Brooke Kelly
Looking for something fun and meaningful to be a part of, I joined The Arrow Magazine and The Resumé Yearbook during my middle school and high school years. As a senior on the yearbook staff at Murrah High School, I was design editor, and as a junior on the staff, I took my first trip to Washington.
After spending a year and a half of my collegiate career at Jackson State University as an English major with a journalism concentration, I decided to focus fully on journalism. I changed my major to mass communications with a minor in art. For the next two summers, I interned with the alternative weekly in Jackson, Miss., The Jackson Free Press. There, I wrote articles and had the opportunity to report at the Mississippi State Capitol.
Since becoming a mass communications major, I have freelanced for other local newspapers, an online magazine and a D.C. newspaper, The Washington Informer. Last summer, I attended my first national journalism conference, the National Association of Black Journalists conference in Philadelphia.
During my junior year, I joined The Blue and White Flash student newspaper and became managing editor after the fall semester. As a staff writer at The Flash, I covered many stories dealing with campus issues, interviewed prominent speakers and wrote feature stories. Since becoming managing editor, I have learned about many more aspects that go into getting a paper out and have encouraged and advised other staff members. I am extremely excited to be in D.C. as an intern for the Scripps Howard Foundation Wire, selected through the Chips Quinn Scholars Program. I look forward to reporting and getting more experience as a multimedia journalist, in addition to exploring the city and surrounding areas.
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President’s budget offers hope to homeless prevention advocates
February 16, 2012 5:00 pmWASHINGTON - President Barack Obama’s 2013 budget shows large support for the homeless population, advocates say. Despite cuts for certain programs, money proposed for two homelessness assistance programs increased, and homeless prevention advocates hope Congress will approve the increases.
Senators disagree about size, impact of wealth gap
February 10, 2012 5:20 pmWASHINGTON - Senate Budget Committee members disagree about how big the American wealth gap is.
New definition of homeless would make more children, teens eligible for aid
February 7, 2012 6:17 pmWASHINGTON - A new definition of homelessness could expand the number of children and teenagers eligible for aid.
Abortion rights supporters say recession, government restrictions hurt women
January 31, 2012 1:04 pm
Click on photo to enlarge or download: Merle Hoffman, founder of one of the nation’s oldest abortion clinics, says the recession, coupled with abortion restrictions, could lead to more abortion-related deaths as women seek abortions outside of clinics. SHFWire photo by Brooke KellyWASHINGTON – Times are getting harder for women seeking abortions, advocates say, even though this month marked the 39th anniversary of Roe V. Wade, the Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion.
Task force to oppose hazing in response to death of FAMU drum major
January 17, 2012 8:15 pm 
Click on photo to enlarge or download: The Rev. R.B. Holmes, Jr., left, Pam Champion, Robert Champion Sr., Lezli Baskerville, and Henry Lewis join forces with several organizations to launch the National Anti-Hazing/Anti-Violence Task Force. SHFWire photo by Brooke KellyWASHINGTON – Community and university leaders across the nation would like to end hazing at universities and other schools by 2015.
Obama hosts forum to get more manufacturing jobs on U.S. soil
January 11, 2012 7:04 pm 
Click on photo to enlarge or download: President Barack Obama spotlights companies choosing to bring or keep jobs in the U.S. and explains how he plans to help them with tax breaks. With him are executives of 14 companies that have added U.S. manufacturing jobs. SHFWire photo by Brooke KellyWASHINGTON – President Barack Obama is urging more companies to bring jobs to the U.S.
