute will give students an amazing, hands-on experience in sports media that could be life changing. We’re thrilled that the McCormick Foundation is partnering with us on this important initiative.”
Clark Bell, the journalism program director of the McCormick Foundation, said funding of the Diversity Sports Media Institute "directly addresses our vision of developing a more informed, news-literate and engaged citizenry. We applaud Tim Franklin and his staff for their passion in creating this innovative approach to youth journalism."
.jpg) |
| Tom Crean |
Franklin said IU would continue to work with the students after they leave the institute this summer, providing faculty critiques of work, career counseling and tracking their progress. He said that he hopes to make the diversity institute an annual event at IUPUI.
