The Urban Journalism Workshop at San Antonio College
History of the workshop
The Urban Journalism Workshop at San Antonio College is a two-week “boot camp” devoted to introducing bright minority students to careers in newspaper.
The Dow Jones Newspaper Fund Inc. sponsors 28 workshops around the country. The first, in 1968 at American University, was being planned as the Kerner Commission was prepar-ing its report on national race relations.
San Antonio College was the first community college to offer a workshop. There are now two offered by community colleges.
During the workshop, about 16 students, chosen in a rigorous selection process, attend classes at San Antonio College, sleep in dorms at a local university, meet with news makers and the people who cover them, report on an assigned story and get acquainted with photography, design and layout. Along the way, they work hard and have a lot of fun.
Abbreviated titles
Titles that follow a name should be abbreviated, but don’t abbreviate titles after names or titles that stand alone.
- Prof. Sam Martinez
- Sam Martinez, Associate Professor
- Cheryl Smith, Senator
- Sen. Cheryl Smith
Do not abbreviate:
- president
- secretary
- treasurer
- principal
- major
- superintendent
- commodore
- director
- attorney
- manager
- auditor
- justice
- 2009
- The workshop celebrates 25 years of serving the youth of San Antonio and South Texas. Bexar County Commissioners Court issues a proclamation. Stock market crash of fall 2008 precludes awarding three scholarships from the W.B. Daugherty estate.
- 2007
- The workshop experiences life without Tricia who is away in a summer class in San Francisco. Before she left, she set up everything, including a series of recorded messages for staff and students. And we still had to call her about four times a day.
- 2003
- Nineteenth workshop participants are the first to get to use digital cameras on loan from Canon thanks to Canon USA representative Bob Malish. As a high school student, Malish reported to the classroom of Chet Hunt at Lee High School. It featured Express-News reporter Macarena Hernandez and her struggle with the use of her articles in the New York Times, and interviews with Lauren Eberhart, Craig Sorgi, and Director Steven R. Brosvik from the San Antonio Symphony about the organization’s financial problems. They also covered censorship in schools, dishonesty in the digital age, teen volunteers, programs to prevent obesity, and teens killed in car accidents and how project YIELD plans to make the roads safer. Also included was a story on Adrian and Jennifer’s new baby, Benjamin Elias Zamarron.
- 2002
- The 18th volume was the first to use color on the front, back, and center pages. It was Ms. Odom’s 15th year with the workshop and featured a special cartoon honoring her. Adrian Zamarron perfectly defines being Odomized as “like running into a brick wall that you don’t see coming. It’s a very good thing that happens to you.” Stories included the dangers and personal stories related to drag racing, the price of college tuition rising as the availability of aid grows scarcer, local Muslim teens dealing with hate, drug and alcohol abuse, and patriotism.
- 2001
- The 17th volume of YOU S.A. included stories on suspension for bringing prescription drugs to school, the teen market and how it has become a prime target for advertisers, teens and political issues, and how San Antonio schools teach abstinence.
- 2000
- Theme: Reality check. The stories were about who teens visit plastic surgeons to boost their self esteem, stress, and teenagers coping with their single parent homes.
- 1999
- Theme: Teens, Technology and the New Millennium. It was the 15th Workshop at San Antonio College. The stories ranged from the tech revolution in schools, the internet, and cell phones and beepers, to stories over stress, underage drinking abroad, and ID’s for R-rated movies. It featured the ‘How tech are teens?’ section on the bottom of every page. It was the first year that the paper included biographical sketch’s of all the participants.
- 1998
- Some of this year’s stories included domestic violence, crime and weapon safety, and principals censoring school newspapers. The students devised a plan to talk after hours, which included taking off the screens of their windows and shouting at each other.
- 1997
- The 13th issue of YOU S.A. featured stories on the stricter dress codes in the school districts, the demands for diversity and the effects of population booms in schools, and harassment.
- 1996
- Theme: Teen Health. Focusing on teen mothers, AIDS, sickle cell anemia, mental illnesses, drugs, and suicide.
- 1995
- Theme: Teen Violence. It covered the ‘V-chip,’ the rise of gangs and gang activity in San Antonio, and the YES program. This year was the first in 11 workshops that the participants received T-shirts. On June 17, 1995, Mr. Daugherty passed away from complications of AIDS, he helped bring the workshop and the support from Dow Jones to SAC and in 1988 took over the position and duties of UJW director.
- 1994
- Theme: Caring For The Community. Featured stories on the Food Bank, United Way, SAMM shelter, Peace Corps, Spurs Foundation, Big Brothers and Sisters, Habitat for Humanity, and the Pet Partners program. It was the 10th workshop and since 194 students have completed the experience.
- 1993
- Theme: Challenges In Education for the 1990’s. Covered the House Bill 72: No-pass, No-play, criminal activities of students, and the downsides of the TAAS test.
- 1992
- Theme: Interracial relationships. United Way volunteers and the San Antonio Youth Commission or “CO.”
- 1991
- Theme: Emerging Minorities and the New Texas. Featuring Jennifer Rodriguez’s piece on Texas Attorney General Dan Morales. Also including George Gervin talking about his drug addiction and founded the George Gervin Youth Center where they can create a safe place for the nurturing of San Antonio’s youth.
- 1990
- Theme: Forgotten Children of the 90’s. Adrian returned to assist the workshop in the lab and the dorm.
- 1989
- Theme: Peer Pressure. The students met with then Mayor Lila Cockrell who told of her past experiences with peer pressure. Adrian Zamarron attended the workshop this year and received the Dow Jones Scholarship for his piece on teen stereotypes.
- 1988
- Theme: Dropouts. Featured singer Augie Meyers after he received his General Equivalency Diploma at age 48. This is the year that we received the rule that all of the stories were embargoed until YOU S.A. was published. The students participated in a press conference with then Mayor of San Antonio, Henry Cisneros. Marianne Odom and Tricia Buchhorn join the workshop staff.
- 1987
- Theme: Illiteracy. featured the San Antonio Youth Literacy program. Irene Abrego joined as a dormitory counselor.
- 1986
- Theme: Education Reform. The director was the department of journalism-Photography at San Antonio College, Lynnell Burkett.
- 1985
- Theme: Role Models. The first Urban Journalism Workshop featured song writer and poet Naomi Nye, Edward Morgan from the Joffrey Ballet in New York City, and U.S. Rep. Henry B. Gonzalez. UJW received $2,000 each from the Express-News and the now-defunct San Antonio Light. This is the only cooperative project the two competing daily newspapers endorsed.
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The Urban Journalism Workshop is a two week boot camp for high school students to study writing, editing and photography.
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