The Assets High School Journalism Mentorship Program students toured the Hawaii Public Radio station on Wednesday, January 18.
Our budding student news reporters and writers in the journalism mentorship program were engaged. They observed the HPR newsroom in action. The focal point of the tour was listening to the weekday radio program called The Conversation hosted by Catherine Cruz as it was broadcast live. Our curious learners looked at the recording studios where interviews are done. Students visited the membership team and they shared how the donations fund the radio stations work.
The three tour guides shared from the heart what working in radio and in news is like. Managing editor Jason Ubay did an amazing job leading the tour, answering students' questions, and showing them around. Digital News Producer Krista Rados made sure the students understood what was talked about on the tour. She shared her journalism journey, and she took photos of the action.
One of our students said she wants to live in the music library because she loved the records and the CDs. She also shared that her mom listens to HPR every morning on the drive in to school. Our student said she found HPR relaxing. But when a staffer asked her if she liked it. She said, “no.” Everyone in the room laughed.
While the students were admiring the music library, Program Director Nick Yee was ambushed by the tour as the students were standing in his way as he was entering the music library room. An Assets student himself for a few years, and an Academy of the Pacific graduate, he graciously joined us for the tour, and later gave students some inspirational advice.
Assets School has been on The Conversation in the past a few times.
Assistant Head of School Sandi Tadaki talks about the importance of early intervention. Click here to listen.
K-8 Principal Sungalina Lee discusses girls with ADHD. Click here to listen.
Photo back row from left to right: Assets English Teacher Kevin Sweeney, Assets alumni/substitute teacher Artur Nogueira, Assets Dean of Student Life Jason Wagner, HPR Morning Edition Newscaster Derrick Malama, and HPR News Director Bill Dorman. Front row from left to right: Assets alumni/HPR Program director Nick Yee, HPR Managing Editor Jason Ubay, Mason '26, Elsa '26, Arlinda '26, Tori '26, Nicholas '23, HPR Reporter Zoe Dym.