U of A School of Journalism and Strategic Media senior Rachell Sanchez-Smith will head to the University of Maryland next month for data reporting training as part of the Dow Jones News Fund program.

Sanchez-Smith was one of 87 students chosen from more than 1,000 applicants for the program, which includes training and a paid internship.

Bret Schulte, chair of the School of Journalism and Strategic Media, said that Sanchez-Smith has impressed faculty since her first days on campus when she was a junior at Rogers High School and received multicultural reporting training through the Lemke Journalism Project.

"Rachell is already an award-winning journalist with extensive experience in Northwest Arkansas, including her work as associate producer of the popular KUAF program Ozarks at Large," Schulte said. 

As part of the training, she will analyze data, visualize information and employ other data reporting methods before starting her internship at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

Because of her selection, she will work again with Rob Wells, a former SJSM professor who now teaches at the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland. During his time in U of A, Wells hired Sanchez-Smith as a reporter-translator for Arkansascovid.com, which published data and news during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2022, the Society of Professional Journalists recognized Sanchez-Smith and two other U of A journalism students with a national Mark of Excellence award for their reporting. The other students were Mary Hennigan, a DJNF 2021 recipient who now reports for the Arkansas Advocate, and Abby Zimmardi, a journalist for the Baltimore Banner.

"This is the seventh year that the University of Arkansas has been represented in the distinguished Dow Jones News Fund program," said Gina Shelton, internship coordinator and director of the Lemke Journalism Project. "I love how previous recipients, like Mary, mentor younger journalists. We have a thriving and supportive journalism school and community, and our mentorship starts with talented teen reporters like Rachell in the Lemke Journalism Project."

In June, Sanchez-Smith and seven other students will attend data training led by Wells in College Park, Maryland. Then, she will move to Little Rock to work on investigative projects throughout the summer before returning to the U of A in the fall.

"It's an honor to be chosen as a DJNF intern and to represent identities from the South, as a first-generation college student and immigrant from Peru,'' Sanchez-Smith said. "I'm excited for the chance to travel outside of the state but continue producing stellar reporting from within a place I care deeply about."

The Dow Jones News Fund, based in Princeton, New Jersey, is the charitable arm of Dow Jones & Co., publisher of The Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones Newswires, MarketWatch and Barron's. For more information visit dowjonesnewsfund.org. 

About the Lemke Journalism Project: The Lemke Journalism Project is an award-winning media training program held annually for high school students interested in multicultural reporting and diversity issues in northwest Arkansas. Attendees work with faculty in the School of Journalism and Strategic Media, local journalists and public relations professionals, and U of A student mentors to produce podcasts, television news roundtables and a newspaper. The project is named for Walter J. Lemke, founder of the University of Arkansas School of Journalism and the Arkansas Scholastic Press Association.

About the School of Journalism and Strategic Media: The School of Journalism and Strategic Media at the University of Arkansas offers full-time and part-time degree programs for undergraduates as well as a graduate master's degree program. SJSM students major in journalism or advertising and public relations, and they receive instruction, guidance and access to hands-on experience from seasoned, award-winning faculty and staff. The school is dedicated to excellence in teaching, research and media discourse. The journalism program was established at the University of Arkansas by Waler J. Lemke in 1930. Visit the school's website for more information.