Capturing Democracy: Miami Montage delves into the candidates and campaign issues of 2024

By Sophia Pinto and Carlos Soto-Angulo

Doral Academy Preparatory School and Christopher Columbus High School/ Montage

Valeria Hernandez, 17, a senior at Coral Reef Senior High School, walked into the University of Miami as an editor for her high school newspaper but will complete the Miami Montage program three weeks later as a budding multimedia journalist.

“I feel that this workshop has really helped me to get out of my comfort zone, which is something you have to do when you’re an actual journalist,” Hernandez said. “I’m not the type of person to make phone calls or reach out to people, and that’s just one thing that this program has had me do.”

Miami Montage, established in 1984, is formally known as the Peace Sullivan/James Ansin High School Workshop in Journalism and New Media. This year, the program invited 20 student journalists from 16 South Florida schools to the Coral Gables campus, where they honed their skills in writing, reporting, photography and video production.

Montage gives students a taste of college life. They get to sleep in the Pearson Residential Colleges, eat in the dining hall and get classroom experience with University School of Communication professors.

“This exposes high school students to a college experience as well as a professional environment,” said Trevor Green, one of the program’s co-directors, who is also the graduate program director of journalism and a senior lecturer of journalism. “So, it gives them a taste of what the future could be if they wanted to pursue this for a professional college degree or as a professional career.”

Elayna Christine, an adjunct professor of journalism at UM, works with the students throughout the program, developing their writing skills.

“These students have a very strong writing background,” Christine said. “I support them by taking what they know about writing and teaching them how to format it into a more journalistic writing style. I love helping them grow their passion for journalism; it’s fulfilling to see how much they develop throughout the three weeks.”

Students appreciate the efforts their professors put in, creating well-rounded stories and videos.

“The professors are so kind and open to tell my story in any way they can,” said Dakota Montalvo, 17, a senior at South Dade Senior High School. “It shows they really care about us and the growth we make as young journalists.”

John Stoltenborg, lead dorm counselor, participated in the program in 2010.

“The experience changed my life,” Stoltenborg said. “It put me on the path of doing what I love. I want every student to have that same experience and have so much fun doing it. I wake up every day during the program trying my best to instill that family atmosphere of learning and fun in the entire workshop.”

Students, who were strangers from different schools and back- grounds, ended the program with strong friendships.

“Miami Montage helped me meet so many new people,” said Dylan Poliakoff, 16, a junior at Nova South-eastern University School. “It was such a great experience to learn new things and try new things.”

Workshop co-director Ben Ezzy said it is rewarding to see students build their skills during the workshop.

“I hope that they will produce content and reporting that they are proud of and develop skills that they will take back to their high schools,” said Ezzy, who also is manager of broadcast operations and an adjunct professor in broadcast production at UM.