Indianapolis Recorder revives JAWS Fellowship, connecting students to media career pathways
Five Indianapolis students from KIPP Legacy High School are spending their summer exploring what’s possible when their interests, creativity, and voices are connected to real-world opportunities.
Through the Indianapolis Recorder’s Journalism Academy for Writing and Storytelling (JAWS), Angel Brown, Marte’Nello Hurst, Emma King, Evan Lewis, and Tammy Woodley are getting paid to learn from journalists and communications professionals, connect with the community, and see their work published by one of the nation’s oldest Black newspapers.
According to Richardo L. Wallace, associate director of Career Integration & Readiness at KIPP Indy Schools, experiences like JAWS help students begin to recognize the connection between their passions and future careers.
“Programs like JAWS help students continue to see their interests as potential pathways into future possibilities.”
Richardo Wallace
“Whether students pursue careers in journalism, communications, business, education, or another path, the ability to communicate effectively, tell a compelling story, and connect with others will serve them well,” Wallace said. “Programs like JAWS help students continue to see their interests as potential pathways into future possibilities.”
The students, three seniors, one junior, and one sophomore, make up the inaugural class of JAWS, a paid summer fellowship designed to introduce students to the many career opportunities connected to storytelling and communications. The 5-week program is a partnership between The Recorder and The Mind Trust, whose School Community Partnership Investment (SCPI) of $15,000 helped make the paid fellowship component possible.
“For more than 130 years, the Indianapolis Recorder has believed in the power of storytelling to inform, inspire, and strengthen our community,” said Robert Shegog, Recorder president and CEO. “JAWS builds on that legacy by investing in the next generation of journalists, communicators, and storytellers. Through hands-on newsroom experience and mentorship from industry professionals, these students will develop their voices, strengthen their skills, report on issues that matter, and see their work published for our community. More importantly, we want them to leave JAWS knowing that their voices, ideas, and perspectives have the power to make a difference.”
The program builds upon the legacy of the Recorder’s former Journalism and Writing Seminars (JAWS), which was founded in the early 1990s. The expanded program reflects the evolution of storytelling platforms and introduces students to a broader range of career pathways in journalism, media, and communications while building skills that can transfer across industries.
Hosted at Edna Martin Christian Center Legacy Campus, the five-week summer academy combines classroom learning, mentorship, and hands-on experiences. Students work alongside communications professionals as they develop interviewing, reporting, and storytelling skills through assignments focused on understanding their community and the people who shape it.
For Barato Britt, president and CEO of Edna Martin Christian Center, the return of JAWS represents a meaningful continuation of the Recorder’s investment in young storytellers. Britt, who began his own career at the Indianapolis Recorder, understands the impact of giving students access to professional experiences early.
“The relaunch of the JAWS program is significant on so many levels,” Britt said. “The collaborative investment not only reflects the continued depth in approach among Martindale Brightwood institutions; I know firsthand it will offer students opportunities to develop their voices and expression. As a Recorder alum, I’m personally grateful that EMCC can lend a role to this program’s reintroduction to a new generation of students.”
For Shannon Williams, chief operating officer and executive vice president of The Mind Trust, the program’s return also carries personal significance. Williams previously served as a JAWS instructor during her 18-year career at The Recorder, where she held multiple leadership roles, including editor, vice president, and president.
“At The Mind Trust, we believe students deserve experiences that connect learning to real careers and help them explore what’s possible after high school.”
Shannon Williams
“At The Mind Trust, we believe students deserve experiences that connect learning to real careers and help them explore what’s possible after high school,” Williams said. “It’s also meaningful to see the new iteration of JAWS and to know I played a small part in its earlier chapter. I’ve seen how opportunities like this can help young people build confidence, find their voice, and discover possibilities they may not have considered before.”
According to the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, just over half of Indiana high school graduates immediately enroll in college or another form of postsecondary education. Programs like JAWS provide students with early exposure to career pathways and innovative learning, helping them better understand the opportunities available beyond high school.
Since 2018, The Mind Trust has invested more than $2.2 million through its School Community Partnership Investments (SCPIs), supporting collaborations that connect schools with community organizations and resources, including education opportunities that happen outside the classroom.
“Establishing meaningful school and community partnerships is a core aspect of our work that we hold in high regard,” said Lauren I. Peterson, vice president of Community Engagement at The Mind Trust.
Students who complete the summer program will automatically continue into the JAWS Fall Fellowship, which provides ongoing mentorship, professional development and additional reporting opportunities throughout the school year.
“Our students have extraordinary talent, ambition, and potential, and they deserve opportunities to explore the many paths available to them,” said Martha Cortes, chief partnerships officer at KIPP Indy Schools.
Founded in 1895, the Indianapolis Recorder remains one of the nation’s leading Black newspapers. The return of JAWS continues its long-standing commitment to investing in young storytellers and ensuring they have a platform to tell the stories shaping Indianapolis.
