HU Journalism Student Named 2007 Landmark Scholar

Hampton, VA -Hampton University student Aariel Charbonnet, a junior print journalism major in the Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications, has been named a 2007 Landmark Scholar.

Each year, Landmark Communications, Inc., chooses one undergraduate student in the nation to participate in its Landmark Scholars Program, which combines scholarship and internship awards designed to encourage young minority journalists to build careers with Landmark Publishing Group.  As a Landmark Scholar, Charbonnet will receive a $10,000 scholarship, two paid summer internships, and a full-time paid internship for at least one year after graduation.

Charbonnet, a native of New Orleans, La., is a member of the School’s Academy of Writing Excellence (AWE) and was selected by a panel of leading newspaper editors due to her strong writing skills, academic strength and editing abilities.   She competed with a strong pool of applicants from outstanding journalism programs across the country including the University of Maryland, Temple University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

“We were all impressed with her academic record, her interesting life story as told in her essay, her letters of recommendation, and her copy editing test results,” said Ann Morris, managing editor of Landmark’s News & Record in Greensboro, N.C., and coordinator of the program.

Charbonnet will be based at The Roanoke Times, under the direction of managing editor Carole Tarrant.  She will split her time between the copy desk and the reporting staff..

"The fact that Landmark chose Aariel shows that writing skills are key," said Tony Brown, dean of the Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications.  "That’s why I tell students, 'If you can write, you can write your own ticket.' "

Charbonnet is one of several students in the School’s competitive and voluntary AWE program that focuses on significantly strengthening writing skills. The program is under the direction of Will Sutton, former deputy managing editor at The News & Observer in Raleigh-Durham, N.C., and former president of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ.)

Landmark Communications, Inc., is a privately held media company with a diverse group of award-winning publications and media outlets consisting of newspapers, classified publications, television broadcasting, cable programming and online publishing, as well as emerging interests in interactive marketing and broadband services.  Based in Norfolk, Va., Landmark’s businesses employ more than 5,000 people.