THE BILL ITSELF
SR 1808
Pinellas County Schools’ Journeys in Journalism Program
Florida Senate - 2026 (NP) SR 1808 By Senator Rouson 16-02192B-26 20261808__
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Senate Resolution
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A resolution recognizing and commending Pinellas
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County Schools’ Journeys in Journalism program on the
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occasion of its 25th anniversary.
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WHEREAS, since 2001, Pinellas County Schools’ Journeys in
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Journalism program has provided students with innovative, hands
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on journalism education through classroom instruction and real
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world reporting experiences, inspiring young reporters,
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photographers, editors, and page designers and winning numerous
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national awards at the elementary, middle, and high school
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levels, and
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WHEREAS, the Journeys in Journalism program was founded by
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parent and journalist Gelareh Asayesh Brown at Melrose
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Elementary School in partnership with the Tampa Bay Times under
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the leadership of teacher and founding coordinator Cynda Mort
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and was later expanded to John Hopkins Middle School and
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Lakewood High School, where it operates as a district magnet
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program, and
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WHEREAS, the program currently serves approximately 800
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students across Melrose Elementary School, John Hopkins Middle
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School, and Lakewood High School, providing a continuous pathway
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for journalism education from elementary through high school,
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and
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WHEREAS, as part of its curriculum, students in the
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Journeys in Journalism program cover the news of their
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respective schools and participate in reporting projects that
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take them into the field, where they conduct interviews, gather
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information, and report on stories through multiple formats,
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including audio, photography, print, and video, and
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WHEREAS, students in the program have completed a wide
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range of reporting projects, including a documentary examining
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the proposed redevelopment of St. Petersburg’s historic Gas
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Plant neighborhood, interviews with prominent officials and
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celebrities, documenting changes in downtown St. Petersburg,
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photographing race car drivers, conducting man-on-the-street
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interviews at local festivals, and producing podcasts and video
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projects featuring local residents and businesses, and
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WHEREAS, the Journeys in Journalism program has produced
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alumni who have gone on to pursue careers in a wide range of
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fields, including journalism and multimedia, media literacy,
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marketing, business, law, hospitality, grades K-12 and higher
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education, and nonprofit operations, and a number of these
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students are recipients of scholarships established in honor of
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program contributors, including the Cynda Mort Scholarship for
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Outstanding Journalist and the Peggy Peterman Book Scholarship,
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and
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WHEREAS, for 25 years, the Journeys in Journalism program
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has enriched the lives of students in the Pinellas County school
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system by strengthening their communication skills, enhancing
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their critical thinking and media literacy, encouraging their
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civic engagement, and preparing them for future educational and
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professional opportunities, NOW, THEREFORE,
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Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:
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That the Florida Senate hereby recognizes and commends
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Pinellas County Schools’ Journeys in Journalism program on the
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occasion of its 25th anniversary.