The Chips Quinn Scholars Program for Diversity in Journalism (www.chipsquinn.org) offers students hands-on training and mentoring by caring news veterans. Nearly 1,200 men and women have been named Chips Quinn Scholars since 1991, making it the largest and most enduring diversity initiative of the Freedom Forum. The aim: Provide special support and encouragement that will open doors to news careers and bring greater diversity to the newsrooms of the United States. All expenses are paid.
The program, operated by the Diversity Institute and funded by the Freedom Forum, provides internships, training, an intense one-week college course in multimedia skills and financial assistance to college students from multicultural backgrounds who are pursuing careers in journalism. Internships are currently offered in spring and summer. The annual application deadline is in October. College juniors, seniors or recent graduates with majors in journalism or career goals in journalism are eligible.
The Diversity Institute matches nominees with participating news organizations from across the country for 10- to 12-week paid internships. Selected scholars participate in an orientation program at the John Seigenthaler Center in Nashville, Tenn., in preparation for their internships. Scholars also take a one-week class in multimedia journalism and can earn one hour of college credit. The multimedia class is taught at the Diversity Institute’s school facility in Nashville.
The program was founded by John Quinn, former deputy chairman of the Freedom Forum, and his late wife, Loie, who wanted to honor their son, John “Chips” Quinn Jr., who was an upstate New York newspaper editor when he was killed in a traffic accident. For program information and applications, go to www.chipsquinn.org or contact Karen Catone at kcatone@freedomforum.org or 202/292-6271.