BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — Throughout the school year, two student journalists from Alabama will be part of a special program where they will be mentored by members of one of the most prestigious news organizations in the world.
Jordyn Davis, a student at Samford who works as an intern at Bham Now, and Maven Navarro, editor-in-chief of the Crimson White student newspaper at the University of Alabama, were recently named to the third cohort of The New York Times Corps, where college students who are studying journalism are paired with a mentor at the Times and meet several times a year to discuss projects and receive career guidance.
"Young journalists face many challenges in trying to establish themselves in the industry," a statement from the Times read. "The Times Corps aims to help provide access to quality career guidance to passionate, would-be journalists who otherwise might not have it."
Davis and Navarro are one of 20 undergraduates from across the country who were selected for this year's program. Davis will be paired with Cicely Wedgeworth, a senior staff editor in the newspaper's Washington bureau, while Navarro will be paired with Cassandra Vinograd, a senior editor on the International desk.
One of the NYT mentors who will take part in the program is Metro investigations editor Stephen Merelman, who previously worked at The Alabama Journal, the Montgomery Advertiser, the Mobile Press-Register and The Birmingham News before working his way up to the Times.
Following graduation, participating students will round out the program by visiting the paper's main office in New York City, where they will meet their mentors in person. According to the NYT, some students may gain entry into the Times' one-year fellowship, or may be referred to other news outlets across the country.
“I am beyond thrilled to be joining this highly esteemed corps," Davis told Bham Now last week. "I have a passion for journalism and being able to learn from some of the best in the field is such a blessing. I can’t wait to meet my mentor and learn how to take my journalism career to new heights.”
Navarro has contributed to the CW since 2023, first as a news editor before being named editor-in-chief of the publication by the UA Media Planning Board earlier this year. Navarro previously interned at The Tuscaloosa Thread.
The New York Times Corps started in 2022 and has had nearly 60 students work in the program.