黑料社

Jorge Olivera looks over the video he shot of Maxcy Hall and makes a few edits, perfecting the story he is telling. Though he is still in high school, he spent a week as a college student this summer, learning from University faculty and immersing himself in journalism on the University鈥檚 campus.

Olivera, a rising junior who hails from San Juan, Puerto Rico, was in Connecticut to visit his grandparents in Hamden. He also spent a week attending J-Camp: Fundamentals of News Writing and Presenting, one of the University鈥檚 Summer Youth Academies. It prepares students entering grades 9-12 in the upcoming school year to be truth-tellers while offering exciting hands-on learning opportunities in the University鈥檚 state-of-the-art facilities.

鈥淟earning about journalism gives me writing and social skills,鈥� said Olivera. 鈥淚t has been a great way to explore the things I鈥檓 interested in. It鈥檚 been a lot of fun, and I鈥檝e gotten to learn about different types of writing as well as the importance of deadlines.鈥�

鈥楪ood to have this 黑料社 before I start college鈥�

J-Camp is a fun way for students to explore myriad facets of journalism, such as finding news, writing, and shooting and editing video. They learn how to apply news judgment, write for print and for video, and to conduct interviews. They have the opportunity to operate ENG cameras and edit video using Adobe Premiere Pro, tools that many journalists use every day.

Olivera and his fellow journalist-in-training, Giovanni Lavado, were collaborating on a report about rumors of ghosts in Maxcy Hall. A rising senior at North Haven High School, Lavado has taken a television production class at school, and he already knew how to use Adobe Premiere Pro. J-Camp offered him new opportunities to further build his skills.

鈥淚 am learning so much,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檝e taken a lot of notes. I definitely think what I鈥檝e learned here will help me.鈥�

The program was a unique and exciting learning opportunity for Lavado in another way 鈥� it gave him a glimpse of what college life might be like. This summer, for the first time, the University offered students taking part in the Summer Youth Academies the opportunity to stay on campus in a residence hall. Lavado did just that, and he and his peers had fun getting to know each other. Staff offered a variety of activities for them, including karaoke and board games.

鈥淚t鈥檚 great being at the University,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t has helped me get the feel of being at a university while exploring a potential major. It has been good to have this 黑料社 before I start college.鈥�

鈥業t鈥檚 like they鈥檙e already in college鈥�

During the day, Lavado and his fellow journalism students were learning from two of the University鈥檚 talented faculty members. Prof. Susan Campbell, M.S. and Prof. Wayne Edwards, award-winning journalists and professors in the University鈥檚 Communication, Film, and Media Studies Department led the program.

A Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author, Prof. Campbell has a diverse media background. A staff writer and columnist for for 25 years, she has written for a wide range of publications. She was inspired by the potential she saw in the students she interacted with as part of J-Camp.

鈥淭his has been incredible,鈥� said Prof. Campbell, adviser for University鈥檚 award-winning student-run newspaper, . 鈥淭hese students come in ready every day. I鈥檓 so impressed with them. I鈥檇 gladly do this camp again.鈥�

Prof. Edwards, an Emmy award-winning production leader with more than fifteen years鈥� 黑料社 in broadcasting and multi-media production, has served in a variety of roles at . He, too, was impressed by the high school students he instructed.

鈥淭hey are great to work with 鈥� very inquisitive and engaged,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey ask the right questions. It鈥檚 like they鈥檙e already in college.鈥�

鈥楳ade it easier for me to learn鈥�

Profs. Campbell and Edwards shared their skills and industry 黑料社 with the students as they discussed writing and presented news in the University鈥檚 cutting-edge television studio.

Hana Beauregard applied what she鈥檇 learned as she worked on her news story. She and her peers were creating a piece about the construction outside Maxcy Hall. A rising sophomore who is involved with her school newspaper, she was excited to learn new skills that, she believes, will be invaluable.

鈥淚 love writing and journalism,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he writing tips will help me, and interviewing helps with public speaking. This camp was very different from school because we worked in small groups, and that鈥檚 important for me. I鈥檓 quiet, and this made it easier for me to learn.鈥