Alums use their talents to advance newsroom diversity

Chips Quinn Scholars is more than an internship, program Director Karen Catone likes to say.

"It's about developing a network of minority journalists that can provide support throughout one's career," she says.

Providing that network is one of the goals of the Chips Quinn Scholars Association, a group of alumni and friends who support the Scholars program.

The association was formed during a meeting of alums at the Unity '99: Journalists of Color convention in Seattle. At the convention, almost 100 alums gathered at a dinner during which they talked about the Scholars program, journalism and the futures of minority journalists.

A steering committee was formed, which added focus to the idea of an association. The committee's members were: Christian Ewell, 1996 Scholar ; Kristen Go, 1996 and 1997 Scholar; Gregory Lee, 1995 Scholar; Manny Lopez, 1994 Scholar; Judith Malveaux, 1996 Scholar; Aissatou Sidimé-David, 1991 Scholar; Angelique Siy, 1998 Scholar; Maria García Stephens, 1997 Scholar; and Alicia B. Williams, 1996 Scholar.

A mission statement was written: The Chips Quinn Scholars Association is a multicultural organization committed to advancing diversity in our newsrooms nationwide.

And priorities were set: Providing opportunities for networking, mentoring, recruiting and retention and career development

Since that first meeting, representatives of the Scholars Association have met once a year at Freedom Forum headquarters in Arlington, Va.

The group's most significant accomplishment to date has been the formation of an alums mentoring program, launched in Spring 2002 with five alum mentors and expanded to 14 mentors in Summer 2002.

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