Chevrolet is back for the fourth annual HBCU Journalism Fellowship. The organization has once again partnered with the National Newspaper Publishers Association to select six students from historically black colleges and Universities, (HBCUs).
The results are in and the 2019 Discover the Unexpected Journalism Fellows are Tedarius Abrams (Bethune-Cookman), Tyla Barnes (Hampton University), Elae Hill (North Carolina A&T), Miana Massey (Howard University), Emani Nichols (Morehouse College) and Sharon Joy Washington (Florida A&M). The fellows were awarded a $10,000 scholarship and a $5,000 stipend.
Their mission: with the help of NNPA editors and reporters, the fellows will travel the country to discover and share positive, inspirational and relevant stories from African American communities during their eight-week summer internship. According to a recent press release, they will form two teams of three people, and each team will have access to an all-new 2019 Chevrolet Blazer during their reporting assignments.
The release states that so far, the annual DTU program has awarded more than $330,000 in scholarships and stipends since 2015. The program started with a select number of schools and, based on the overwhelming response, the online submission process was opened to all HBCU students in their sophomore through senior years with an interest in journalism, communications, mass media, or visual arts.
“Our partnership with the NNPA continues to provide a unique platform to connect with young and remarkable storytellers,” said Paul Edwards, U.S. vice president of Chevrolet Marketing. “From the inaugural launch at Howard University to the inclusion of all the HBCUs, it’s Chevrolet’s pleasure to partner with members of the African American community, ensuring a legacy is established for generations to come. We’re thrilled to meet this year’s group of fellows and immerse them in all things, Chevrolet.”
“The NNPA is excited to partner with Chevrolet for another year in support of young journalists to amplify community voices across our country,” said NNPA President and CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. “Having these young journalists in our newsrooms working side by side with our editors and writers is inspiring and we are committed to including young storytellers’ voices in our reporting.”
During the time span of the fellowship, the DTU fellows will work with the Atlanta Voice, Chicago Crusader, Houston Forward Times, and The Washington Informer. The fellows’ journey begins in Atlanta, where they’ll participate in two days of journalism training with Chevrolet and NNPA leadership before they hit the road to begin their reporting assignments.
Musician and author Fonzworth Bentley, a Morehouse College graduate, will serve as the fellows’ Road Trip Advisor and DJ Envy, co-host of the syndicated radio show “The Breakfast Club,” and a Hampton University grad is the program’s national spokesperson.