The Journeys in Journalism Advisory Committee supports three Pinellas County Schools magnet programs: Melrose Elementary (journalism/multimedia magnet), John Hopkins Middle (journalism/multimedia magnet) and Lakewood High (Center for Journalism and Multimedia). These programs equip students with the critical skills of writing, inquiry and communication across multiple informational platforms. Students are prepared to be informed citizens no matter what career they choose. The programs were established beginning in 2001 in partnership with the Tampa Bay Times, which now includes the Poynter Institute.
The committee is composed of community journalism leaders, higher education partners and other relevant community representatives, as well as the journalism coordinator. Other Pinellas County School District staffers, including principals and assistant principals at the district’s journalism and multimedia magnet schools/career center, participate as needed in committee meetings.
If you are interested in becoming part of the Advisory Committee, the following are the requirements and responsibilities of newly joined members:
Meeting requirements:
Members of the committee should be able to attend scheduled meetings. Quarterly meeting schedule will be announced by the committee chair (currently held virtually on the 2nd Tuesday of the month beginning with September).
Responsibilities:
Committee members should be able to provide the following supports to the program:
- Keep current with journalism/multimedia industry trends and needs;
- Help provide relevant, real world educational opportunities for Journeys in Journalism students and teachers;
- Promote the program in the community, including places of business and social networks;
- Attend events including the yearly photojournalism exhibit, Through Our Eyes;
- Serve on subcommittees/task forces such as fund-raising, scholarship and exhibit, which will convene on their own;
- Commit to contributing or finding others to contribute financially and/or in-kind donations each year to fund program enrichments.
Terms:
Committee members shall serve three-year terms, with the ability to extend term duration. Current members shall be divided into subcommittees on an optional annual rotation.
- Wendy Wallace (2012) – Chair – Former journalist who has worked at The Poynter Institute since 2004. She started her career on her high school newspaper and was a reporter and marketing executive at the Tampa Bay Times.
- Kevin Mort (2001) – Scholarship chair – Mort Scholarship Committee Chair and husband of the late founding coordinator, Cynda Mort.
- Dave Cook – Strategic Communications Multi-Media Producer.
- Donnika Jones (2017), Chief Transformation Officer, former principal for Melrose Elementary
- Mariana Leslie (2017) – Apprenticeships and Work-Based Learning Specialist with Career, Technical and Adult Education (CTAE).
- Steve Plummer (2012) – Supervisor, Business & Information Technology, Marketing & Diversified Education with Career, Technical and Adult Education (CTAE).
- Katlyn Stoneburner (2021) – Journalism Program Coordinator
- Ellen Truskowski (2017), director of student demographic assignment & school capacity, Pinellas County Schools
- Kathryn Bursch – 10 Tampa Bay WTSP Manager of Strategic Partnerships and former reporter. A journalist in the Tampa Bay area for more than 30 years, she is concerned with growing an appreciation for the craft and its critical role in democracy.
- Sherri Day – Communications Director of the Tampa Bay Times. Before joining the business side of the Times, she worked as a journalist for 16 years. At the Times, she was a reporter, editor, bureau chief and member of the Editorial Board. Sherri also spent four years reporting at the New York Times, where she started as a summer intern. [email protected]
- Bozell Hosey (2019) – Senior editor of visual storytelling with ProPublica, former photographer director of Tampa Bay Times
- Annica Keeler – Development and Community Relations Director, Tampa Bay Times, coordinating fundraising to support Florida’s largest newsroom. Previously, she served the Times for 15 years in various capacities, from marketing and community relations to administrative support for the CEO of the Times Publishing Co.
- Mary Shedden – News Director, WUSF Public Media. She oversees a team of reporters, editors and producers covering 13 counties on Florida’s west coast. Before joining WUSF in 2013, Shedden spent nearly 20 years as a newspaper journalist.
- Monte Trammer (2018) – Retired newspaper publisher with the Gannet Co. He joined the JJAC through the Pinellas Education Foundation Career Education Board.
- Tara Newsom (2016) – Faculty of St. Petersburg College; founding Director of SPC’s Center for Civic Learning & Community Engagement, designed to create diverse civic leadership through public service.
- Ronald Porter (2016) – Director of Service Learning at Eckerd College, working to foster and enhance students’ commitment to volunteer service in the community and the world
- Goliath Davis (2003) – Community volunteer; former City of St. Petersburg Deputy Mayor and Police Chief
- Gretchen Letterman (2001) Former Chairperson – Retired Tampa Bay Times journalist and former Journeys in Journalism program coordinator. She has been with the program since its beginning.
- Shrimatee Ojah-Maharaj (2012) – Grants officer, City of St. Petersburg
- Terri Lipsey Scott (2016) – Executive Director of the Woodson African American Museum of Florida; directs the Woodson Warriors scholarship program
- Jane Thompson (2020) – Water Resources GIS (Geographic Information Systems) Manager at AECOM and former John Hopkins Middle journalism magnet parent who helped with a grant to coordinate students’ special coverage of water quality.
Journeys in Journalism Schools Personnel
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- Melrose Elementary 1752 13th Ave S, St. Petersburg, FL 33712 | (727) 893-2175
- Principal: Nichole Wilson
- Journalism Teacher: Dawana Whyte Hug
- John Hopkins Middle 701 16th St S, St. Petersburg, FL 33705 | (727) 893-2400
- Principal: Carlmon Jones
- Assistant Principal (Magnet): Kimberly Vongsyprasom
- Journalism Teacher: Joyce Pink
- Adjunct Instructors: Malik Parler
- Lakewood High 1400 54th Ave S, St. Petersburg, FL 33705 | (727) 893-2916
- Principal: Connisheia Garcia
- Assistant Principal (Magnet) Dennis Russo
- Teachers: Christopher Mosher and Ernesto Ferrer Hajos
- Melrose Elementary 1752 13th Ave S, St. Petersburg, FL 33712 | (727) 893-2175