Black White Read publishing gives a voice to citizen journalists that they might not find elsewhere. One of our contributing writers, Alexandra Bonifield, took that opportunity and turned it into a prestigious appointment as a national arts fellow.

Bonifield recently was named one of 25 fellows from across the United States to the National Endowment for the Arts Arts Journalism Institute in Theater and Musical Theater. She will spend 10 days of February studying at the University of Southern California Annenberg's School of Journalism in Los Angeles.

"This exceptional group of journalists represents the new model for arts journalism," said Ernest J. Wilson III, dean of the USC Annenberg School for Communication in a press release. "Many of them are working across multimedia platforms, reporting in print, broadcast, and online. It is a transformational, dynamic and exciting time for journalism and this group reflects that."

The 25 fellows will participate in a rigorous 10-day program that includes writing workshops, history lectures, acting and directing classes, observation of rehearsals, conversations with theater professionals, and performances of plays and musicals, including those by Athol Fugard, Marsha Norman, Austin Pendleton, The Wooster Group, Alex Timbers, and Joan Rivers.