Sona Patel

In two days I’ll be in Reno, getting ready to experience what other journalists have told me will be a truly life-changing experience.

I was recently selected as one of 12 fellows to attend the Maynard Multimedia Editing Program June 1 to July 10 at the University of Nevada.

I found out about the program well after the selection committee opened the application period.  I didn’t think my editors would give me six weeks off work to attend, however I figured it was worth a shot.  I applied and received a call from Dori Maynard, president and CEO of the Maynard Institute, telling me that I was a good fit for the program considering my potential of becoming The Tribune’s next Online Editor.

After receiving an informal offer for the fellowship, I still hesitated since I’d have to take unpaid time off to attend.  And since I completed twi fellowships last year, I didn’t know if I would learn anything different during the Maynard program. But after reading a former fellow’s blog and checking out the curriculum, I truly felt that it would be one of those experiences I wouldn’t regret. I also strongly believe that you can never be an expert on a particular subject no matter how much training you’ve had.

I was also compelled by the story of Robert C. Maynard and his commitment to expanding opportunities for minority journalists at newspapers across the nation.

Maynard was the co-founder of the Institute for Journalism Education.  In the past 25 years, the organization has trained hundreds of America’s journalists of color, more than any other organization.

In December 1993, following Maynard’s death, the Institute was renamed the Robert C. Maynard Institute for Journalism Education.

According to the Maynard Web site, Robert C. Maynard was a board member of journalism’s most prestigious organizations including the Pulitzer Prize, The Associated Press, and the American Society of Newspaper Editors. It was his lobbying in the 1970s that nudged the ASNE to adopt the goal of diversifying America’s newsrooms by the year 2000.

While newsrooms have made strides in diversifying their workforces, more must be done, especially at a time when news organizations across the world are focusing on staying afloat and cutting costs while maintaining a sense of strong journalism. Still, newsroom leaders cannot undermine the importance of diversifying their staff.  And diversity isn’t just black and white.  It’s about using several perspectives to plan news coverage that fits the needs of the community.  It’s about valuing diversity and making the print and online product a tool which is valued across the community.

One of the things I hope to learn from the Maynard program is not only the copy editing and multimedia skills necessary to be a good storyteller, but how to cover topics that appeal to a wider range of readers in our (The Tribune’s) demographic.

As an aside, I have to mention another pioneer in the industry who helped push for more minorities in newsroom: John C. “Chipps” Quinn.

Quinn was a newspaper editor and journalist who valued diversity.  When he died at the age of 34, his family could think of no better way to honor and remember Chips than a program to encourage newsroom diversity.

The program began in 1991. Since then, more than 1,000 journalists of color have been Scholars during daily newspaper newsroom internships. I was lucky enought to be selected as a Chips Quinn Scholar in May 2006 and was placed as an intern at The Tribune. I’ve been at the paper ever since.

So, to the Maynard Institute and the Chips Quinn Scholars program: Thank you for empowering me to be a better person — and a better journalist.