In Columbus, the art of journalism is being handed down to a younger generation through the Columbus City Schools (CCS) 2025 Journalist in the Training program, a partnership bringing together students with professional news outlets and journalism associations. During a rigorous five-week semester, 19 students from CCS immersed themselves in the trenches of newsrooms and the world of media production, mentored by the likes of The Columbus Dispatch and the Columbus Association of Black Journalists. The initiative aimed to arm the students with not only the hard skills of reporting but also with invaluable soft skills like critical thinking and clear communication — tools that are essential in any future career path they decide to walk down.
Yasmine Ahmed, a junior at Fort Hayes Arts and Academic High School, explained her motivation to join the program. "I really wanted to learn how to share the stories of people I've come across," she told CCS. "I know that there are stories out there that need to be heard, that need to be voiced. I want to develop the tools to be able to share [those] stories." As journalism rapidly evolves, students like Ahmed are also learning to deftly navigate and produce content on modern platforms such as TikTok and podcasts, mediums that are growing in popularity among their peers for news consumption.
Pivoting to digital-first platforms, the Journalists in Training are becoming an active part of the media landscape change. Their work uncovers the traditional narratives and brings a youthful eye to societal issues. Ryan Vorvornator, a junior at Columbus Alternative High School, emphasized the impact of the program on his confidence and his aspirations in journalism. "I feel like this program could give me a head start in what I wanted to do and develop the skills I need," Vorvornator said in a CCS interview. "It has improved my confidence in talking to people and I feel like journalism would be a career where I would give voice to myself and other people."
Alan Miller, a professor at Denison University and a mentor in the program, lauded the efforts of these nascent storytellers. "We need truth tellers and fact finders to make sure that the people of this country continue to get facts that they need," Miller stated through CCS. "[These students] are the next generation of those fact finders and truth tellers." One student highlighted during a newsroom exercise that journalism isn't about echoing opinions — it's about searching to truly understand what's happening and conveying stories that need attention.
This sentiment is increasingly relevant in an environment where social media can often blur the lines between fact and opinion. The Journalists in Training are, therefore, equipped with the skills to dissect sources, identify bias, and engage in critical thinking as they tease out stories for consumption by their contemporaries and the wider public. Students like Tyler Clodfelter from Columbus City League basketball are now contributing to conversations on drive and success, while others like Tiffany McVay from Columbus Downtown High School are unlocking the difficult discussions around sexual harassment in the tech field.
As the 2025 Journalists in Training session concludes, the students walk away with more than just bylines. They have learned to wield their voices with purpose, to hold systems accountable, and to share truth — a set of skills that will propel them into whatever futures they dare to craft. The full spectrum of stories these students report can be accessed at the CCS website, a testament to their hands-on learning and the community’s investment in the next wave of reporters.
