Helping women and minorities into newsrooms since 1993
Helping women and minorities into newsrooms since 1993
The 30th Class of SJI became the first group to participate in a hybrid program, with the first five days done remotely and then three days in Phoenix at Arizona State University’s Cronkite School. Here are the class members' thoughts:
SJI has been an incredible experience.
We heard from a number of speakers, many of them legends. And even though the tips and secrets they shared were helpful, my peers were the most important part of my SJI experience.
Before I came to this program, I thought I wasn't good enough. Why would I be included in this program? What made me better than the next person?
But through this experience, I gained a massive amount of confidence.
I also feel that I raised my skill level so much in just one week that it’s almost hard to believe. I feel like a different writer.
Garry Howard helped reinforce my newfound confidence. His words moved me to tears, and I believed every word he said. I know I belong, and no one can tell me I don’t.
I’m most grateful to SJI for the connections I’ve made and, more than that, for being part of the family. I'm thankful and indebted to this program for that. —Devin Bradshaw
I am a member of the 30th class of the prestigious Sports Journalism Institute. Wow.
It is still surreal that I enjoyed a hybrid boot camp at Arizona State University and received instruction from Leon Carter, Sandy Rosenbush, David Squires and Greg Lee.
Being part of SJI was something I wanted more than anything professionally when I applied as a junior at Quinnipiac University. I saw the magic it possessed from a distance, helping young under-represented sports reporters reach new heights. I was not selected then, but when accepted this year, I appreciated the opportunity.
I knew I was a part of an esteemed legacy from that moment. I would get the tools to achieve success in this competitive field. After completing the boot camp, I still undersold the impact SJI would have on me. I didn’t know this would become a new family.
Before getting too sentimental, I should break down other central aspects of boot camp.
Immediately, I was challenged during boot camp, doing something I’d never done before: writing game stories on an eight-or 10-minute deadline, a far cry from the hour or two I operated under in previous experiences.
Incredible guest speakers such as James Wagner, SJI alum and New York Times baseball writer, shared strategies oncoming up with story ideas. Tom Rinaldi of Fox Sports gave us a masterclass on interviewing.
We were able to talk to and pick the brains of high-level professionals in the field, such as Stephen A. Smith and Michael Wilbon, for an hour each.
Even the aspects of SJI I initially dreaded have become part of what I look back on fondly. An example: The daily sports checks that tested our abilities to follow sports and national news taught me the importance of being well-rounded and detail-oriented—two traits needed to survive in this industry, and in life.
I also memorized the poem “Invictus,” which I don’t plan on forgetting. It will be there for me to recall if I hit a rough patch during my journey.
Now to the family part. It’s not just my15 classmates I hope to remain lifelong friends with, but also the instructors and the hundreds of alumni who intimately know the experience and are living examples of the mission of SJI. I possess confidence that I can excel not only because I received excellent teaching but also because this support system is there for me.
Lastly, I take away from boot camp that I now must use the resources that were put into me and pay it forward to the next group. —Toyloy Brown III
Seven years ago, I began college with the dream of being a sports journalist. Despite several setbacks and part-time semesters, I’m now a college graduate fulfilling my dream.
What I thought would be a straight forward path turned out to be a winding road—but I’m here now.
When I first learned about SJI in 2021,it seemed like such a reach. This is a program for a select few of the best student sports journalists in the country. And here I was, having just filed my first article for the student newspaper.
As my storytelling grew, I felt support from my coworkers at The Oracle, but something was missing. I needed validation.
I got a cold call and cleared my throat to make it seem I wasn’t sleeping the day away. Greg Lee told me I had been selected for SJI.
After months of anticipation, I finally arrived in Phoenix. I felt motivated by my peers to grow as a journalist, writer and professional.
I learned plenty throughout the week—from Paola Boivin’s thought-provoking ethics lesson, to James Wagner reminding us to chase every story, or Tom Rinaldi letting us in on his secrets to a great interview. Throughout it all, I grew closer to the 15 other young journalists around me.
