Orientation ‘inspired me, taught me and prepared me’ for internship

By Kate Kennedy
For chipsquinn.org

Posted: May 23, 2003

Orientation for the Summer 2003 class of Chips Quinn Scholars opened with John Quinn, program founder, telling the interns about the spirit of the editor for whom the program was named.

“I hope that you will carry on a style and a spirit that was Chips Quinn,” Quinn said. “We pray that you will bond with him and with each other and leave here feeling you are part of a special group.”

Quinn noted that the group also brought a spirit to orientation and the program.

The Scholars were chosen from applicants from 57 colleges. In orientation May 14-18, interns heard from 42 speakers who shared their journalism skills and thoughts on newsroom life and the value of diversity.

At the end of each day, Scholars wrote a journal entry about their experiences. In all they wrote, their spirit showed.

Thursday – Friday – Saturday – Sunday

Wednesday

Day One was an opportunity to begin to discover what it means to be a Chips Quinn Scholar and a beginning journalist.

Kawehi Haug

“My understanding of what it means to be a Chips Quinn Scholar will deepen as time passes,” wrote Kawehi Haug of the University of Hawaii.

“Today … it means that I’m officially a part of an organization founded on strong family values. By next week, I imagine that being a Chips Quinn Scholar will mean that I’ll be an aspiring journalist with a solid foundation to survive my first encounter with the real world of the newsroom. … By Autumn, it will mean that everything I’ve become and all that I hope to be will be, in part, the result of the support and vision of the Freedom Forum. And by the time I retire, being a Chips Quinn Scholar will mean that I will have been a journalist who worked hard, wrote with passion, loved my job, lived to celebrate the greatness of human diversity,” wrote Haug, an intern at The Honolulu Advertiser.

“Never in my previous experiences did I know that there were so many students of color seeking to be in the profession that I want to be in.” – Wasim Ahmad, State University of New York-Binghamton, Press & Sun-Bulletin, Binghamton, N.Y.

Alison Miller

“I am not defined by my color, but by my perspective as a person.” – Alison Miller, Vanderbilt University, The Tennessean, Nashville

“Someone other than me and my peers at school feel I have talent and can make a difference. I will make the Chips Quinn Scholars program proud.” – Christopher Silva, Temple University, FLORIDA TODAY, Melbourne

Vonna Keomanyvong

“Will my nerves and fears affect my performance in this program? No. Because I’m a Chips Quinn Scholar. Journalism is what I want to pursue.” – Vonna Keomanyvong, University of Kansas, The Wausau (Wis.) Daily Herald

“I don’t know what it means to be a Chips Quinn Scholar as yet, but it does have something to do with learning from others and sharing what you know and a responsibility to bring the knowledge and experience that we get from our unique backgrounds into the newspaper and to the public.” – Oicenth Phang, University of Florida, FLORIDA TODAY, Melbourne

At the end of a long day that brought him to orientation, Tyler Imoto of California Polytechnic State University compared the comfortable feeling of being a Scholar to putting on pajamas. Wrote the intern for the Statesman Journal in Salem, Ore.: “Especially after waking up at 4 a.m. only to find out you could have slept in because your flight was delayed. Then to arrive in Washington to find out that your luggage decided to live it up in Los Angeles without you. But there’s nothing like waking up at 3 a.m. the next morning to find your luggage has arrived and you immediately change into pajamas and you pause … in the pose of models who wear polyester pants in Sunday-morning coupon inserts. It’s all worth it, because you’re a Chips Quinn Scholar, in PJs, and you can relax and reflect on what dreams may come.”

Thursday

The training and lectures of orientation began in earnest. Coaches – journalists and journalism educators who work with students throughout their internships – asked Scholars to identify their goals for the Summer.

“I want to develop an open and honest relationship with my editor so that I can get feedback.” – Ailey Kato, Western Washington University, The Wenatchee (Wash.) World

“My goal for the internship is to see the world differently. There are many ways to photograph an event. I want to find the way that has the greatest impact and tells as much of the story as I can.” – Alejandro Medina, Kansas State University, Lancaster (Pa.) New Era

Maricella Miranda

“I seemed to have forgotten some of the grammar rules that my elementary teachers taught me. So while I am in Green Bay, I want to master my editing skills and become my own copy editor.” – Maricella Miranda, College of St. Catherine, Green Bay (Wis.) Press-Gazette

“I love the story aspect of life. I believe that there is something interesting in most any subject and most people. … I hope to get to a point when I am respected because I have such a good reputation as a storyteller.” – Stephen Hoffman, Santa Monica College, Press & Sun-Bulletin, Binghamton, N.Y.

“As a copy editor … I’d like to get better at using AP style and more adept at cutting a story.” – Stacee Millangue, St. Edward’s University, The Santa Fe New Mexican      

 “My goal for the Summer is to be the intern the newspaper wants to hire as a full-time staffer.” – India Williams, University of Missouri, Poughkeepsie (N.Y.) Journal

Friday

By Day Three, the hard work began to pay off and Scholars shared what they’d learned so far.

“As I met the other Scholars this week, I was quite impressed with their diverse backgrounds. Some were born in other countries or belonged to various Native American tribes. I thought they could really add diversity to a newsroom more than I ever could because their lives were so exciting and unique. Then my Writing Coach Mary Ann Hogan reminded me that diversity also can be age, living in a big city and being female. Now I feel confident that when I go to my internship I will add some spice to the newsroom because I am me.” – Melissa Navas, Contra Costa College, The Wenatchee (Wash.) World

“My last semester of college was difficult, especially at my college paper. … Then I came here and my faith in the craft and its purpose has been renewed. I learned how important journalism is to my ethnic community. … So now every time I have a bad day at work or face problems with sources or writing a lead, I will remember how I felt at orientation and recall all the encouragement from both the organizers and speakers and use that to help me get through the tough times.” ­– Sophia Kazmi, University of Southern California, Contra Costa Times, Walnut Creek, Calif.

