Bremen Journalism Students Awarded Press Foundation Grant For New Tech

OAK FOREST, IL — Bremen High School journalism students are one of 16 Illinois programs to be awarded grant money which will go towards expanding the class's technology, a spokeswoman for the high school told Patch.

The money comes from the Illinois High School Journalism Grants Program which is run by the Illinois Press Foundation and sponsored by the Illinois Farm Bureau. According to school officials, Bremen will receive just under $1,500 of the $21,000 total in grants.

"It's so invigorating to see students engaged in journalism and excited about learning the foundational elements of the craft," said Jeff Rogers, director of the Illinois Press Foundation.

The grant checks will be awarded in person once school resumes in September. The journalism program at Bremen is run through a class of about 25 students. Specifically, Bremen plans to use the money to purchase 12 photo and video kits for students to use while reporting around the school.

Other programs plan to use the money to purchase laptops, cameras, podcasting stations and more.

"Journalism is the key to a successful democracy where all communities are represented," said Michael Lynch, media advisor for Bremen's digital media production class. "This grant will allow communities that are underrepresented in the press to be more visible to the world through the power of journalistic storytelling."