Chicago news leaders gather for a journalism workshop at DePaul University on July 15, 2025. The workshop was held for high school students around Chicago. (Aubreonna Chamberlain/DePaul Student Photo Agency)
DePaul Professor Robin Hoecker teaches a workshop during a journalism workshop on July 15, 2025. The students participated in interactive workshops with faculty and news leaders. (Aubreonna Chamberlain/DePaul Student Photo Agency)
Journalist Stephanie Streff speaks in a panel on July 15, 2025. Streff attended the panel, along with fellow journalists, to speak to students. (Aubreonna Chamberlain/DePaul Student Photo Agency)
Award-winning journalist Chuck Goudie leads an interactive workshop with students on July 15, 2025. The students learned how to conduct interviews and pose questions in various scenarios. (Aubreonna Chamberlain/DePaul Student Photo Agency)
Lisa Parker, Chuck Goudie and Carol Marin pose during a journalism workshop on July 15, 2025. The program received help from DePaul faculty, staff, students, alumni, and news organizations. (Aubreonna Chamberlain/DePaul Student Photo Agency)
Sally Ramirez, Vice President of NBC 5 Chicago (WMAQ-TV) and Telemundo Chicago (WSNS-TV), attends the high school journalism workshop on July 15, 2025. Over 20 high school students attended the workshop.(Aubreonna Chamberlain/DePaul Student Photo Agency)
More than 20 high school students learned about interviewing subjects, selecting images, crafting strong story leads, and more at the College of Communication’s first High School J-Days this July. In partnership with the Illinois News Broadcasters Association, the Center for Journalism Integrity and Excellence hosted the two-day program.
In addition to gaining experience in networking and photography, the high school students asked a panel of professional journalists about their careers. The news executives hailed from top organizations in Chicago, including CBS affiliate WBBM-TV, ABC affiliate WLS-TV, WGN-TV, WTTW and Block Club Chicago.
While the professionals are settled into their careers now, they began in much the same place as the high school attendees. Prompted by an eager, future journalist, Sally Ramirez shared that her love for the job trumps all its difficulties. Ramirez is senior vice president of news at NBC-5 and Telemundo. Having been a journalist for over 30 years, her passion is in her work.
Ramirez, a DePaul alumna and recent winner of the Center for Journalism Integrity and Excellence’s Distinguished Alumni Award, says she appreciates the opportunity to reflect on her early career and share the importance of giving back.
“I always love talking to students, so events like this where we have direct one-on-one contact, and they can ask us anything, are really important,” says Ramirez.
Similarly, Shamus Toomey, publisher and a founder of Block Club Chicago, highlights the importance of events like this for students and professionals.
“It’s helpful for the students to see real people that are still doing it,” Toomey says. “And it’s good for us to see what they’re worrying about.”
Toomey recalls a time where he would work on his ledes with a colleague, who had slightly more experience than him. “It’s good for them to know exactly what they’re getting into, and hear it from people who enjoy it,” he says.
The Center for Journalism Integrity and Excellence designed the program to introduce high school students to the journalism program at DePaul and highlight the expertise of faculty, current students and recent alumni.
“We’ve heard from participants that they enjoyed the interactive workshops and the opportunity to make new connections,” says Don Moseley, faculty fellow and cofounder of the Center for Journalism Integrity and Excellence.” We hope they left feeling more prepared for their future careers.”