During 'Heart of Mexico' Project, Journalism Students Amazed as Stereotypes Disintegrate Alfredo Corchado - The Dallas Morning News
go to original April 11, 2015

Caitlyn Jones, a senior UNT journalism student, traveled to Mexico as part of a summer 2014 reporting program. Jones got to stay in Valle De Bravo in Mexico State and worked as a videographer. The project, Heart Of Mexico, was published as a result. The final product can be found here. (The Dallas Morning News)

They came to Valle de Bravo, Mexico, to learn about journalism from one another, Mexican and American students, and walked away having learned lessons about themselves.

Three of the students — one from Universidad Autonóma del Estado de México and two from the University of North Texas — reflected on their experiences and the importance of moving beyond preconceived notions of one another.

“Most of the stereotypes I had heard were that Mexico was dangerous and there were drugs everywhere, and when I told people where I was going for the program, they got a worried look on their faces and told me ‘Be careful,’” recalled Caitlyn Jones, 22, a photojournalism senior at UNT.

“Americans forget about the people and only see immigrants or narcos. ... If given the chance, I would hop on a plane and go back tomorrow. I left part of my heart in Mexico and look forward to the day I can return to find it.”

Jones, editor of the North Texas Daily, UNT’s newspaper, was one of 11 UNT students and 12 students from UAEM who took part in Heart of Mexico, a project in its third year under the direction of photojournalist and UNT professor Thorne Anderson and Lenin Martel from UAEM. The idea is to work on a student publication through stories they report jointly in Mexico.

“The stories represent facets of life that we think make up the heart of Mexico,” said Samantha Guzman, project assistant at UNT. The experience has led to a sea change in attitudes, Martel said.

Read the rest at The Dallas Morning News

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