Aneri Pattani of Cheshire conducts an interview. (Photo by C-HIT)
For two weeks in July, a select group of Connecticut high school students spend an intense week learning from some of the state’s most experienced news reporters to be “watchdog” journalists. The summer camp is sponsored by the Connecticut Health I-Team and is held at both UConn and Quinnipiac University.
While the camp serves to inspire students’ investigative spirits, pushing them to ask questions, dig into data and develop their research and reporting skills, C-HIT co-founder and editor Lynne Delucia says an added focus is aimed at encouraging a diverse set of students to consider journalism as a career.
The program has inspired one student to take action in her own school.
Lydia Castillo, a senior at Guilford High School, said she hopes to develop the skills to help her launch a newspaper at her school.
“It’s been very adventurous so far,’’ she said.
The UConn boot camp wrapped up its session last week, and the second session at Quinnipiac began this Monday.
Over the course of the program, the students produce their own in-depth stories.
The camps are made possible by generous donations from local and national foundations and partnerships with the two universities. For more information on C-HIT’s summer programs, contact Lynne DeLucia at delucia@c-hit.org.
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