Washington Post Welcomes Four Promising Student Journalists for Fall Fellowship

The Washington Post has unveiled its 2024 Academic Year Fellows, selecting four promising student journalists for a prestigious 10-week program this fall. This initiative, a collaboration with Howard University's Cathy Hughes School of Communications and the University of Maryland's Philip Merrill College of Journalism, aims to provide invaluable newsroom experience to aspiring reporters.

The selected fellows, Afia Barrie, Juan Benn Jr., Hailey Closson, and Adriana Navarro, will be immersed in various departments of the Post's newsroom, including local news, features, and data reporting. This opportunity allows them to work alongside seasoned journalists in a dynamic, round-the-clock news environment.

Carla Broyles, senior editor at The Washington Post, emphasized the program's commitment to nurturing talent: "Our goal is to equip fall fellows with enriching experiences that prepare them for the modern media landscape. Each year, we benefit from their fresh perspectives and are impressed by their dedication while managing demanding academic schedules."

The fellowship program reflects the Post's longstanding tradition of journalistic excellence. Founded in 1877, the newspaper has garnered 69 Pulitzer Prizes, underscoring its commitment to high-quality reporting.

Afia Barrie and Juan Benn Jr., both seniors at Howard University, will focus on breaking news and feature writing for the Local staff. Howard University, established in 1867 as a historically black institution, has a rich legacy of producing talented journalists.

Ingrid Sturgis, chair of Howard's Department of Media, Journalism and Film, expressed confidence in the fellows: "This fellowship offers a significant career boost. Working with experienced reporters and receiving mentorship from top editors will provide Afia and Juan with crucial insights into high-level journalism."

Barrie's experience includes roles at CNN's Washington bureau and as the Gwen Ifill Journalism Fellow at "PBS NewsHour." Notably, Gwen Ifill was the first African American woman to host a national political talk show in the U.S.

Benn brings a diverse background, having interned at the Washington Informer and served as a Springboard Journalism Fellow at BBC News in 2023. His experience also includes work with American Urban Radio Networks and a business journalism certificate from Bloomberg News.

From the University of Maryland, founded in 1856, Hailey Closson and Adriana Navarro will join the Features staff and Data department, respectively.

Closson's impressive resume includes internships at ProPublica, known for its investigative journalism, and the Baltimore Sun, Maryland's largest daily newspaper. Her experience covering congressional news for the Capital News Service has exposed her to high-level political reporting.

Navarro, a graduate student and data reporter, has worked with the Baltimore Banner and AccuWeather. Her data journalism skills, honed through analyzing hurricane data and creating visualizations with tools like Datawrapper, will be valuable assets in the Post's newsroom.

This fellowship program not only provides students with real-world experience but also contributes to the Post's commitment to fostering diverse voices in journalism. As these talented individuals embark on their fellowship journey, they carry with them the potential to shape the future of news reporting in an ever-evolving media landscape.