College of Journalism and Mass Communications ambassadors are helping to lead classes at The Bay High School as part of the school’s curriculum. Alex Fernando, CoJMC assistant director of recruiting, noted the significant development of The Bay and the college’s collaboration that started in 2022 as an after-school program and today is no longer just an extracurricular activity option, but an integral part of the students' education.
"The Bay hired a journalism teacher, Tina Lee, who's teaching multimedia classes, journalism, photojournalism," Fernando said. "The ambassadors lead workshops which are great for recruiting and help to keep our pipeline growing.”
This semester, CoJMC ambassador Valeria Uribe worked with students in Lee's class, helping them learn about equipment training, ethics training and how to write podcasts.
"I think this prepares students for college since it allows them to get ahead in the basics," Uribe said. "When they do get into college they have prior knowledge and can excel their skills right off the bat."
Ambassador Noah Douglas helped to lead workshops on photography, videography, Adobe Photoshop and video editing techniques that students use here at the college.
"I believe that this helps high school students learn things that may interest them more than the typical general education classes," Douglas said. "The hands-on element keeps students engaged and also gives them the opportunity to bring their own passions to class."
Beyond technical skills, both Uribe and Douglas see the program as a gateway to college preparedness. The ambassadors also found the experience enriching for their own professional careers. Uribe appreciated the chance to delve into broadcasting, expanding her skill set and confidence. For Noah, it was an opportunity to refresh his own skills while imparting knowledge to others.
Together, the CoJMC and Bay High form dynamic team, bridging the gap between college and high school and paving the way for a new generation of storytellers and media professionals.
