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NY Times selects Beacon DEI editor for talent-pipeline mentorship

Communication Studies

September 8, 2023

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Kimberly Cortez, DEI editor of The Beacon, UP's student newspaper, has been selected by The New York Times as a mentee in a program to prepare student journalists for professional careers. 

Cortez is one of 19 undergraduates nationwide selected to the second cohort of The New York Times Corps talent-pipeline mentorship program. Launched in 2022, the program is designed to develop a diverse talent pool and to provide quality career guidance to journalism students from underrepresented groups. The program pairs up each student with a New York Times journalist for at least two years of one-on-one mentorship, training events and speaker gatherings, culminating in a visit to The New York Times newsroom. 

Cortez will be paired with correspondent Mike Baker, who is the Times’ Seattle Bureau Chief. 

In an announcement published by The Beacon, Cortez expressed her excitement and gratitude, "I feel so fortunate to be given this opportunity. I wouldn’t be here without the support of The Beacon, University of Portland staff, past and present.”  

Cortez, a Social Work major and Spanish minor from Orange County, Calif., began working at The Beacon as a reporter her freshman year and served as Community Engagement Editor as a sophomore. As this year's DEI editor, Cortez is looking forward to giving more voice to members of the UP community who have been historically less represented.