The Press Democrat Journalism Trust

04/30/2025

Our spring scholarship applications close tonight!

Applications for the Norma & Evert Person Journalism Scholarship and the David & Barbara Cohen Journalism Scholarship close tonight at 11:59 pm. Don't miss out on your chance to receive $2,500 toward tuition, housing or books. Find details on how to apply below or go to www.pdjt.org/scholarships

Dreaming of a career in journalism? The Press Democrat Journalism Trust is offering spring 2025 scholarships to support the next generation of storytellers. If you're enrolled or planning to enroll at an accredited institution, this opportunity is for you!

Applications are open April 1-April 30, 2025 for the Norma & Evert Person Journalism Scholarship and the David & Barbara Cohen Journalism Scholarship. Three recipients will each receive $2,500 toward tuition, housing or books. Students pursuing a career in journalism who graduated from a high school in the North Bay are encouraged to apply.

Applying is simple — just complete an online form, include a reference and attach a cover letter. Letters of recommendation and sample work are encouraged but not required. Scholarship recipients will be announced in late May.

Learn more and apply today at www.pdjt.org/scholarships

04/24/2025

There is one week left to apply to our spring journalism scholarships! Don't miss out on this chance to receive $2,500 toward your journalism education. Applications close Wednesday, April 30.

Dreaming of a career in journalism? The Press Democrat Journalism Trust is offering spring 2025 scholarships to support the next generation of storytellers. If you're enrolled or planning to enroll at an accredited institution, this opportunity is for you!

Applications are open April 1-April 30, 2025 for the Norma & Evert Person Journalism Scholarship and the David & Barbara Cohen Journalism Scholarship. Three recipients will each receive $2,500 toward tuition, housing or books. Students pursuing a career in journalism who graduated from a high school in the North Bay are encouraged to apply.

Applying is simple — just complete an online form, include a reference and attach a cover letter. Letters of recommendation and sample work are encouraged but not required. Scholarship recipients will be announced in late May.

Learn more and apply today at www.pdjt.org/scholarships

04/02/2025

Dreaming of a career in journalism? The Press Democrat Journalism Trust is offering spring 2025 scholarships to support the next generation of storytellers. If you're enrolled or planning to enroll at an accredited institution, this opportunity is for you!

Applications are open April 1-April 30, 2025 for the Norma & Evert Person Journalism Scholarship and the David & Barbara Cohen Journalism Scholarship. Three recipients will each receive $2,500 toward tuition, housing or books. Students pursuing a career in journalism who graduated from a high school in the North Bay are encouraged to apply.

Applying is simple — just complete an online form, include a reference and attach a cover letter. Letters of recommendation and sample work are encouraged but not required. Scholarship recipients will be announced in late May.

Learn more and apply today at www.pdjt.org/scholarships

03/28/2025

We are excited to announce that starting this spring, The David & Barbara Cohen Family Foundation has partnered with The Press Democrat Journalism Trust to provide an annual scholarship for journalism students. To tell you more about themselves, David and Barbara Cohen have joined our storyteller series, reflecting on how they have partnered with and supported local journalism in the Bay Area since 1991.

Click below to read David and Barbara's inspiring story and how The David & Barbara Cohen Journalism Scholarship came to be. Applications open this Tuesday.

  ‘We hope our small efforts lead to students considering a career in this vital field’ By David and Barbara Cohen, David & Barbara Cohen Family Foundation When Barbara and I owned and published Silicon Valley Community Newspapers our company had a statement of purpose which defined our work an...

12/03/2024

In 2023 an average of 2.5 newspapers closed per week in The United States — creating "news deserts" — and leaving more than half of the U.S. with little or no access to reliable local reporting.

This , consider donating to The Press Democrat Journalism Trust. Your donation directly supports journalism education and access in the North Bay, ensuring that vital and trustworthy local news remains available for future generations. In partnership with Peanuts Worldwide, qualifying donations will receive a special edition Snoopy sticker, tote, or pin.

Together, we can equip aspiring journalists with the tools and skills they need to keep our communities connected and ensure that vital information is accessible to all.

Help us spread the news today by making a gift at www.pdjt.org/donate

11/27/2024

Adriana Gutierrez is the Education and Child Welfare Reporter for The Press Democrat. She joined the newsroom in 2023 through a fellowship with Report for America. That same year, the board of The Press Democrat Journalism Trust approved a grant to cover the remaining costs of her sponsorship. Since then, Adriana has become an essential part of the newsroom and education coverage in Sonoma County.

Click below to read Adriana's story as a part of our Storyteller Series, highlighting the experiences of award-winning local journalists and inspiring the next generation of reporters and storytellers in our community.

    ‘The stories we write are about real people, and if we do them justice, change leaps off the page and into real life.’ By Adriana Gutierrez, Education & Child Welfare Reporter for The Press Democrat When I was interviewing for The Press Democrat, Managing Editor John D’Anna, asked me wha...

11/19/2024

John D'Anna, Managing Editor of The Press Democrat, joins our Storyteller Series to share about his journey in journalism, starting at the age of 23: "Technology has replaced typewriters, and databases have replaced 3×5 index cards. But our mission remains the same: to report the truth."

Click below to read John's inspiring article, and find out how you can support aspiring journalists by visiting www.pdjt.org

Typewriters & 3×5 note cards: How the profession has changed, but the mission stays the same By John D’Anna, Managing Editor of The Press Democrat I was a shaggy-haired and bearded 23-year-old when I walked through the employee entrance of a newspaper for the first time. The hair I have left is c...

