Meet the Staff
Meet the people behind the 5 Rights bylines:
Name: Brooklyn Miller
School: North Central High School, Senior
Staff Position: Anchor
Interned at: WISHTV8
Brooklyn says: “IABJ has opened my eyes to all the different fields that journalism has to offer. I’m very grateful for this opportunity.”
Name: Cayla Wood Phommarath
School: Warren Central High School, Senior
Staff Position: Reporter
Interned at: WRTV6
Cayla says: “IABJ is such an amazing program! I’m so grateful for being in the program this year. IABJ has opened my small brown eyes, I’m going to miss being with everyone.”
Name: Kenya Gaines
School: Thea Bowman Leadership Academy, Senior
Staff Position: Reporter
Interned at: The Indianapolis Star
Kenya says: “Coming to IABJ without any experience made me feel unworthy of being there. Once I was accepted as me and was allowed to learn, I felt on top of the world.”
Name: Roth Lovins
School: Columbus North High School, Senior
Staff Position: Reporter
Interned at: The Indianapolis Star
Roth says: “All of my experiences before IABJ never got me as involved in the field of journalism. I loved that this program dropped me right into the field and taught me hands-on skills in the field. It was also great to have my work actually published by a big time newspaper while here. I will never forget this experience.”
Name: Beatriz Costa-Lima
School: University of Missouri, Freshman
Staff Position: Managing Editor
Interned at: The Indianapolis Star
Beatriz says: “I’ve never been to such an interactive and exciting workshop. The best way to learn is by actually doing, and that is exactly what we did. I experienced what a real reporter’s day is like. I know without a doubt in my mind that this is the career for me!”
Name: Brelyn Jefferson
School: Pike High School, Junior
Staff Position: Reporter
Interned at: The Indianapolis Star
Brelyn says: “This is the best educational experience I have ever been exposed to. I am very grateful for the opportunity to use so many amazing people as my resources. It was very interesting to get to see how great newsrooms worked. This has truly been a once in a lifetime experience.”
Name: Deja Bullock
School: Warren Central High School, Senior
Staff Position: Radio News Reporter
Interned at: WIBC
Deja says: “This workshop has forever changed my life. I will always be grateful to everyone who contributed in IABJ. I see the world completely differently. I will never be average.”
Name: Jordyn Didier
School: Fishers High School, Senior
Staff Position: Public Relations
Interned at: Borshoff Public Relations
Jordyn says: “This workshop has really been so helpful and I have learned so much from it. I am so glad I took the opportunity to come here because it gave me an experience I could never get in a classroom.”
Name: Ridley Morgan
School: Columbia College Chicago, Freshman
Staff Position: Public Relations
Interned at: WTHR
Ridley says: “Being here for the past two years has done more than served as an eye opening experience, it has served as a learning experience. The people with whom we are so fortunate to be associated with have done nothing short of altering my perspective.”
Name: J.J. Newton
School: University of Kentucky, Freshman
Staff Position: Public Relations
Interned at: Indiana Black Expo
J.J. says: “If you’re willing to learn, then the workshop is the place for you.”
Name: Mikey Shepard
School: Irvington Preperatory Academy, Senior
Staff Position: Reporter
Interned at: The Indianapolis Star
Mikey says: “Always be open to do anything and try everything- that’s the only way to gain experience.”
Name: Leah Johnson
School: Indiana University, Freshman
Staff Position: Editor-in-Chief
Interned at: WTHR
Leah says: “I’ve always been under the impression that lightening doesn’t strike twice- but in returning to the IABJ Multimedia Workshop, I now know that is not always true. Being a part of this workshop has given me an invaluable opportunity to jump directly into the field and truly understand what it is I want to do. IABJ has introduced me to so many talented and inspiring people that I could never forget this experience. Journalism is what I’ll do for the remainder of my life, and that in large part is due to IABJ.”
Name: Braylon Myers
Brenda says: “Being a journalist means hard work, dedication and a positive attitude. This week has taught me so much about the field of journalism and I won’t forget this experience. IABJ pushed me one step closer into the world of broadcast.”
Name: David Schiele
School: Hamilton Southeastern High School, Junior
Staff Position: Anchor/Executive Producer
Interned at: WISHTV
David says: “Journalists who read succeed.”
Name: Katie Kutsko
School: University of Kansas, Freshman
Staff Position: Reporter
Interned at: WTHR
