Princeton Summer Journalism Program

[Video] What’s Going On: Students Address Issues within Their SchoolsReporters: Jennifer Garcia, Kat Quijada-Polanco, Kayla Ricumstrict, Fatima Rivera GomezEdited by Aleina Dume, Prettystar Lopez, and Ikra IslamPSJP  – Documentary Filmmaking Workshop Summer 2018 (Group 5)As part of the Documentary Filmmaking workshop at the Princeton University Summer Journalism Program, students interviewed each other about the state of students’ mental health at their high school. Through this process, students learned the basics of visual storytelling, interviewing, shooting and editing.The workshop was facilitated by Jonathan Schienberg (Senior Producer with National Geographic Channel) and Kimberly Cionca (SJP ’12). This film was produced by Group 5.

[Video] Mental Health: Students Address Issues in their SchoolsReported by Auhjanae McGee and Emily NavarretePUSJP –– Documentary Filmmaking Workshop 2018 (Group 4B) As part of the Documentary Filmmaking workshop at the Princeton University Summer Journalism Program, students interviewed each other about the state of students’ mental health at their high school. Through this process, students learned the basics of visual storytelling, interviewing, shooting and editing.The workshop was facilitated by Jonathan Schienberg (Senior Producer with National Geographic Channel) and Kimberly Cionca (SJP ’12).

[Video] Test Scores & Stereotypes: Students Address Issues in their SchoolsReported by: Jayda Jones, Oswaldo VazquezPUSJP –– Documentary Filmmaking Workshop 2018 (Group 4A)As part of the Documentary Filmmaking workshop at the Princeton University Summer Journalism Program, students interviewed each other about what they think is wrong with their school. Through this process, students learned the basics of visual storytelling, interviewing, shooting and editing.The workshop was facilitated by Jonathan Schienberg (Senior Producer with National Geographic Channel) and Kimberly Cionca (SJP ’12).

[Video] Inequitable Access: Students Address Issues within their SchoolsReported by: Adi Sandoval, Devontae Jackson, Cristofer Urias, Kendall WilliamsEdited by: Ronell Austin, Jr., Jessica Fan, Lauren Hernandez, and Mauricio VazquezPUSJP –– Documentary Filmmaking Workshop 2018 (Group 2) As part of the Documentary Filmmaking workshop at the Princeton University Summer Journalism Program, students interviewed each other about what they think is wrong with their school. Through this process, students learned the basics of visual storytelling, interviewing, shooting and editing.The workshop was facilitated by Jonathan Schienberg (Senior Producer with National Geographic Channel) and Kimberly Cionca (SJP ’12).

By Christina Maldonado (Gallup, NM) Living as a sixteen-year old in the United States, I have noticed that the current generation of women are less likely to have children. This isn’t just my own observation; it’s a real trend: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have reported that women 30 and older increased their birth rates during the years 1990-2009, while birth rates for women younger than 30 decreased. Meanwhile, according to the Pew Research Center and the National Center for Health Statistics, one measure of fertility reached an all-time low in the United States in 2016.I find some comfort in knowing that I am not the only young adult who is taking this controversial topic into consideration for the future, because women are not obligated to the title of motherhood.This generation of women – unlike the women living before the nineteenth century – have the ability to raise their voice when it comes to deciding what their future looks like. Women in past generations were expected to be nurturing and comforting. They were of interest if they were capable of having children and providing household capabilities to their husband. In today’s society, this generation of women see themselves with more opportunities, so some of them have decided that they do not want to have children – and their choice should not be seen as outrageous. Women, especially young women, should not see themselves as less of a woman if they decide they do not want to start a family early or if they do not want to start a family at all. Society will tell women that they have a “special gift,” which is the process of birthing a child – a human being – but that is not the only thing women have to offer.Morning Consult did a survey for The New York Times, which demonstrated a variety of different reasons why young adults in the United States are having fewer children. Thirteen percent of young adults say their reasoning reflects their own personal view of whether they’d be a good parent. Twenty-three percent of young adults said that they’re prioritizing their education and career. Forty-two percent of young adults say they want more leisure time, 43 percent say they’re waiting for financial stability and 45 percent are worried about the economy. The highest percentage of women – 62 percent – say that having children is too expensive.There are different factors to take into consideration when it comes to women – and families – deciding if they want to start a family. A woman close to my age, Jessica Boer, 23, told The New York Times, “My parents got married right out of high school and had me and they were miserable. Now we know we have a choice.”Children require a safe home, healthy food and attention. Having a child will mean supporting another human being, which requires money that many young women do not have. Brittany Butler, 22, is a first generation grad student, and in the fall she will graduate with a degree in social work. A big priority for parenthood is a safe community, so Butler said that it would take her about 10 years to consider having children, because by then, the poor circumstances in her neighborhood should be fixed. Butler told The New York Times that the idea of having children later in her life makes her “a little nervous,” because it would be tougher to have a pregnancy, but her priority is to pay off her student loans and to live in a safe neighborhood. Young adults are cautious about the reality of how they are going to survive in the world. They cannot survive without money, which bring groceries, homes and vehicles.Freezing eggs allows women to have a safety net in case they change their mind about motherhood. According to Business Insider, large tech companies – such as Google, Apple and Facebook – offer their female employees oocyte cryopreservation; this benefits young women who may not want to give birth in their twenties, but who decide to have children in their thirties. (Of course, freezing eggs is quite expensive – it can cost $12,000 – and it does not always result in having children.)Whether delaying motherhood until their thirties or simply choosing not to have children, young women should not face pressure from society to be mothers. There are a variety of things women can achieve in this society and motherhood is only one of them. Young women have the ability to advance their education, to travel and to thrive in a career they’re passionate about. Women should not be discouraged for the choices they make. Instead, they should be able to craft their own futures.