I learned so much from their experiences and from reading their writing. I learned about skills I lack and improvements I could make.
SJI will stick with me for the rest of my career as my launching point. Even as I write this now, I feel more prepared for life as a sports journalist than I did a few weeks ago.
To Mr. Carter, Greg, Sandy, and Squires: I can’t thank you enough. —Alberto Camargo
I write this letter to express my appreciation for learning so much in the 30th class of the Sports Journalism Institute. Thank you, Mr. Carter, Ms. Rosenbush, Mr. Lee and Mr. Squires for this amazing experience.
In eight days, I gained a new appreciation of the profession and found lifelong mentors and colleagues who will push me to be my absolute best.
I refined my deadline writing skills by covering Game 4 of the NBA Eastern Conference finals, as well as the Phoenix Mercury vs. the Las Vegas Aces, and then the Los Angeles Dodgers vs. the Arizona Diamondbacks, a game we covered in person. These assignments were stressful, but also tremendous learning experiences.
Speakers such as Michael Wilbon, Candace Buckner, Tom Rinaldi and Garry Howard spoke about thriving in the industry, interviewing individuals, writing on deadline, and being successful during internships. Then, on the last day of boot camp, there was a reception where we met a number of SJI alums, including Duane Rankin and Chris Lopez, and professionals from Arizona State University, who offered valuable career advice. They dropped gems on how to network with mentors and what to expect from our internships. I am confident these lessons will help me as I intern at the Tuscaloosa News and at other jobs in the future.
I never thought I would bond with 15students in eight days. Immense talents fill the 30th class, and we will break barriers in this industry in a matter of time. Each person has a special place in my heart, and I look forward to seeing what they do next in their careers.
This program was everything I imagined. SJI is truly family, and I am happy to be part of it forever. —Derrian Carter
To be a part of the 30th class of the Sports Journalism Institute has indeed been a dream come true. I have never been around such a large group of minorities and women invested in the success of others.
On the first day of SJI, I was slightly nervous because I was the only student from a historically Black college or university. Throughout the experience, I had to remind myself there was a reason for my selection.
Because of SJI, I now feel comfortable writing a successful game story. I also found a new love for the WNBA. I found it surprising that in the Mercury post-game press conference there were only members of SJI and two other news outlets.
The lack of in-depth WNBA coverage sparked a curiosity in me to figure out why the market isn’t bigger. I believe there are WNBA stories that need to be uncovered and I have the tools to uncover them.
When we attended the Diamondbacks and Dodgers game, it was my first time going to an MLB game. I would have never gotten that experience if not for SJI.
It was also nice to be surrounded by people my age who take journalism as seriously as I do. As my classmate Joel Lorenzi said: “Cheers to the best class yet.” —Alexis Davis
At the start of SJI, I thought the program would be about the snippets of information that I could draw from each speaker and use in my career.
Jesse Sanchez from MLB.com taught us the unwritten rules of being in a baseball clubhouse, something I was unfamiliar with. He also gave us tips that helped me cover my first professional baseball game. Paola Boivin spoke about journalism ethics and told us, “What goes hand-in-hand with ethics is the truth.” Malcolm Moran said that the minutiae of a game coverage leads to the big picture.
All of these nuggets were valuable. But I realized as the program went on that there was something even more important: the network of people that SJI allowed me to connect with to help me along my journey.
I could ask Richard Deitsch of The Athletic about his tips for starting my podcast. I could talk to Diamond Leung of the Philadelphia Inquirer about maintaining a work-life balance.
Beyond the speakers and instructors, I have a family of 15 classmates who share the same interests as me. It’s been along time since I connected with a group of people so quickly. From the first day on Zoom, we talked in our group and occasionally chatted during the virtual sessions. At times my classmates made me laugh so much that I’d have to turnoff my Zoom camera.
When we met in Phoenix, I felt like I’d known these people for ages. We had the same interests, questions about improving diversity in our college newsrooms, and the dedication to helping one another. I know that commitment will continue beyond.
