“I am in absolute awe of them,” McAuliffe says. “Many have overcome things I couldn’t dream of dealing with in order to go to college and pursue their love of journalism.”
His efforts seem to be working. “Reznetters” have gone on to pursue internships at The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Detroit Free Press and the Minneapolis Star Tribune. About 20 graduates so far have been hired at mainstream newspapers, which is significant because, according to the American Society of Newspaper Editors’ 2007 newsroom survey, only about 330 American Indians are currently employed in America’s newsrooms.
Now in its fifth year, Reznet’s stories cover the spectrum, from hard news topics of drugs and corruption on reservations to lifestyle stories about popular Native music.
McAuliffe tells students that they can affect change and solve community problems through journalism.
“I tell them that journalists don’t do solutions; we tell the truth about problems and issues that need to be told,” he says.
Reznet is available online at www.reznetnews.org
– By Mary Annette Pember
© Copyright 2005 by DiverseEducation.com
