WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Chronicle of Higher Education is pleased to announce that this year’s winner of Scholarship for Diversity in Media is Jasper Smith, a senior journalism student at Howard University in Washington, D.C. Smith currently serves as the editor-in-chief of The Hilltop, the student newspaper of Howard University and the nation’s oldest Black collegiate newspaper. In addition, she currently is a digital media intern with The Arizona Republic and an HBCU Student Journalism Network Fellow.
The Diversity in Media award, given to an exceptional undergraduate or graduate student pursuing a concentration in journalism, includes a $10,000 scholarship and admission to The Chronicle’s Fall 2023 Workshop Program for Aspiring Journalists.
“I was beyond elated to learn that I was selected as the recipient of the 2023 Diversity in Media Scholarship,” said Smith. “Thanks to The Chronicle, I will be graduating from Howard University debt-free this spring!”
“As a young Black woman, it is so important to feel supported in this industry. It is an even better feeling when publications are equally as committed to creating spaces for journalists of color to thrive,” she continued. “Winning this scholarship allows me to focus more on my journalism, leading my school’s newspaper, and getting one step closer to obtaining my degree without the burden of financial hardship and tuition costs. Not only am I even more excited for my future, but I am greatly motivated to finish my last year at Howard University as strong as ever.”
The scholarship is part of The Chronicle’s commitment to helping foster the next generation of journalists and bringing more diverse voices into the industry. It is an effort to ensure that diversity is a critical part of journalism excellence, now and in the generations to come.
“We couldn’t be more delighted to award this scholarship to Jasper Smith, a senior at the historic Howard University,” said Ray Farmer, Lead of the DEI Council at The Chronicle. “She exemplifies every quality the Diversity in Media scholarship was designed to bring into the industry – curiosity, intelligence, integrity, and creativity. It’s wonderful that Jasper has chosen to pursue a career in journalism. She undoubtedly has a stellar career ahead of her and The Chronicle is happy to be able recognize Jasper as part of our ongoing mission to bring opportunities to the next generation of journalists.”
To qualify for the scholarship, applicants had to be undergraduate or graduate students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI), Minority-Serving Institutions (MSI), or international students. They are required to be pursuing a concentration in journalism or a related field.
Scholarship applicants submitted their resumés, a 500-700-word essay describing their personal journeys to pursuing higher education, and three work samples of reporting projects. Finalists were selected and interviewed by the scholarship committee. Smith was chosen from a pool of 200 applicants.
The Chronicle of Higher Education, founded in 1966, is a privately owned, independent news and information organization. Every month, The Chronicle provides more than 1.5 million professionals across higher education the right information to make the best decisions for their students, their institutions, and their careers. For more than five decades, The Chronicle has been the unrivaled leader in higher-ed journalism, providing award-winning news and information, deep insights, and opportunities for professional growth to those who shape colleges and universities. It is owned by The Chronicle of Higher Education Inc., which publishes The Chronicle of Higher Education, Arts & Letters Daily, and The Chronicle Review.
