Sara's CUNY School of Journalism

Since making a career change, and becoming a Journalism major, I have been afforded incredible opportunities to showcase my work and network with like-minded people. I want to continue this momentum in any way I can, which led me to start researching my next adventure.

Over the past few months, I have been applying to Summer Journalism Intensives at universities around the country, and this week, I was accepted to one of them!

This July, I will be taking classes at CUNY (City University of New York) Graduate School of Journalism in Manhattan.

The program I was chosen for is highly competitive and only selects 20 students worldwide! It is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity!

I will be given the chance to learn from world-class professors, write and pitch stories in a fast-paced environment, present my written and filmed journalism material at showcases, hear guest speakers including, leading reporters in the current news scene, and tour newsrooms and media organizations in the Journalism capital of the world.

Here is a bit of information directly from the CUNY website:

Sharpen your reporting and writing skills by focusing on a New York City beat. In this course, you will choose to focus on a particular community in New York – either a specific neighborhood or a segment of the population. With the diversity of people and neighborhoods in NYC, you will have the chance to delve deeply into a community to uncover untold stories.

During the course you will:

 Learn the techniques involved in understanding and fostering a relationship with community members
 Identify story ideas from research, interviews, and analysis of the beat
 Learn to pitch stories and potential story ideas
 Master writing in terms of structure, grammar, and color
 Learn to find and use data to enhance your storytelling
 Get tips on maximizing your mobile phone in your reporting
 Put social media to work for engaging your audience
 Improve presentation skills by practicing pitching stories and showcasing your final project
 Hear from guest speakers from a variety of media organizations producing local stories
 Visit newsrooms and media organizations in New York City

While studying, I will be staying in on-campus housing for the 3-week duration of the program.

Program and housing costs will total around $5,000 including flights, meals, and transportation. Over the next several months, I will be saving money and hosting fundraisers to help me afford for this incredible experience.

I would be truly grateful for your support.

With sincere gratitude,
Sara

Extra Fun Fact: CUNY has produced Fulbright, Truman, and Rhodes Scholars along with students like Shirley Chisholm, the first African American U.S. Congresswoman, Colin Powell, Bernie Sanders, Carole King, Jennifer Lopez, Jerry Seinfeld, Paul Simon, and Henry Kissinger.