Journalism Boot Camp Invigorates Student Newsmagazine
Readers of The Principia Pilot, the College’s student-run newsmagazine, are likely noticing fresh energy in the publication this fall. On the heels of a “boot camp” for young Christian Science journalists at The Christian Science Monitor last spring, those who attended from Principia returned to campus with a new eye for the Fourth Estate. Instead of waiting until fall to work on the first issue of the 2019–20 school year, they got to work over the summer. “We worked really hard to put Issue 1 of the Pilot out by the time everyone came to campus” in September, said Dana Cadey, Pilot co-editor. Issue 2 should hit the campus in early October, complete with news and analysis that mark a new direction for the Pilot.
Energized young journalists: That’s the effect the boot camp organizers at the Monitor and its partner in the endeavor, The Albert Baker Fund (ABF), were hoping for when they designed the taster weekend.
“We need to do a better job of creating a pipeline of Christian Science talent for the Monitor,” says Monitor Editor Mark Sappenfield. “Boot-camp is just planting the seed, getting people aware of what the Monitor is and does—and what Mary Baker Eddy thought the Monitor could be in the world.”
Six students from Principia joined six others from around the country in Boston, with airfare and lodging underwritten by ABF. Over three packed days, students explored aspects of journalism with a “Who’s Who” of Monitor talent. They learned how to write stories from a Monitor perspective from Sappenfield; heard about the life of an international correspondent via video-conference with Scott Peterson in London; explored photojournalism with staff photographer Ann Hermes; and discussed how to choose a healing approach to stories with political correspondent Christa Case Bryant (C'03) and former correspondent (now manager of the Christian Science Publishing Society) Abraham McLaughlin (US'90, C'94).
The weekend culminated with a mock breaking-news event where students were required to attend a press conference, interview victims and witnesses, and write a story on deadline (to the delight of Monitor staffers-turned-actors for a day). Since that weekend, students have been paired with staff mentors to continue conversations about Monitor journalism and how best to prepare for a journalism career, should they decide to pursue one.
The whole experience was pivotal for sophomore Sophie Hills, co-editor of the Pilot, whose interest in journalism early in high school fell by the wayside as she pursued political science and other interests. But her time in Boston revived that interest. “By the end of the boot camp,” she says, “I was like, ‘I want to be a journalist.’”
“One thing that really struck me was when Mark Sappenfield said he loves being a journalist because ‘you get an education every day’” she continues. “That really hit home with me because I love learning about new things, and I enjoy researching.”
“Being at the Monitor helped me learn the importance of being informed in order to pray more effectively,” says Pilot staff writer Sarah Geis, a junior. “What I really learned is the importance of uncovering error and addressing that prayerfully—and the way to do that.” In fact, Sarah says she now applies that “Monitor perspective” to other news stories she reads.
“I am so grateful to the Albert Baker Fund for literally covering all of the expenses,” says Dana. “I'm really grateful for the people who set it up and who allowed us to really get the full experience of what it's like at the Monitor and what it's like just being a journalist.”
Organizers hope to offer more boot camps in the future, says Monitor intern program manager Kendra Nordin Beato (C’93), who created the event's program. "One thing we hope to see in the future is having boot campers apply to and win a spot in our internship program." (Students should email internship@csmonitor.com for more information.)