It took me three years to get into SJI —two years of rejection before receiving a phone call from Greg Lee saying I was in. I’m so glad I kept applying. This family was worth the wait. —Roshan Fernandez
The first few days of SJI on Zoom seem like an eternity ago. I remember the best moments well: hearing advice from ESPN analyst Michael Wilbon, among others, and covering the Mercury-Aces game virtually.
But I also remember the grind. I spent the first two hours of SJI on Zoom while watching my friends graduate. Recovering from final exams, moving out of my apartment and trying to find time to spend a few moments with departing seniors exhausted me.
My roommate joked that I hardly had time to eat. And when I drove home through a downpour the night before I flew to Phoenix, my entire Austin apartment in my car, I questioned whether it was worth it.
Four days later, sitting in the Phoenix airport as I headed home, I knew SJI was worth it. The instant connections I made sitting across from my classmates, and the sadness I felt when it was time to go, showed me that the long hours on Zoom had paid off.
And that’s the lesson I learned at SJI—trust the process. Going into sports journalism is a bit scary. One of my classmates, Payton Titus, echoed a sentiment a lot of us hear whenever we bring up our potential careers: journalism is a risky field.
But this week, I saw the success of SJI alumni. I learned from amazing mentors and teachers (thank you from the bottom of my heart Mr. Lee, Ms. Rosenbush, Mr. Squires and Mr. Carter). I found friends who shared the same passion for sports journalism, something nobody else at my school could muster.
SJI has taught me to trust the process when it comes to this field. As long as I pursue greatness as we did in our sports checks and memorization of Invictus, the SJI family and my hard work can help me succeed. —Nathan Han
Walking around the Cronkite School, I’m surrounded by cameras that cost more than a car, desktop computers regularly replaced with the newest models, and shiny Hearst journalism awards set in neat rows stretching the length of an elegant hallway.
I can’t help but think about my collegiate journalism experience. I’m fortunate to go to Boston College. But things are different in a university without a journalism school, something I can’t help but notice.
BC doesn’t offer journalism majors. Our newsroom has three desktop computers. Most everything I learned in my first two years of college journalism was what I taught myself.
But SJI has given me a sports journalism community. In addition to the many guest speakers who gave us advice and stand ready to be mentors going forward, I now have 15 close friends who can empathize with my challenges and offer me advice from a peer’s perspective.
I’ve gotten more advice this week than I have in my two journalism classes this semester—and I learned a ton in class this semester. I have confidence going into my internship that I am capable of immense success, but it won’t be a success on my own.
I won’t have to grind my way through my career on my own, teaching myself how to be a reporter. I have an army of people at my side who want to see me succeed and thrive. — Emma Healy
The last week at SJI was complete with“ Leon-isms,” poem memorization, travel, and Arizona heat.
Indeed, the program wasn’t limited to those aspects. What sticks out the most to me is the advice from high-caliber professionals. Hearing from well-known network sports journalists like Mike Wilbon and Tom Rinaldi and print veterans like James Wagner and Candace Buckner opened my mind to the possibilities that exist in this business.
Not only did it show me how much work I needed to do to find success, but it encouraged me to put in that work. I also learned the importance of keeping track of my connections, which I struggled with throughout college. Following up with people is vital to maintaining strong bonds and having a solid network.
But the main thing I will take away from SJI is my belief that our class's talent pool is deep.
I believe that each one of us belongs in this business, and I have confidence that all of us will find success in what we plan to do. I look forward to keeping these connections and possibly working with a few of my classmates in the future.
Having a bonding experience with 15 other people around my age is something I’ll long remember. My friend Landon Bost, who participated in 2020, recommended that I apply for SJI, though when he first brought it up, I wasn’t sure of my place in this business.
