Year: 2021

Moriah Pettway loves writing and public speaking — two skills needed for an aspiring broadcast journalist like herself — so much that she once took a science-based advanced placement seminar because it involved lots of both.

When it comes to writing, Moriah, 17, of Baldwin, a rising senior year at Baldwin High School, said she feels it is different from other subjects because it’s an expressive outlet. “Other subjects have certain rules and guidelines that need to be followed, yet writing is something that is all yours.” 

As a young Black woman aiming to be a professional journalist, Moriah said she expects to feel added pressure to serve as a representative because she will share her image with the public. Moriah said she doesn’t feel that way now because her school is racially diverse. 

“I’m going to basically be the spokesperson who represents Black women such as myself in this particular industry and it is added pressure. But at the same time it’s a hurdle, which I know I just face in order to make a difference.”

 As motivation, Moriah turns to several role models in the journalism and writing fields who are Black females that inspire and motivate her. 

“CNN anchor Abby Phillips is truly an inspiration to me and I love her work.” Another role model Moriah has is her former English teacher. “I see that Ms. Barnes is a smart Black woman in a high leadership position in my school and it gives me hope for my own future.” 

As hobbies, Moriah plays guitar and sings. She also runs cross-country on her school’s girls track-and-field team. 

Moriah’s family loves how hard she works in school. “What I appreciate the most about Moriah’s work ethic is she consults various resources for the best outcome while not relying solely on her own intuition for success,” said her father, Corey. Moriah’s sister, Shekinah, added: “I appreciate her drive and dedication to her school work and how well spoken she is.” 

Moriah applied to the Robert W. Greene Summer Institute for High School Journalists in part for guidance on how to become a successful journalist, but more so because the program catered to the exact thing she wanted out of writing and journalism. 

“I wanted to do this program because I had always had an interest in journalism but I never had an outlet that was specifically dedicated to journalism. So when I heard about this opportunity I knew I couldn’t give it up.”

By Chloe Findlay
Long Island Lutheran Middle and High School

A dribble up the court, a ball flying through the air, fans rising out of their seats, hearts in their throats, SWISH! This is the way Chadwick Roy, a rising senior at Mathematics, Science Research and Technology Magnet High School in Cambria Heights, Queens, got into journalism.

An NBA playoffs game in 2020 with his friends and family led to a realization for Chadwick–or more realistically–his friends. As Chad and his friends were watching the game, Chad got more and more upset by what a sports journalist was saying. Chad recalled that “he was saying that this team wasn’t going to make it, but I’m telling you, this team IS going to make it. They don’t have an all-star, but they are a good team, they have a good core…and that team so happened to go all the way to the finals.”

That’s when his step-dad turned to him and suggested he try journalism. Chad recalled his step-dad telling him, “You know your facts. You should try to learn how to be a journalist, be on TNT as a career”. 

Chad started focusing on his writing more. And with the help from a favorite teacher, Ms.Richardson, he applied for the Robert W. Greene Summer Institute for High School Journalists. He was slightly reluctant to apply. “Some writing programs are boring, but my English teacher brought it to me, my journalism teacher brought it to me. They.told me it’s a good program…and so far it’s been good”

As for what field of journalism Chadwick wants to go into, it’s always been sports. “I started writing in the sports section of my school paper. It just clicked. I knew this is what I wanted to do.”

When he and his brother, Jeremy, were younger, their dad used to watch them play basketball. His dad’s passing in 2020 was a driving factor that kept Chad playing sports, pursuing journalism and working towards all of his many goals.

His 15-year-old sister Sydney recalls SAT season when “he was studying every single day, and he was like ‘everyone, you need to be quiet right now.’” But when it comes to his sports, he is even more motivated. “I’ll go outside and play with him, and my little brother sometimes…and when he’s really into it, I’m like, you can’t block the 9-year-old, Chadwick..

Chadwick’s family is his greatest support system. Jeremy, Chad’s 9 year-old little brother, said “I’m always there for Chadwick and he’s always there for me.”. Sydney says the two brothers are inseparable. When the two are playing basketball, “they’re always on the same team, they never split”. 

