BALTIMORE (AP) - High school students in Baltimore will soon have the opportunity to learn about and report on persistent health disparities in underserved communities in the city.

Under a joint partnership between Morgan State and Howard universities local students can apply to study journalism and urban health disparities at Morgan - high school students in Washington can do the same at Howard - as part of new program by the two universities designed “to bring the power of multimedia journalism to bear on persistent health disparity issues in underserved communities.”

The Urban Health Media Project will promote and feature student journalism on social issues such as housing, education and the scarcity of healthy foods.

Morgan and Howard University host students on Saturdays in Baltimore and D.C. Sessions begin February 2017.

“As I witness the formulation of policies intended to create healthy and safe communities, I have become aware of the startling absence of informed voices of our young people,” said Dr. Reed Tuckson, a Howard trustee.

The yearlong program begins in February 2017 and includes three 10-week sessions on Saturdays. Students will learn to write news stories, capture audio, shoot and edit video, take photos and incorporate social media. They will develop an understanding of the interrelated social issues - including housing, education and food insecurity - that may contribute to disadvantaged communities.

Tuckson and Jayne O’Donnell, a healthcare reporter at USA Today, will serve as program directors.

Students will work under the guidance of professional journalists, faculty and college interns. Their work will be featured on a new website, in a book, and occasionally on USAToday.com.

The project is funded by $300,000 from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

Interested high school students can apply starting in January.

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Information from: The Baltimore Sun, https://www.baltimoresun.com

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