A University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) communication student made history last week as a participant in a special White House briefing. UVI senior, communication major and contributing writer for UVIVoice2.0, George Francis, joined other student journalists from 21 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in a virtual White House briefing with Deputy Principal Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Sept, 10. In the half-hour live streamed event, Francis had the opportunity to directly interview Jean-Pierre as a professional journalist would in a White House press conference. The event was part of the first ever White House HBCU Week held in collaboration with the White House Initiative on HBCUs. The week’s activities marked debut demonstrations of initiatives put forth by the new administration.
Jean-Pierre interacted with student journalists in a question-and-answer format. Each student interaction averaged four minutes and schools were called in alphabetical order, with UVI being last on the list. “I was humbled to be granted this opportunity to interview the deputy press secretary from our nation's highest office,” said Francis. “To be quite honest, I was really nervous as I sat waiting for my name to be called, but I knew I would have to do my best to represent the Territory, my University, the Communication Department and our student newspaper, UVIVOICE 2.0.”
More information is available in a news release on the Media Section of the UVI Website-www.uvi.edu/ - and from this direct link.