Journalist and author Roland Martin, a graduate of Yates High School, will return to the campus Monday to host his national TV news show live at the communications magnet school.
Martin, the host and managing editor of TV One’s News One Now, will broadcast the show live from the TV studio at the campus twice this month before being honored with a Distinguished Alumni Award at the district’s annual State of the Schools address Feb. 15.
Martin is a product of the school’s communications program, which was established nearly 40 years ago. The program offers students opportunities to build skills in areas such as journalism, photography, graphic design, and film, radio, and television production. Following the live broadcast, Martin will meet with students to discuss the journalism industry and answer questions they have about the field.
“This special visit from such a renowned and respected journalist, who is also a Yates graduate, is one of the many steps we’re taking to make Yates a topnotch communications magnet not just in HISD but the city of Houston,” said HISD Board of Education Trustee Jolanda Jones, who presides over District IV in which Yates is located. Construction is currently underway for the new Yates building which will feature state-of-the-art learning spaces with advanced technology to accommodate the school’s communications program.
“I am truly committed to rebuilding trust between the Yates community and HISD,” Jones added. “We have to do more to ensure that the allocation of resources we provide to our schools are equitable regardless of neighborhood. As long as I’m elected to represent District IV, I will fight for Yates and all schools in this district to receive their fair share of funding and resources to positively influence the future success of our students.”