The Reynolds High School Journalism Institute’s four directors help shape the program and guide participants in their learning each summer. Under the leadership of Steve Elliott, Candace Perkins Bowen, Roger Gafke and George Sylvie, participants receive invaluable instruction and networking opportunities that transform their careers. Many participants continue the professional relationships they establish with each of the directors and other participants after they return to their schools.

Teachers may apply for any location that fits their schedule. There is no cost to the teacher to attend. The selection committees will choose 35 participants for each Institute:

Arizona State University: June 21-27
Kent State University: July 12-18
University of Missouri: July 19-25
University of Texas at Austin: July 12-18

Keep reading to learn more about each of the Institute’s directors and why they say teachers should apply!

Steve Elliott, a professor at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University, created the Cronkite News Service, a statewide newswire service offering content produced by students. He also worked for the Associated Press for 19 years, during which he worked as a reporter, newsroom manager, bureau chief and business executive. A native of Phoenix, Steve has worked in Honolulu, New York, Milwaukee and San Francisco.

Candace Perkins Bowen is an associate professor and the director of the Center for Scholastic Journalism at Kent State University. She also directs the Ohio Scholastic Media Association. A former high school journalism teacher, Bowen is on the board of the Journalism Education Association and the steering committee of the Student Press Law Center Advisory Council. She formerly held positions as the president of JEA and the head of the scholastic journalism division of AEJMC.

Roger Gafke is the director of program development for the Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute and a professor emeritus at the Missouri School of Journalism. Gafke has worked as a radio news director, newspaper city editor, public information officer for the U.S. Air Force and political-science instructor. He joined the faculty of the journalism school in 1968. He is especially well versed in creating and implementing digital tools for training and educational purposes in journalism and public relations.

George Sylvie is a professor at the School of Journalism at the University of Texas at Austin. Sylvie focuses on innovation, change and decision-making in newspapers, as well as ethics, management, economics and diversity in newsrooms. He has written three books: Newsroom Decision-Making: Under New Management; Media Management: A Casebook Approach; and Time, Change, and the American Newspaper. He also sits on the board of several academic journals. Before becoming a professor, he worked as a professional journalist and editor in Louisiana.

Why teachers should apply

“The Reynolds Institute is unmatched professional development combining instruction on the fundamentals of multimedia journalism and the role of a free press with lots of application through the Web and social media.” (Steve Elliott)

“There’s no better place to get hands-on training while still learning the legal and ethical baseline for teaching high school journalism and advising student media.” (Candace Perkins Bowen)

“At the workshop, you’ll build your confidence and your inventory of ideas, techniques and tools that enable your students to produce a first-rate journalism program that benefits the entire school community.” (Roger Gafke)

“Teachers should apply because the Institute provides a sense of accomplishment and walking, hands-on knowledge about what journalism should be.” (George Sylvie)

Why the directors love the Institute

“Educators leave … more confident not just in their ability to teach journalism but to practice journalism. They also leave with connections to fellow teachers that pay dividends for years.” (Steve Elliott)

“ASNE fellows have such a passion for what they’re doing and want so much to improve so they can help their students. That makes me and my staff want to work even harder to help them achieve.” (Candace Perkins Bowen)

“Advisers are life-changers. In the case of the journalism adviser, that impact extends well beyond the journalism staff because strong journalism helps build strong communities. I love seeing how the workshop participants plan to make that happen in their schools.” (Roger Gafke)

“Reading and discussing is fun, but it all boils down to that sense of honesty, integrity and hard work you get toward the end plus the knowledge that you not only can teach, you can do, too. And I enjoy seeing that satisfaction replace the worry, tentativeness and self-doubt that was on the teacher’s face before we started.” (George Sylvie)

The Reynolds High School Journalism Institute is the premiere workshop for journalism educators and advisers. Administered by the American Society of News Editors’ Youth Journalism Initiative, the Institute offers instruction and hands-on experience alongside scholastic-journalism experts. Since its inception in 2001, the Institute has trained more than 2,200 teachers.

Click here to apply to the Reynolds High School Journalism Institute.