The Bowdoin Orient is one of nine student media organizations across the country selected by the Poynter Institute for its College Media Project—an initiative, now in its second year, that provides in-newsroom training, online seminars, and support for a campus project, all free of charge. Poynter, a nonprofit journalism school based in Florida, said it received sixty-three applications for the nine available slots.
Elissa Yancey, leader of the College Media Project, said it’s not about delivering one-time training: “It’s about planting the seeds for sustained growth and supporting student journalists who have few other places to turn. This project provides tools student journalists can use in both the short- and long-term to create better work and engage with their communities.”
“Jessica and I are extremely thrilled to have been selected to participate in Poynter’s College Media Project,” said Calder McHugh ’19, who, along with fellow senior Jessica Piper, is editor in chief of The Orient. He described the Poynter Institute as one of the preeminent journalism schools in the world. “The fact that they produce their own content as well makes their team the perfect one to teach our whole staff how to better structure stories, chase leads, and reach a broader audience,” he added.