WJI Begins Thursday, May 16, 2024

By Jenna Mindel from Biola University

In 1999 WORLD Magazine hosted its first World Journalism Intensive (WJI) in Asheville, North Carolina. Today, the 26th session of WJI began with students being welcomed onto Dordt University’s campus, and Pizza Ranch for dinner.

Naomi Balk, assistant director of WJI, ensured students with allergies were able to enjoy pizza too, with dairy and gluten-free options.

As a West coaster myself, I had never had the delight of enjoying such a buffet, with idyllic and innovative pizzas like mac and cheese and also blueberry (dessert pizza is changing my life).

As I shoveled down warm cookies, I looked around at people who had definitely introduced themselves to me and whose names I had already forgotten. For a moment, I felt a ping of gratitude for how I would know them all so much better over the next few weeks. It was like the first day of school or summer camp.

Post-Pizza Ranch, students headed back to Dordt’s campus, which even after an extensive tour I have no clue how to navigate. Thankfully Joya and Libby, certified Dordt students led the way for us to the name of a building I had already forgotten.

Students internally panicked when they saw Lee Pitts, executive director of WJI, arrive in his formal suit. A face had finally been put to the author of the extensive emails students had been receiving for the past few weeks. Pitts quickly broke up the comfortable groups of students, ensuring that they would have the chance to get to know everybody.

After solving puzzles, telling stories, bonging and zipping, students made their way to the classroom. Pitts gave students a pep-talk, not without a clip from “Karate Kid” of course, to encourage them in their reporting in the coming weeks.

After a long day of traveling and asking people where they were from, students were free to go back to their dorms and rest, before they hit the ground running tomorrow morning.

-By Jenna Mindel