As it turned out, it is one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve ever had. I learned not just from the speakers and instructors but also from my colleagues. And now, I believe we will all head into our internships, and future full-time jobs, as better journalists. —Jeremiah Holloway
In high school, I did not get the editor-in-chief position I had been working to achieve. My heart broke, but instead of giving up, I thought about how I could impact the newspaper by taking on an editorial position. I eventually became the first sports editor for the newspaper, a role that allowed me to dive deeper into the sports journalism world, which in turn led me to want to continue that journey at the college level.
Never did I imagine the path it has taken me, or the impact that SJI would have on my career. Despite my love for writing, I went into college with the desire to go into sports photography. I still have that interest, but while working for the Daily Nebraskan sports desk, I have developed a passion for telling people's stories.
When I began as a freshman at Nebraska, I had a vision of what I thought my immediate future would be. I figured I’d work for the school paper a while and try to line up a big internship my junior year. Some where in that time, I found information on SJI, and I connected to the program and its mission of getting minorities and women in the newsroom. I knew I wanted to be part of it, but only being a sophomore, I did not get my hopes up.
I was surprised to hear that I was accepted, and, later, learned that I would be interning at the Denver Post. Little did I know how much all this would change my life.
Before SJI, I couldn't help wondering how I got here and what the directors saw in me to be a part of the prestigious program. Imposter syndrome.
Regardless of my doubts, I’ve put everything I can into this opportunity to grow as a journalist. The boot camp has taught me so much about sports writing and being a journalist. It also has allowed me to hear from many accomplished professionals, including Tom Rinaldi talking about interviewing and Boston Globe sports editor Matt Pepin offering advice on how to have a successful internship.
I have gotten practice doing game coverage, and learned the importance of knowing the news around us from the infamous sports checks. I look forward to my summer at the Denver Post.
But the biggest thing I took away from this week was the lifelong friends and mentors that I have gained in such a short amount of time. Our group clicked instantly during the Zoom sessions, and the bond has grown greater in person. I have learned so much from my peers, and I am thankful to have this forever family. The directors have been great mentors and points of knowledge, and I am so grateful that they took a chance on me. Now it's time to be GREAT! — Marissa Kraus
Every year, Greg Lee has the assignment to inform hopeful students of their SJI acceptance and subsequent internship placement. During our boot camp, he joked about my reaction to the news.
“It was hilarious. You would think she just won an Oscar,” he said.
I know that sounds dramatic, but being part of SJI has never been a small thing to me. In fact, it feels like the greatest honor of my life so far.
I watched SJI on Twitter for a couple of years, wondering if I could ever make the cut, thinking how incredible the experience must be. In my final year of graduate school, I knew I had to try. So when Greg told me I not only would be part of the 30th SJI class but would also intern at ESPN, I lost my cool a little. These were two separate calls, and I freaked out each time.
Now that I have graduated from boot camp, I know one message from my SJI week will stay with me for the rest of my career: I belong.
Greg Lee, Leon Carter, Sandy Rosenbush and David Squires made sure I understood that my presence in front of them was not a fluke. They also made sure I understood that the buck did not stop there. Because of the opportunity, I have a responsibility to excel, that is the legacy of SJI.
I owe excellence to those coming after me, as well as those who blazed a trail for me. As I begin my internship with ESPN,I remind myself to walk through those doors with confidence and purpose, hoping that my work will reflect the legacy. –Callie Lawson-Freeman
There was so much I didn’t know before this week.
Every SJI alum I spoke to before the program began told me how formative this experience would be and how much the speakers and my peers would change me, but I didn’t realize how much I didn’t know about being a journalist.
I didn’t know how much I still had to learn about writing on deadline. I didn’t know how to operate in a pro sports press box. I didn’t know how to network with other professionals and get ahead of the game through relationships.
During our time in Phoenix at Arizona State, I noticed that the things I learned from our speakers and instructors had changed me. I’m checking the news more often to keep myself informed. I’m thinking more critically about the questions I want to ask. I’m evaluating how I fit into newsroom and what I want to cover in the future.
