OneNation Media Academy Combines Media Literacy with Cultural Exchange

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA -– Students participating in Journalism & Technology Academy finished the week-long program by engaging in a day of learning and cross-cultural exchange with a group of students visiting from Beijing Jiaotong University. The students are visiting the United States as part of an international learning experience coordinated by Educational Resource Development Trust, a nonprofit organization that partners with universities in China to allow students and teachers to travel to the U.S. where they can experience American culture. Journalism students conducted one-on-one media interviews with the students visiting from China. Both groups of students discussed their views on a wide range of topics, including education, entertainment, fashion and travel.

“This learning experience is just one of the many highlights of our program,” said Sheri Stuart, executive director of OneNation Media Services. “This activity is in line with our goal to broaden students’ perspectives about the world in which we live,” said Stuart.

Journalism & Technology Academy is an annual summer program open to middle and high school students in the Inland Empire. The program is sponsored by Transcendence, a local nonprofit organization that provides financial support to other community-based organizations with similar objectives. In addition, Chaffey College provided a computer lab at its Fontana Campus where students were able to conduct online research and complete their written projects while class was in session. The program was held July 23 – July 27 in Fontana. Guest speakers included Keith Hosea, executive director for Transcendence; Naomi Bowman-Bonman, staff writer for Inland Valley News; Terry Boykins, president and CEO of Street Positive®; and Carlos Ocegueda, a certified professional photographer who led a hands-on training session on important photography elements such as lighting, shadowing, composition, highlights and exposure.

Journalism &Technology Academy is designed to promote media literacy and includes modules on newspaper writing, media ethics and Internet safety. Participating students are groomed to become staff writers for Face 2 Face, a bi-monthly magazine published by OneNation Media Services. Students participating in this summer’s program will be featured in the September/October edition of Face 2 Face.

About OneNation Media Services, Inc.
OneNation Media Services is a 501(c)(3) California nonprofit corporation dedicated to producing and distributing educational and inspirational media content to youth and adults. The organization is the publisher of Face 2 Face, a bi-monthly magazine written by and about youth residing in Southern California’s Inland communities. For more information, visit www.onenationmedia.org or call (90)9)657.0578.