Meet the Next Generation of Fresh, Diverse Faces in Journalism

Meet the Next Generation of Fresh, Diverse Faces in Journalism

Otay Ranch High School graduate Vanessa Castellon has a dream career in mind. She would like to become an editor or own her own editing/publishing company. This summer, she is getting real-life journalism experience at the San Diego Union-Tribune that will help her get closer to achieving her career goal.

Castellon is one of six high school students throughout San Diego County who were selected for the 2018 Community Journalism Scholars Program, underwritten by our company since 2012.

The five-week program provides students the opportunity to learn about the media business by working side by side with professional writers, photographers, videographers and editors at the U-T’s downtown offices. Students are producing stories, videos, and photographs individually and in groups. Their work will be published online and in print by the U-T.

Congratulations Class of 2018 Journalism Scholars

The Community Journalism Program is designed with a special focus on students from undeserved communities who have a strong interest in journalism or civic leadership. Applicants from disadvantaged schools, and from families where they would be the first to attend a four-year college, were given special consideration.

The journalism scholars class of 2018 started at the U-T on June 18, and they consist of students from the following schools:

  • Vanessa Castellon, Otay Ranch High School
  • Vryan Feliciano, O’Farrell Charter High
  • Danielle Hernandez, Eastlake High School
  • Dylan Housego, Mission Hills High School
  • Olivia Ralph, Bishop’s School
  • Emma Rooholfada, Rancho Bernardo High School

Today, Pedro Villegas, our director of community relations, participated in a luncheon with the students.

More Information

Check out this San Diego Union-Tribune article on the journalism scholars.

To see a sample of the work that these scholars have done, take a moment to watch this short video and read this article on Castellon and see how a trip to Cuba fueled her passion for journalism. Both the video and the article are produced by fellow journalism scholar Emma.