Author: Allie Harrison

The Greene Team spent the majority of Thursday, July 30 writing and editing their two articles and creating their video piece. 

In the morning, we learned how to use iMovie, the program for putting together the video pieces. Additionally, the Greene Team engaged in a presentation on how to write for video and the differences between script writing versus article writing. Afterwards, it was time to get to work.

My team split the work between writing the video script and finishing the two articles we were assigned. I wrote most of the article on Tim Glotch’s press conference, while Izzy and Noah worked on the script for the corresponding video. Yennifer interviewed the final person for our article on the Keep Long Island Beautiful campaign, and together we worked on finishing that article as well. 

By the end of the day, the finish line was in sight. Friday, July 31 is the last day of the program — the last day to complete our assignments. With all of the writing and editing we accomplished today, I am confident we will meet that deadline.

-Allie Harrison, Ward Melville High School

On Wednesday, July 29, the Greene Team had the chance to experience what it’s like to be live on television.

I started out as the control room director. That role involved cuing the anchors and reporters, as well as letting the video controller know when to cut to a different camera. Although that was fun, I enjoyed being a reporter even more.

I was a reporter in the next show, and this was the most exciting part for me. The camera had a teleprompter built in, so I could read my lines about the Greene Team’s activities yesterday and later today while also looking at the camera. Although I aspire to be a writer in my career, I know I would enjoy television reporting as well.

I may be somewhat of a quiet person in general, but talking to a camera or an audience feels comfortable for me nonetheless. I hope to get a similar experience in the future, and I am grateful to have had this one. 

—Allie Harrison, Ward Melville High School

The Greene Team began on Monday, July 27, with a captivating lecture by a journalist who reported on the 1970s Watergate scandal and witnessed the field of journalism evolve. 

Dini Diskin-Zimmerman, a broadcast journalist who has been in the field for decades, spoke to the group about her wealth of experience in a changing — yet also constant — profession. 

She told about how in the past, news stations used two-inch tape to record, and they manually cut out pieces to edit them. Now, we use computers for the same task. Before, the cameras and lights were enormous, but now, they are small and compact. However, the way news is reported hasn’t changed one bit. Good reporters still strive to remain unbiased, they still state the most important things first, and they still have the constant role of updating the public on the occurrences of the world.

Zimmerman also shared another part of her interesting past with the Greene Team: she was a crucial part of increasing women’s equality in the workplace. When she started out at one of her earliest jobs, she was the only woman there, among a host of white men. They needed to hire women to support DEI, and she not only fit that requirement, but she was exceptionally good at reporting. Throughout her career, more and more women started working with her.

Later on, George Giokas delivered a presentation on the immense importance of local and school newspapers.

Giokas told the group that three quarters of those in New York City don’t have newspapers, which is problematic because students don’t get information about their communities, and young writers aren’t exposed to this vital profession.

Additionally, there has been a large decline in local newspapers throughout the country. In the past 20 years, the nation has lost approximately 3,500 newspapers. Now, over 210 counties have no local news sources at all.

News sources are essential for public information and even participation. In fact, fewer people tend to vote when they lack newspapers. Thankfully, Long Island still has over 150 community newspapers, which serve mainly on the village level.

As Giokas put it, “You lose your identity when you lose your local newspaper.” That is why journalism is essential, and the Greene Team plans to make a contribution to it.

—Allie Harrison, Ward Melville High School

Sunday, July 26, was the first day of the 2026 Robert W. Greene Summer Institute for High School Journalism program. It was also the first time I’ve visited Stony Brook University’s campus, despite living only 15 minutes away. 

My first impression was certainly a positive one. Right next to Hendrix Hall, where the dorms are located, is a scenic pond with ducks and geese. Throughout the campus, green spaces with vibrant trees and plants abound. A stone-paved path between buildings leads to a glistening water fountain. All of these details seem to give Stony Brook a feeling of being surrounded by nature, despite being situated near a busier town. 

Walking around campus was pleasant, but will hardly be the most exciting experience of the program. Writing, learning, and exploring activities are soon to come!

—Allie Harrison, Ward Melville High School