WFSU Mentors and Trains FAMU’s Jazzmin Sutherland as a Community Newsroom Partner
The Florida A&M University School of Journalism & Graphic Communication (FAMU SJGC) was announced this month as one of five college and university partners selected to join Report for America’s new collegiate paid summer internship program. The program is also run in partnership with local community newsrooms.
The 10-week program helps ensure rising journalists leave college with résumés that include professional newsroom experience by placing them in local newsrooms, and providing them with access to hands-on training, mentorship, and financial support.
The aim of the program is to prepare emerging journalists to acquire a full-time reporting job, building upon Report for America’s nationally renowned reputation for developing early-career journalists through its unique training and resources that have prepared hundreds of successful journalists nationwide.
WFSU Public Media in Tallahassee is among the program’s community newsroom partners and is hosting Jazzmin Sutherland, a FAMU SJGC senior broadcast journalism scholar, chosen by Report for America for this year’s five-member cohort.
WFSU serves North Florida and South Georgia and is an affiliate of PBS and NPR, providing multifaceted content that enriches the community through local culture, ecology, education, history, the arts, and news, all with a focus on the region.
As a program participant, Sutherland will produce multiple stories for WFSU’s news team weekly. She and her cohort members will each earn an $8,000 scholarship (75% funded by Report for America and 25% funded by their local newsroom host).
“The Report for America Local News Internship is an invaluable opportunity for our scholars to gain hands-on experience in a real newsroom environment,” said FAMU SJGC Dean Mira Lowe. “This program not only supports students in honing the skills needed to excel in journalism but also instills the value of community-focused reporting that is essential to the field. We are excited to be an academic partner this year.”
Sutherland says she is already benefiting from the value of being a part of Report for America and WFSU’s support systems.
“Being selected as a news intern with WFSU through Report for America is a milestone I’m incredibly proud of,” Sutherland said. “Working under the guidance of SJGC alumna and WFSU Director of Content Lynn Hatter, someone whose work I deeply admire, has been a true honor. Having the opportunity to learn from her one-on-one and talk about my future in journalism has been one of the most rewarding, hands-on experiences I could’ve asked for. My editor, Interim News Director Regan McCarthy, keeps challenging me with meaningful assignments, helping me grow with every story I report.”
Sutherland said her selection to the Report for America program would not be possible without the foundation she’s received as a FAMU SJGC student.
“It means a lot to know that the hard work I’ve put in at FAMU is being recognized,” she said. “I’m especially grateful for the continued support from Professor and Internship Coordinator Ranata Hughes, Professor and Division of Journalism Director William Jiles, and WANM-FM 90.5 Director Terrence Ward. They’ve given me the confidence to represent FAMU with pride. Thank you to the faculty and staff of SJGC. In countless ways, each of them has played a role in shaping me into the journalist I’m becoming.”
Sharing her goals for this summer’s opportunity, Sutherland, who has already published and filed several stories at WFSU, which can be found here, added, “By the end of this 10-week journey, I plan to walk away with a diverse portfolio and the professional connections that will help launch my post-graduation career. From the moment I accepted this internship, I made a promise to give it my all, and I intend to leave stronger, sharper and more prepared than ever.”
According to Earl Johnson, vice president of recruitment and alumni relations at Report for America, the experience Sutherland is planning for represents the heart of the program.
“As an organization dedicated to strengthening the journalism pipeline, we realize it is critical to support emerging and early-career journalists by helping them bridge the gap between the classroom and newsroom,” Johnson said. “Allowing them to apply what they’ve learned and build a body of published work is crucial for job applications and future opportunities. This internship experience will also introduce students to industry professionals, mentors and job opportunities.”
Other participating collegiate partners include California State University, Los Angeles; Howard University; the University of Texas at Austin; and Wayne State University.
In addition to WFSU, community newsroom partners include The LA Public Press, The Baltimore Beat, The Austin American-Statesman, and Bridge Detroit.
With more than 87% of its 2024 program alumni continuing to work in the field, Report for America has created a nationally revered pipeline for recruiting, developing, and sustaining a diverse group of trusted, talented and ethical reporters.
An initiative of The GroundTruth Project, Report for America provides individuals with the information they need to improve their communities, hold powerful institutions accountable and restore trust in the media.
Learn more about the internship program and read Report for America’s full announcement here: https://www.reportforamerica.org/2025/06/03/report-for-america-welcomes-summer-intern-cohort-to-help-prepare-rising-journalists-for-the-newsroom/
