Creating an Informed Citizenry
Concerned for future of journalism
Spotlight on a new 2022 scholarship
Arlene Bryant is a 40-year resident of Woodinville. She hails from Connecticut, holds a masters degree in communications from Columbia University, spent time in India with the Peace Corps and is concerned for the future of journalism.
That concern led her to reach out to encourage a Northshore graduating senior whose interest is the field of journalism. After meeting with the Foundation, she launched what became the eighth new scholarship offered in 2022 — the $5,000 Bryant Journalism Scholarship. Here Arlene writes what inspired her!
“As a journalist, I’ve worked for a wide range of publications, from small community weeklies (like the former Northshore Citizen) to small town dailies and major metros, including 25 years with The Seattle Times.
”Throughout those many years I’ve seen the impact good journalism can have. Whether it’s big investigative projects on regional concerns or short features on the good stuff local citizens or groups are doing, these stories make a difference. They help readers understand what’s going on — nationally, worldwide and close to home. They explain, inform, uncover. They provide a vehicle for the reader’s own voice to be heard. They help build a sense of community.
“And, yes, sometimes journalists make mistakes or fail to give a story the critical attention it deserves. But even with their flaws, newspapers are a vital part of creating an informed citizenry. And without informed citizens, our democracy is on very shaky ground.
“We all know the newspaper industry is undergoing big changes and facing huge challenges. Hundreds of papers have closed and many more are struggling to stay alive, including our own Woodinville Weekly. A successful transition to a viable online model is no sure thing for any paper. They need time and help.
“The scholarship is one small way to encourage our own young people to develop their talent and interest in a field that sorely needs them, whether that interest lies in newspapers, magazines, TV, online or any other media.
”Bottom line, I’m concerned about the future of journalism and how that future will affect our country as a whole. I also care very much about the Northshore community, my home for the past nearly 40 years. Its citizens, like those everywhere, need to be well informed if they are to make good decisions about their community’s future.
”I’m grateful to the Scholarship Foundation of Northshore for the great work they do, and for making the setup process so easy for donors like me.”
Scholarship applicants are asked what “service to others” means to them. In this newsletter series we will report excerpts of their responses.
Elias - “my favorite thing was cleaning up the Yakima River. I am a very avid fly fisherman and my favorite river in the entire world is the Yakima. Last summer my friends and I thought it would be a great idea to go clean up the river.”
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