“I am, by nature, a quiet person. But when I arrive at the Tribune, I will be prepared to ask my editors for feedback, policy and advice. Prepped by a stack of important questions and concerns, I hope to develop a strong communicative relationship with those overseeing my work.” – Angela Manese-Lee, University of Virginia, The Tribune, San Luis Obispo, Calif.

Christine Armario

“At my internship this Summer, I’ll always keep the First Amendment in mind when I’m looking for story ideas and while I’m writing them. It will encourage me to seek out the voices that haven’t been heard, to ask critical questions and to investigate contradictions. Whenever anyone tells me what not to write, I’ll remember the liberties this country was made on.” – Christine Armario, New York University, Poughkeepsie (N.Y.) Journal

“Journalism is more than just an assignment from an editor. Journalism is the search for new ideas. I will seek out ideas without my editor telling me. I will be motivated and work on being creative and resourceful.” – Rion Sanders, University of California-Davis, The Tennessean, Nashville

Stephanie Conduff

“My writing coach is genuinely dedicated to aid me in the transition from student journalist to professional media. Through her guidance and commitment to my success, I feel that my writing will improve.” – Stephanie Conduff, University of Oklahoma, Muskogee (Okla.) Daily Phoenix & Times-Democrat

“I’m ready for this. I arrived in Arlington not sure that I have the abilities to go to a daily newspaper and say, ‘I belong here.’ Now, I can’t wait to go to my internship. I will walk into the newsroom and tell my editor, ‘I’m ready to work.’ ” – Jera Stone, University of Central Oklahoma, Aberdeen (S.D.) American News

Saturday

In four days, each Scholar met more than 70 other interns and a host of speakers. Strong relationships were formed.

“I have not had many close encounters with Asians, and the experience (of having an Asian roommate) has been enlightening. We’ve had talks about race relations, and it’s always interesting to hear other people’s opinions. One of my goals is to become more tolerant of other people’s opinions, and conversations are a great starting point.” – Tiffanie Drayton, University of North Carolina, The Courier-Journal, Louisville, Ky.

“(First Amendment Center Founder) John Seigenthaler and John Quinn demonstrate such passion and drive for their craft. I believe that what tests a person’s strength and character is how they react to a trial, tribulation or trying time. Both display their true virtue and character. From Mr. Quinn’s loss of a son to Mr. Seigenthaler standing up for what he believes in, both proved to me the true definition of love, passion, dedication and commitment.” – DeAnna Carpenter, Florida A&M University, The Wausau (Wis.) Daily Herald

“A man with a dry wit and a dynamic personality, Writing Coach Dick Thien is one of the most approachable and instructive men I’ve ever met. I always have looked for the one person who could be a mentor to me, the way someone was a mentor to him.” - Fulvio Cativo, University of Maryland, The Courier-Journal, Louisville, Ky.

Inspiration was the theme from many speakers, which reminded Scholars what they like about being a journalist.

“I read that newspapers don’t tell the public what to think, but they do tell the public what to think about. I love being a journalist because word by word, symbol by symbol, I can change someone’s outlook on life. It’s an awesome responsibility, and I’m honored to have it.” – Tanya Caldwell, Florida A&M University, The Providence (R.I.) Journal

“We all love a good story. Since the oral traditional of my people has diminished, the written word has become its replacement. Words are powerful, and journalism is one way to employ that power.” – Amanda Wauneka, Haskell Indian Nations University, Lancaster (Pa.) New Era

“What I like most about being a journalist is the civic duty it lets me perform. Journalism allows me to touch many lives.” ­– Renaud Lajoie, University of Florida, The Dispatch, Lexington, N.C.

“Edward R. Murrow said that journalism gives you access to the biggest classroom in the world. Journalism’s combination of teaching and writing ignites a passion in me to be a better journalist.” – Nancy Kelsey, Creighton University, Fort Collins Coloradoan

Sunday

With orientation coming to an end, many Scholars were anxious for their internship to begin. Wrote Meena Thiruvengadam of the University of Texas-San Antonio and The Salt Lake (Utah) Tribune, “Orientation has inspired me, taught me and prepared me for this job. Chips Quinn has given me what I need to be successful not only in this internship but in my career as a journalist.”

Scholars went on to their internships with these parting thoughts:

“I’m looking forward to meeting past Chipsters and sharing my internship under their guidance. I’m excited to see what stories await me this Summer.” – Chi-Chi Zhang, University of Utah, The Salt Lake (Utah) Tribune

“I can make a difference at my newspaper by doing stories that impact the community and help better the lives of its members. I can accomplish this by going to community meetings, listening to public speakers and taking an interest in the lives of the people who live and work in my community.” – Brian Gomez, Arizona Sate University, The Arizona Republic, Phoenix

“I will give it my all and do my very best. I’m more excited now than I was the day I learned of my internship. That day, I read the e-mail and ran around the Spartan Daily newsroom screaming.” – Mike Corpos, San Jose State University, The Salt Lake (Utah) Tribune 

“I can’t wait to try my best and see the outcome. I can’t wait for the challenges that await and the lessons to be learned.” -- Irene Scott, Bowling Green State University, El Paso (Texas) Times

Felix Doligosa Jr. of the University of Colorado-Boulder and The Salt Lake (Utah) Tribune may have summed up the feelings of the group when he wrote, “It’s been five days of lectures and buffets and I can’t think of anything else but to start reporting and writing stories. There has been enough talking; now I want to show what I can do.”

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