His mom was also a huge part of his success in life and in journalism so far. Chadwick remembers that “my mom would always tell me to write. Write for this, write for that. At that age I thought it was boring.” 

By Ianna Banfield
Park Slope Collegiate

Camila Rojas sees journalism as a path to a successful law career. A stop on that path is the Robert W. Greene Summer Institute for High School Journalists.

“Journalism interests me because it’s a great outlet to learn about current world problems and about all different types of people,” the Hempstead High School rising junior said. “As my dream is to become a lawyer, I think that it’s important to know what’s going on in the world in order to know how to fix the problems that our world is currently facing. I am not extremely familiar with the field of journalism yet. I just want to learn more about it.”

Camila, 16, who lives in Hempstead, manages her school’s social media and is active in after-school programs and community service, 

In her free time, she reads, watches videos on Netflix and YouTube, and takes care of her little sister, but it is painting that captures her imagination. 

She sketches out her ideas — an object, a person or beautiful scenery — and lets her imagination go. “I’ve always been into art whether it was drawing or coloring,” Camila said. “My mom tells me that when I was little, I was always coloring and that I hardly ever played with my toys because I was always doing something art related.” 

Her art pieces are a reflection of her imagination, and her words are a reflection of her passion for the arts, “I love painting because it’s the one thing that brings me peace while at the same time creating something beautiful. I find it to be an outlet for my feelings and in ways it helps me express myself.”

In addition to her artistic skills, Camila has a writing skill that can help with word use — poetry. Her sister, Fiorella, 9, said, “The poems that Camila writes are really in-depth. She’s also very bubbly, intelligent, open-minded, and confident.”

For Camila, journalism is a way to project her voice and help solve the world’s issues.  “What I like about journalism is how you are essentially talking and informing others about real life problems. I think it’s very important to know and understand what’s happening in the world around them, which is why journalism is a great way to do so.”

One powerful motivation to study journalism and law is the need for justice, Camila said. “I don’t ever like to see others suffer, and I try my best to do the best I can to help someone, no matter how big or small it is.” 

Camila follows the news regularly, mostly watching Telemundo and Unavision. She admires Spanish language journalists that she sees on those channels for sharing information with native Spanish speakers like her. 

Attending the Greene boot camp, she said, was part of her plan to learn more about journalism. “I want to get pushed out of my comfort zone and learn more about it.” 

By Aarya Patel
Earl L. Vandermeulen High School

Demi Cabness really wants to get into reporting, not only with words but also with cameras and sound equipment. 

“I’m interested in film and editing,” Demi said.

Her mother, Michelle, said that Demi, who has her own YouTube channel, has the right chops as a video and content editor.

However, Demi knows that it all starts with a story and she has long known that she loves to read and write. A rising junior, Demi attends Harlem Children’s Zone Promise Academy High School 1, where she had a writing class that led her to the Robert W. Greene Institute for High School Journalists. She said she is looking for a college where she could make journalism her major. 

“I’m interested in psychology as well,” Demi, adding that she believes a psychology major could enhance her reporting.

She found the Greene Team through a search for college-like experiences. The course has been helpful, but said she would enjoy it more if it was in-person, something impossible during the Pandemic. Her mother is of another mind on this. “I was very reluctant to send my daughter to this program at first before realizing that it was virtual,” she said. “After hearing that I was excited for my daughter to be in this program.”

One of Demi’s plans is to get a job and save money for a DSLR camera, better laptop, a microphone and editing software. Right now she feels she is limited without the equipment.

“I need some new equipment to motivate me to make these videos,” Demi said.

She would like to become a vlogging content creator for fashion, and the skills she is learning at the Greene Institute will give her vlogs strength.

At the same time, she is learning by watching YouTube channels of others, including Josh and Izzy, Deshae Frost and Princess Jay. 

Although she understands that social causes and politics are important, she prefers to follow her own path but said she knows that she will eventually get involved in them.

“When I have to vote, I will try my best to understand politics,” Demi said.