By Oswaldo Vazquez (Los Angeles, CA) and Matea Toolie (Savoonga, AK) A crowded night in Princeton, N.J. served as the perfect setting to gather diverse perspectives on one the most talked-about Americans today: President Donald Trump. On August 3, reporters from the “Princeton Summer Journal” asked Princeton residents to name one positive and one negative thing about the president. Some were enthusiastic to give their thoughts, others were uninterested — and their opinions varied.“Trump is ruining the country. He is an embarrassment,” said Chris Michie when asked his views about the president. Michie, a middle-aged Democrat, thinks that the president’s current policies are “destroying decades of hard work from his predecessors. … He has no respect for the people and is a liar.” When asked if he could identify a positive aspect of Trump, he answered with an emphatic, “no!”Cornelia O’Grady, a former Republican who no longer supports any party, said she did not quite like Trump, but she appreciated his ability to unite people. She said that Trump “is bringing people together — the people who would not normally be together. He unifies the middle.” She is concerned, however, about the president’s financial conflicts and the corruption in his administration. “He is making money off this country,” she said. “There is evidence that he is selling us out to the Russians. An example of that would be the cyber attacks” on Democrats. It wasn’t just Americans who had opinions about the president. “He is brave for being a 70-year-old man. Probably one thing I like,” said Cici Zhan, who was visiting from China.     Perplexed, indifferent or annoyed by the journalists’ questions — or perhaps a combination of all three — a man named Rene Saiguro said frankly: “I don’t know about the politics today. I don’t think anything of it.” As soon as the interview was done, Saiguro was off on his way.Rob and Kristen Holly, two registered Republicans, had positive things to say about Trump. Both commented on the “brave and fearless speeches” the president has given to the public since the start of his political campaign. The couple still had some concerns. “I wish he was not socially awkward. I would like to see a more eloquent president,” said Rob Holly.The Hollys ultimately agreed that Trump still has a long way to go to become the “ideal president,” further criticizing his colleagues in the White House who don’t have the political experience to run the country properly.

[Video] Institutional Priorities: Students Address Issues within their SchoolsTammie Clark, Emiliano Davalos, Matea Toolie, Ngan ChiemPUSJP –– Documentary Filmmaking Workshop 2018 (Group 3) As part of the Documentary Filmmaking workshop at the Princeton University Summer Journalism Program, students interviewed each other about what they think is wrong with their school. Through this process, students learned the basics of visual storytelling, interviewing, shooting and editing.

[Video] Misplaced Investments: Students Address Issues in their SchoolsReported by: Daniela Vivas Labrador, Magda Abdi, Fernando Cienfuegos, Christina Maldonado, Anahi SotoEdited by: Myrna Moreno, Ryan MorilloPUSJP— Documentary Filmmaking Workshop 2018 (Group 1)As part of the Documentary Filmmaking workshop at the Princeton University Summer Journalism Program, students interviewed each other about what needed to change at their high schools. Through this process students learned the basics of visual storytelling, interviewing, shooting and editing.The workshop was facilitated by Jonathan Schienberg (Senior Producer with National Geographic Channel) and Kimberly Cionca (SJP ’12).

By Zahrea Smith (Dudley, NC) President Trump is arguably one of the most controversial presidents ever in the history of the United States. From his racist and sexist remarks to his wholehearted bashing of other countries and their leaders, the flamboyant man has given many Americans reason to loathe him. In Princeton, New Jersey, on a recent Friday night, residents sounded off on the divisive commander in chief.Debbie Bronfeld, who’s lived in Princeton for 20 years, said there’s “nothing” she likes about President Trump. A sweet middle-aged woman, Bronfeld has marched in D.C. for the past two years and plans to do so again. She is a registered Democrat who voted for Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election. Bronfeld said she is not fond of the way he “puts bad people in office,” like Scott Pruitt, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency. Trump, she said, “put someone in charge of global climate who wants to drill oil.” Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, meanwhile, “has no prior experience of being an educator.”Bronfeld also doesn’t like how hostile Trump can be. She said that he’s “mean to people” and detests how he’s “fighting with our neighbors” Canada and Mexico. The president’s “fake news,” she yelled, is “embarrassing!”Unlike Bronfeld, there is one thing about Trump that Michael Lichtman, 57, finds commendable. Lichtman, who’s from Long Island, New York, is also a registered Democrat who voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016. “He’s willing to talk to any world leader,” Lichtman said. He noted Trump’s recent meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. But he does not see Trump as a good leader for the country. “He’s a narcissist,” Lichtman said. “That’s no way to lead.”