11/07/2024

Kerry Benefield, a columnist for The Press Democrat tells us about her journey into local news as a part of our ongoing Storyteller Series, showcasing the experiences of award-winning local journalists to inspire the next generation of reporters and storytellers in our community.

Click below to read Kerry's article and learn how you can join us by visiting www.pdjt.org

  ‘I have the best job in the world’: Encouraging curiosity, diligence, and a healthy bit of skepticism By Kerry Benefield, Columnist for The Press Democrat I have the best job in the world, which is lucky because I don’t know how to do anything else.I came to The Press Democrat in 2003, but ...

10/30/2024

Tomorrow is the last day to apply to our Gaye LeBaron Writing Scholarship! Santa Rosa Junior College students studying journalism, writing, communications, or related fields are encouraged to apply to receive $5,000 toward books, tuition, or living expenses.

The Press Democrat Journalism Trust is looking for aspiring writing students enrolled or recently transferred from Santa Rosa Junior College to apply to the Gaye LeBaron Writing Scholarship! Applications are open now through Thursday, October 31st. The Trust will award a $5,000 scholarship to the most qualified student, which can be used for books, tuition, and living expenses while enrolled. Past recipients who qualify are encouraged to reapply. ­­

To apply for The Gaye LeBaron Writing Scholarship, students must complete the online form and submit writing samples. Letters of recommendation are encouraged, but not required.

To see eligibility requirements or apply, visit www.pdjt.org/gaye-lebaron-writing-scholarship/

10/01/2024

The Press Democrat Journalism Trust is looking for aspiring writing students enrolled or recently transferred from Santa Rosa Junior College to apply to the Gaye LeBaron Writing Scholarship! Applications are open now through Thursday, October 31st. The Trust will award a $5,000 scholarship to the most qualified student, which can be used for books, tuition, and living expenses while enrolled. Past recipients who qualify are encouraged to reapply. ­­

To apply for The Gaye LeBaron Writing Scholarship, students must complete the online form and submit writing samples. Letters of recommendation are encouraged, but not required.

To see eligibility requirements or apply, visit www.pdjt.org/gaye-lebaron-writing-scholarship/

08/23/2024

Congratulations Rosemary Cromwell, a recipient of our Norma & Evert Persons' Journalism Scholarship! Rosemary graduated from Maria Carrillo High School in 2023, and is currently attending SRJC and participating in their journalism program. They will receive $2,500 annually, renewable up to $10,000 over the course of four years. Additionally, Rosemary will be provided professional development opportunities in the form of assigned mentors and paid summer internships.

Their journalism advisor Anne Belden put it best, “Rosemary can do it all”. Rosemary is an editor at Santa Rosa Junior College’s newspaper The Oak Leaf, and a former editor of The Maria Carrillo newspaper The Puma Prensa. A jack-of-all-trades, Rosemary can handle the production process for one of their articles from start to finish, including interviewing sources, taking their photos, writing the article, and designing multi-page spreads using InDesign. Starting their journalism career at home during the COVID-19 lockdown, Rosemary has been a force to be reckoned with ever since. Not only did they help their high school newspaper re-establish itself upon returning to campus, but also created and hosted a new podcast arm of the paper known as The Pawd. It was while working for that high school newspaper, following the fatal stabbing at Montgomery High School in March of 2023, that they knew journalism would be their future. They have since extended their knowledge and mentorship to fellow editors and lowerclassmen leaving a lasting legacy at The Puma Prensa and The Oak Leaf. Looking forward, Rosemary is continuing their editorial duties at The Oak Leaf and accompanying them for a semester abroad in London this upcoming school year. Beyond their journalistic endeavors, Rosemary is taking 19 units at Santa Rosa Junior College (one class more than what is considered full-time) and works multiple part-time jobs. In Rosemary’s words, “I believe the practice of journalism is best employed when it’s used to tell others’ stories. Everyone has a story that deserves to be told, and I see it as my role to do that”.

To learn more about this scholarship or view our other 2024 scholarship recipients, please visit: https://pdjt.org/scholarships/scholarship-awardees/

07/26/2024

Congratulations Angela Ramirez, a recipient of our Norma & Evert Persons' Journalism Scholarship! Angela recently graduated from Analy High School, and will be attending SRJC in the fall pursuing their Journalism program. She will receive $2,500 annually, renewable up to $10,000 over the course of four years. Additionally, Angela will be provided professional development opportunities in the form of assigned mentors and paid summer internships.

Angela’s family moved from Jalisco, Mexico to California when she was two years old. Since then, she has experienced a difficult home life that despite all odds inspired her to pursue journalism throughout her time at Analy High School, where she recently graduated and ended her term as Editor-in-Chief for The West County World. Angela made an incredible impact on her school’s paper, including getting the paper out of debt from previous leaders and changing their printing company from the East Coast to a local printer in Santa Rosa. Her dedication to journalism goes beyond school commitments, as she has already started a Digital Certificate in Journalism at SRJC ahead of her Fall enrollment. She even collaborates with her students at CASTLE Pre-School to create comics for the paper, “giving opportunities to those who otherwise would be oblivious to the world of journalism and creative writing!”. Angela’s pursuits of journalism have not come easy, and she has sacrificed more than most to be where she is today. Her grit shines through in her work, and we are fortunate to have such a devoted journalist rise in our community.

To learn more about this scholarship or view our other 2024 scholarship recipients, please visit: www.pdjt.org/2024-journalism-scholarship-award-recipients