STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Through a partnership with the Staten Island Advance/SILive.com, student journalists from high schools throughout the borough of Staten Island are developing their community journalism abilities.
Young people are learning about multimedia journalism from professionals in the field through the High School Journalism Immersion program, which gives them a platform to follow their passions, exercise critical and creative thinking, and contribute to the Staten Island Advance, the community newspaper. Additionally, they are interacting with people who may have different experiences and perspectives than they have.
“We are honored to provide this opportunity to Staten Island students,” said Brian Laline, executive editor of Advance/SILive.com. At a time when so many American towns are losing their independent and local voices, it is crucial that our young people understand the value of local journalism. The enthusiasm with which the students cover events and lend their voices to stories that are significant to their neighbors is what excites us the most. They will always benefit from the experience, regardless of the job path they choose.
The program, which runs from fall to spring, meets once a week in the newsroom at Bloomfield’s Corporate Commons 3.
These sessions include practical work, talks by subject-matter specialists, and idea generation.
At a recent meeting, Caroline Diamond Harrison, publisher of the Staten Island Advance/SILive.com, welcomes the students. (Mike Matteo/Staten Island Advance)Matteo, Mike
According to Olivia Treadwell, a senior at Susan Wagner High School, internships like the Journalism Immersion program are uncommon. By learning techniques from professionals in the area and then having the opportunity to develop and publish our own work, we have gained a great deal of practical experience during the sessions thus far.
Treadwell went on to say: I think this initiative is a fantastic approach for young student journalists to get their views heard and be ready for media professions. There can never be enough cameras or notepads to document everything that occurs in the world, but by taking part in the Journalism Immersion program, I hope to contribute to the efforts to share as many people’s stories as possible.
Additionally, students will study beat reporting, photography, and podcasting.
This year’s program’s ultimate objective is to have every student work on a variety of projects, such as joint stories and in-depth articles.
In addition to receiving a compensation for each project that is published, students will get to witness the fruits of their labor.
“Seeing how intelligent, involved, and civic-minded Staten Island youth are is tremendously inspiring,” said Gail Lubin, content director at Advance/SILive.com. By sharing the tales of their friends and neighbors, the students in our immersion program are contributing to their community and bringing new ideas and valuable views to the table.
Jason Paderon, a multimedia specialist, teaches photography to students. (Mike Matteo/Staten Island Advance)Matteo, Mike
When Nia Turashvili, a freshman at Staten Island Technical High School, applied to the Advance/SILive.com program, she said she was looking for a new journalism atmosphere.
“I’m learning a lot about the field that I wasn’t learning before, and I’ve met a bunch of great people in a more professional environment,” Turashvili said.
According to some students, they selected the program in order to maintain their passion in journalism.
Nick Acquilano, a junior at Staten Island Academy, stated, “I chose this program because, as someone who wants to pursue journalism in college, the Advance has taught me very well about how to understand the logistics of article-type writing and what is important about it.” Anyone interested in this subject should enroll in a program like this one, in my opinion.
The program started off as an e-mentor program with Curtis High School in 2022. Last year, it was extended to an in-person program that now includes students from Staten Island Academy and Staten Island Technical High School.
Students from any Staten Island high school were eligible to participate in the program for the first time this year.
Students will receive instruction from professionals in the fields of beat reporting, photography, and podcasting. (Mike Matteo/Staten Island Advance)Matteo, Mike
Cassy Sommer, the Advance/SILive.com community news manager, and Lauren Lovallo, the organization’s social audience and content supervisor, are in charge of the program.
“This program, which is led by two exceptional journalists who have led coverage on some of Staten Island’s most pressing issues, is something that The Advance/SILive.com is so proud to sponsor,” Lubin said. In the end, we’re laying the groundwork for the upcoming generation of Staten Island journalists, and we love watching the kids grow in confidence and proficiency.
Employees at Advance/SILive.com offer their time as mentors, working with students on initiatives and topics that they are enthusiastic about. Additionally, Cadence Turner, a key player in the prior e-mentor partnership with Curtis High School, is participating as an adviser for this year’s program.
According to Alexa Viggiano, a student at St. Joseph Hill Academy, “participating in this program has filled me with so much gratitude, newly acquired skills, and joy in the time since it began.” It feels unreal to actually be gathering in a formal setting to talk about my interest and write about my community after having always aspired to be a true journalist. My desire to pursue writing as a career for the remainder of my life has been cemented by my involvement with the Advance.
The Staten Island students taking part in the program this year are as follows:
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Nick Acquilano, junior at Staten Island Academy
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Gabriella Alvarez, freshman at Curtis High School
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Patricia Block-Sheehan, junior at Staten Island Academy
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Daniela Diaz, sophomore at Staten Island Technical High School
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Jesus Guerrero, sophomore at Curtis High School
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Hari Jafri, junior at Curtis High School
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Dante Jikia, senior at Susan Wagner High School
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Genevieve Lopez, junior at Curtis High School
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Jean Machuca, junior at Curtis High School
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Adrienne Monteleone, junior at St. Joseph by-the-Sea High School
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Maia Pudelkiewicz, sophomore at St. Joseph by-the-Sea High School
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Olivia Treadwell, senior at Susan Wagner High School
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Nia Turashvili, freshman at Staten Island Technical High School
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Alexa Viggiano, junior at St. Joseph Hill Academy
The image below shows the student journalists.
The following are arranged in clockwise order: Maia Pudelkiewicz, sophomore at St. Joseph by-the-Sea High School; Jesus Guerrero, sophomore at Curtis High School; Jean Machuca, junior at Curtis High School; and Patricia Block-Sheehan, junior at Staten Island Academy. (Mike Matteo/Staten Island Advance)Matteo, Mike
The following are arranged in clockwise order: Daniela Diaz, sophomore at Staten Island Technical High School; Adrienne Monteleone, junior at St. Joseph by-the-Sea High School; Haris Jafri, junior at Curtis High School; and Nicholas Acquilano, junior at Staten Island Academy. (Mike Matteo/Staten Island Advance)Matteo, Mike
Here, in clockwise order, are Nia Turashvili, a freshman at Staten Island Technical High School; Olivia Treadwell, a senior at Susan Wagner High School; and Alexa Viggiano, a sophomore at St. Joseph Hill Academy High School. (Mike Matteo/Staten Island Advance)Matteo, Mike
Clockwise, these are: Genevieve Lopez, junior, Curtis High School; Gabriella Alvarez, freshman; and Dante Jikia, senior, Susan Wagner High School. (Mike Matteo/Staten Island Advance)Matteo, Mike
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