The New York Times Student Journalism Institute Announces 2012 Participants in Annual Program

The New York Times Student Journalism Institute today announced the participants admitted into its annual program with the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ), to be held from Jan. 2 to 16, 2012 at The University of Arizona in Tucson.

The institute is a 14-day, hands-on journalism residency program offered to aspiring reporters, editors, photographers, video journalists, multimedia producers and designers who are current student members of the NAHJ. The students will have the opportunity to sharpen their writing, reporting, editing, photography and multimedia skills while covering current events in the Tucson area and working under newsroom deadlines. They will learn under the supervision of professional journalists from The New York Times and The Boston Globe.

"Since 2003, this program has helped give students a first-hand look at what it is like to work for a leading news organization,” said William E. Schmidt, deputy managing editor, The New York Times. "These students get to participate in real newsroom settings, which means, managing breaking news and meeting deadlines right alongside full-time staffers.”

"The Company’s commitment to diversity and inclusion extends well-beyond our own employees,” said Desiree Dancy, chief diversity officer and vice president, corporate human resources, The New York Times Company. "This institute gives these bright students the opportunity to work side-by-side with some of the top journalists in the country who will help guide them as they prepare to enter the workforce.”

The 24 students selected for this year's program represent 19 colleges and universities from around the country. The program accepts applications from promising students in any class year who are in good academic standing and have worked for at least one semester on a student publication. A panel of journalists at The Times selects the students based on applications that include an essay and work samples.

The 2012 students are Isaac Arjonilla, University of California Los Angeles; Samuel Nemir Olivares Bonilla, University of Puerto Rico – Rio Piedras; Louis A. Casiano, University of Houston; Nicole Chavez, University of Texas at El Paso; Ellie Cole, Colorado College; Paige Cornwell, University of Nebraska Lincoln; Samantha Elizabeth Esquivel, University of Arizona; Melvin Felix, New York University; Anna Celia Gallegos, University of Houston; Lazaro Gamio, New World School of the Arts; Lisa Maria Garza, University of North Texas; Charlie Kaijo, California State University-Northridge; Monique Odette Madan, Miami Dade College; Michelle A. Monroe, University of Arizona; Carol Moran, Stony Brook University; Joshua Morgan, University of Arizona; Alexander M. Mullaney, San Francisco State University; Silvana Ordonez, Florida International University; Audris Ponce, University of Houston; Rebecca Rillos, University of Arizona; Elyse Toribio, Ramapo College of New Jersey; Sandra Westdahl, University of Arizona; Emily Wilkins, Michicagan State University; and Jie Jenny Zou, Stony Brook University.

The New York Times Student Journalism Institute offers two programs each year. In cooperation with the Black College Communication Association and the National Association of Black Journalists, an Institute is held each May at Dillard University in New Orleans. That program was created in 2003. In 2007, a companion program was introduced in collaboration with the NAHJ and designed for its student members. That program is held each January, alternating between the University of Arizona in Tucson and Florida International University in Miami. The Student Journalism Institute now has more than 350 graduates. Among the major news organizations around the nation, at which these graduates have been interns or are now employees, are The Associated Press, The Boston Globe, the Chicago Tribune, The Dallas Morning News, The Houston Chronicle, the Los Angeles Times, The Miami Herald, Newsday, The New York Times, The Oregonian and The Washington Post.

About The New York Times Company

The New York Times Company (NYSE: NYT), a leading media company with 2010 revenues of $2.4 billion, includes The New York Times, the International Herald Tribune, The Boston Globe, 15 other daily newspapers and more than 50 Web sites, including NYTimes.com, BostonGlobe.com, Boston.com and About.com. The Company’s core purpose is to enhance society by creating, collecting and distributing high-quality news, information and entertainment.

This press release can be downloaded from www.nytco.com