Those are all lessons I’m going to bring with me to the Washington Post this summer, and they were all things I didn’t know to do. But there are other things I didn’t know, things even more fundamental.
I didn’t know how much work it took to put SJI together. I didn’t know how hard all our instructors worked or how much they believed in us to bring us here. I didn’t realize just how hard pioneers like Leon Carter, Sandy Rosenbush, David Squires and Greg Lee worked to bust open doors in this industry.
And I didn’t know how much of a family my classmates and I would become, or how we’d go from strangers to siblings in a week. I didn’t know how close the whole SJI family was from 1992.
Now I’m part of that family. I have that same duty to help open doors for people and hold them open so that as many of us can come through them as possible. SJI, Mr. Carter, Sandy, Squires and Greg gave so much to me, and I’d be doing an injustice if I didn’t do the same for others.
There was a lot I didn’t know before SJI, but there’s one thing I know for sure now: I belong. —PJ Morales
The Sports Journalism Institute has made an incredible impact on my career and my life. I knew it would serve as a springboard that I could use to launch myself into sports journalism, but never did I expect to make such meaningful connections in such a short amount of time.
Sandy Rosenbush, one of the four amazing instructors we had guiding us through the week, told us on the first day that our class would look at each other as a family by the end of the week. Of course, we all kind of rolled our eyes at what we all assumed was a cliché, but we were wrong in our assumptions.
I can honestly say that I love every one of my classmates. We helped each other through the week, laughed at silly moments, and connected on a level that I couldn’t believe. It shocked me how well we all clicked. When I got back home, I explained this to my girlfriend and she was surprised that no one was left behind or left out of the group. I can’t speak for everyone, but I think the entire class formed as one, and we all looked out for one another, which is rare.
Beyond my classmates, I also bonded with our instructors Greg Lee, Leon Carter, David Squires and Sandy. Each of them has a different personality and brings different tools to the table, which makes them so great together. I’ll never forget all of Mr. Carter’s sayings, eating dinner with Mr. Squires before the Diamondbacks game, Greg hugging me goodbye and giving me motivation to do great things in Detroit. Sandy telling me and one of my classmates, Joel, that she honestly believes a great number of us have the potential to make it in this business.
If it weren’t for Francisco Rosa, who was part of the program in 2021, I would have never applied to SJI, but I’m so glad he pushed me to do it because this is the best thing that’s happened in my career thus far. Next week, I’ll be heading to The Detroit News to begin my internship, and I’ll be taking everything I learned at SJI with me. —Richard Silva
SJI’s 30th class came to the end of the road in Phoenix last Friday. But with every step I took back to my room at the Taylor Place dorm that night, I knew I was really walking toward some special beginnings: The beginning of lifelong friendships. The beginning of 16 robust careers. The beginning of the rest of my life.
My friend Joseph Salvador was part of the class of 2020. He spoke so highly of the program and urged me to apply for the2021 class and then the class of 2022 after I didn’t make it the first time. “I’m sure you’re on this,” he texted me with a link to the application.
He talked about “family” and A-list guest speakers who dropped knowledge. I laughed off the first part, finding it corny, but the latter seemed enough of a draw on its own. After completing boot camp, I realized he’d been right about all of it. (That’ll teach me to doubt you, huh Joey?)
SJI alum Chris Lopez (class of 2018) came by the Cronkite School and spoke straight to me. He said he gained a sense of belonging at SJI and was surprised to learn as much from his peers as he did from the giants of sports media (for us, those included Tom Rinaldi, Mike Wilbon, Candace Buckner and SJI’s Red Smith award-winning founders). Lopez’s words rang true for me.
Everyone in this year’s class is going places. We all have a passion for storytelling, and none of us shy away from the hard work that’s needed to get to where we want to go. I have the utmost faith in this group.
While I was of disappointed not to be accepted into SJI last year, I’m so glad I was picked to be with this group in particular. In the words of William Ernest Henley, we are the masters of our fate and the captains of our souls. I am rooting for us all. —Payton Titus