WASHINGTON – Two Howard University students – Jada Ingleton and Jasper Smith – have been named as fellows of the 2024 HBCU Media Collective, a program led by Dow Jones and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. 

Ingleton and Smith are joining six other HBCU students selected by their deans and faculty members to participate in the program, which will run from May 29 through June 12. As a part of the program, participants will receive newsroom training conducted by The Wall Street Journal and work alongside experienced journalists at Dow Jones’s MarketWatch and Barron’s newsrooms. Fellows will also enroll in graduate-level courses at Columbia University. 

Now in its second year, the program, which was developed to enhance newsroom diversity and promote financial literacy for participating students, is adding an international component to help fellows gain greater awareness of global opportunities. As part of this year's extended program, students will also spend five days in London, gaining invaluable exposure to News Corp. assets such as Virgin Radio, talkSPORT, The Fifth, The Sun, and The Times. 

Ingleton, a senior journalism major with a minor in psychology from Pembroke Pines, Florida, finds her passion and foundation for journalism rooted in a deep connection with creative writing and editing. She has served as an editorial intern for Legacy Magazine and is a copy-editing intern for The Washington Informer. She also works as a writer for the Howard University News Service. Following graduation in May, Ingleton will stay in the DC area on fellowship with opportunities to freelance.  

Ingleton is excited to be among the best and brightest journalists and expand her skillset.  

“I am looking forward to making connections with professors and the people around us while learning so much about journalism and really seizing this opportunity,” Ingleton said, adding that the program will help expand her skillset while delving deeper into business reporting. 

Smith, a senior journalism major with a minor in sociology from Phoenix, Arizona, is thrilled to be part of the fellowship. Smith, who will end two years as Editor-in-Chief of The Hilltop at the conclusion of this academic year, is no stranger to the field of journalism. She completed an internship with The Arizona Republic last summer and has accepted an offer to work as a reporter with The Washington Post following graduation in May. Smith looks forward to learning more about the craft of journalism from the well-respected industry leaders with whom she will come into contact. 

“This is such a great opportunity as an emerging journalist,” Smith said, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to have professional journalists pour into her and meet other emerging reporters. “I can’t wait to delve more into my interests of business and higher education reporting.” 

Gracie Lawson-Borders, Ph.D., dean of the Cathy Hughes School of Communications, said Ingleton and Smith are wonderful examples of the caliber of students the school trains for careers in journalism.  

“The Cathy Hughes School of Communications is pleased that two of our talented students, Jasper Smith and Jada Ingleton, will be part of the HBCU Media Collective,” Lawson-Borders said. “Excellence is our expectation, and these two exemplify this goal.”