DACC awarded $77,000 to boost local journalism education

Grant will fund student news outlets, expand courses and offer public workshops on media skills

Organ Mountain News report

LAS CRUCES - Doña Ana Community College has been awarded a two-year, $77,000 grant to strengthen journalism education and skills in the community.

The Community News Transformation grant is part of a two-year learning cohort aimed at improving journalism at community colleges. DACC will use the funding to expand opportunities for students and host free public workshops on journalism skills and knowledge.

The grant comes from the Journalism + Design Lab and the New Mexico Local News Fund. DACC is one of four community colleges in the state to receive the award.

College officials plan to use the funds to provide news internships for qualified students and build on existing journalism courses. The grant will also fund a student-run news show and a digital newspaper, both covering underrepresented areas in the community.

Additional funding will support journalism workshops for the public, covering topics such as the proper use of drones, media law and other areas of interest.

For more information on the grant, visit the New Mexico Local News Fund’s Community College Grant Program page.