While presenting a $1,500 journalism grant, the executive director of the Illinois Press Foundation told student journalists at McHenry Community High School to continue to study journalism, noting a growth in job opportunities in nonprofit and topic-specific journalism.
Jeff Rogers, executive director of the Illinois Press Foundation, presented the $1,500 check to McHenry Messenger staff members and advisor Dane Erbach. The grants for Illinois high schools are to support storytelling in schools.
The Illinois Press Foundation supports one such nonprofit, Capital News Illinois, which covers state news in Springfield as well as other regions in Illinois.
“It’s great to see a room full of people interested in journalism,” Rogers said while presenting the grant on Oct. 1.
Erbach, English and journalism instructor, said the grant money will help with the cost of printing the McHenry Messenger magazine, and help purchase a new camera.
McHenry was one of 36 high schools throughout Illinois to receive the Illinois Press Foundation High School Journalism Grant.