CJ McCollum’s hard work with Chuck Ellis is paying dividends on the court — and the Blazers star shooting guard just gave back in a huge way — making his presence felt in the classroom as well.
McCollum has announced the launching of “CJ’s Press Pass,” a program that will mentor students in Madison High School’s Journalism Club.
The course which started today — will give a group at the high school an inside look at what it means to be a journalist covering the NBA beat.
“I’ll speak to the kids. Basically get their interest on journalism and see where they come from,” McCollum said after Blazers practice on Wednesday. “(See) why they like journalism and why they’re interested. Tell them a little bit about myself and then give them their first assignment.”
“I feel like if you’re majoring in journalism, or thinking about doing this, this gives you an opportunity to have fun with this,” McCollum said. “If you don’t like to write, you can do video. If you don’t like to be on camera, you can record it and do radio. This gives them three different elements and that’s kinda what journalism is like. You got to be able to do different stuff now to succeed.”
They were given an assignment right off the bat — as those students will be invited to the Blazers game against the Timberwolves on Sunday — press credentials and all — and they’ll have to produce a game story in either print, video or audio format.
McCollum graduated from Lehigh University with a journalism degree and a minor in mass communications.