Charlie Kadado

DETROIT — Wayne State University student Charlie Kadado has been named the 2016 reporting fellow for UNITY Journalists for Diversity, an organization advocating for fair and accurate coverage across newsrooms nationwide.

The broadcast journalism major was selected out of a competitive group of applicants to represent UNITY in all diversity-focused journalism conferences.

“This is a unique, once-in-a-lifetime chance to connect with major outlets, meet influential professionals and learn how journalists can more accurately represent the communities they serve,” Kadado, a junior, said in a statement. “As an Arab-American, I understand why underrepresented communities negatively perceive the media. But I think dialogue and tolerance can fix this. This fellowship means a lot because it stands for better storytelling by fairly including the diverse groups which make our country so unique.”

UNITY President Russell Conteras said Kadado impressed many of the organization’s members during a media summit in Detroit last year; he attended sessions, asked good questions and displayed a drive to excel in the field.

Kadado, who works as a reporter for Shelby TV, covering courts and breaking news, will participate in student projects at each convention, receive extensive training and have professionals mentor him through the fellowship program.

Kadado has also worked as the online editor for the Lebanese Examiner and covered the trash crisis and mass protests in Beirut last August.