UGA Journalism Student Awarded Internship Funded by Scripps Howard Foundation

Janelle Ward, a rising senior at the University of Georgia, will intern this summer with the Athens Banner-Herald as part of a program funded by the Scripps Howard Foundation.

The internship will be administered by the James M. Cox Jr. Institute for Journalism Innovation, Management and Leadership at the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication.

“I am truly honored and humbled to have been selected for this reputable internship and am elated to spend this summer improving my craft in the Athens Banner-Herald newsroom,” Ward said. “I’m thankful to the Scripps Howard Foundation, the Banner-Herald, the Cox Institute and my professors and mentors at Grady College for making all of this possible.”

Ward, who is pursuing dual undergraduate degrees in journalism and history, is expected to graduate in May 2022. She has worked as a reporter for The Red & Black producing general news and stories on topics including business and the arts. Her role in the spring 2021 semester as the independent student newspaper’s race reporter included event coverage and historical pieces. She has also served as the newspaper’s calendar editor. Ward was also the Charlayne Hunter-Gault intern at Chess and Community where she created material for the non-profit organization’s website and newsletter.

Caitlyn Stroh-Page, editor of the Athens Banner-Herald, said the newspaper is honored to host Ward this summer as part of the Cox Institute’s Journalism Innovation Lab program.

“Her storytelling, enhanced by her skills and passion, will no doubt be a service to the community,” said Stroh-Page.

The Scripps Howard Foundation’s sponsorship of the internship continues a relationship began last year when the foundation provided seed funding for the Cox Institute to relaunch and expand the college’s Covering Poverty initiative, which is also part of the Journalism Innovation Lab.

Keith Herndon, director of the Cox Institute, said Ward’s internship is another example of how the Journalism Innovation Lab works with industry partners to provide students with experiential learning opportunities.  He said more students will work in the lab this fall under the direction of Lori Johnston, a journalism lecturer. Their work will be published in the Athens Banner-Herald and OnlineAthens.com as part of the Covering Poverty project.

Stroh-Page said the newspaper is committed to providing training opportunities for student journalists through the Covering Poverty initiative.

“We hope to tackle some of the important issues facing the Athens area through a continuing partnership with the bright students and UGA faculty at the Cox Institute,” Stroh-Page said.