By Lauren Hernandez (Palm Harbor, FL)The smell of burnt coffee permeates the air. The walls are charmingly mismatched – one is light blue, the other is mint green – adding to the bohemian vibe of the shop. A line of customers wraps around one wall, snaking outside onto Witherspoon Street. Guests sip on their beverages while working or chatting with friends.On a scorching Monday afternoon in Princeton, New Jersey, people are getting their caffeine fix at Small World Coffee. The independent coffee shop is one of the first places residents recommend in this affluent college town bustling with locals and tourists. They prioritize the friendly atmosphere. The feeling of being a part of something bigger has been “a part of Small World culture since the beginning,” says general manager Vincent Jule, 39, who got his start as a barista more than 17 years ago. One of Small World’s unusual, charming traditions is the drink-calling system in which baristas tell each other the order, rather than writing it on a cup or ticket. This ensures each customer gets what they want and it doesn’t feel like a transaction – fostering a more connected environment.Additionally, Small World donates to local charities by designing t-shirts for a blood drive, helping to raise money, auctioning gift cards, and donating their products. They believe in giving back to the community and started an inclusive tradition, called “Small World Around the World,” in which customers take pictures in Small World shirts across the globe and get the incentive of a free coffee.Local customer, Rick Flagg, 56, says he keeps coming to Small World because of the “great environment and lots of energy.” He says that it is one of his favorite places to work, and in comparison with other shops it has a “great university setting and staff.”Patrick Caldwell, 32, of Washington, D.C., visits small local coffee shops because he thinks chains like Starbucks are generic. He likes Small World Coffee because it is “lively and fun and has a positive energy.”Small World’s welcoming, friendly and community-centered environment leaves an impact on those who visit. Alexis Lucena, 34, a barista, describes Small World as “fun and fast paced,” which creates a team family dynamic. To her, “Small World is literal – we have more in common than we think.”

This story was reported by the staff of The Princeton Summer Journal and written by Fernando Cienfuegos, Jayda Jones, and Evelyn Moradian. There is a 7-Eleven located on a busy commercial thoroughfare in New Brunswick, next to a dollar store and across the street from a pub. Near the 32-ounce Slurpees and over-warmed pizza is […]

By Delia Batdorff Madison, TN Anthony Pappas is in his natural environment: in front of a whiteboard with a dry-erase marker in his right hand, his name and title written behind him. Pappas, an economics professor at St. John’s College in Queens, New York, doesn’t allow a valuable second to slip by: He immediately begins […]

By Fatima Rivera Gomez McFarland, CA When Anthony Pappas, the Republican candidate for Congress in New York’s 14th congressional district, appeared at a press conference at Fordham University on Wednesday, journalists initially spoke over him because they did not realize he was the candidate they were waiting for. Pappas is running against Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who […]

By Aleina Dume Richmond Hill, NY When I first heard about Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the Democratic candidate for New York’s 14th Congressional District, I was excited. She has advocated for issues I care about, like abolishing the federal Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agency, reforming the prison system, and providing tuition-free public college nationwide. Like me, Ocasio-Cortez […]

By Ngan Chiem Pennsauken, NJ  Special Counsel Robert Mueller has been preparing for the Russia investigation for more than 50 years. Mueller is currently investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election, including possible collusion by President Donald Trump’s campaign, but 52 years ago, when Mueller was an undergraduate at Princeton, he was fixated on another […]

By Prettystar Lopez Bronx, NY  During his final year at Princeton University, in 1966, Robert Mueller wrote a senior thesis about the role of the law in a dramatic international crisis. Half a century later, as Special Counsel for the Russia investigation, Mueller finds himself at the center of another complex legal fight, fraught with […]

By Cristofer Urías New Brunswick, NJ Daryl Kipnis, a Republican candidate for Congress in New Jersey’s 12th district, promised earlier this month to welcome immigrant families to a better life in the United States while also securing the border. Kipnis, who is challenging Democratic Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, said in a press conference that he […]

By Tammie Clark Detroit, MI New Jersey Republican congressional candidate Daryl Kipnis is “open to anything” to help people who are in need. In his race in the 12th Congressional District, a Democratic stronghold, he’s emphasizing his moderate platform in an effort to appeal to both liberal and conservative voters. Kipnis said in a news […]

By Kayla Ricumstrict Detroit, MI Though journalists are facing higher levels of mistrust and physical intimidation, two journalists say their work feels more important than ever. In talks at The Princeton Summer Journalism Program, Gabriel Debenedetti of New York Magazine and Megan Garber of The Atlantic spoke to a small group of student journalists about […]

By Raho Faraha San Jose, CA You have married an Icarus,” sings Phillipa Soo broken-heartedly in the hit Broadway musical ‘Hamilton.’ Soo plays Alexander Hamilton’s wife, Eliza, who is devastated after finding out her husband had an affair with another woman. She continues:  “He has flown too close to the sun.” This show is known […]