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Journalist and author Roland Martin, a graduate of Yates High School, returned to the campus Feb. 6 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, broadcast the show live from the TV studio at the campus. The show focuses on news and analysis of politics, entertainment, sports, and culture from an African-American perspective. He plans to hold another live broadcast at the school on Feb. 15 before being honored with a Distinguished Alumni Award at the district’s annual State of the Schools address, also that day.

During the broadcast, Martin talked about the challenge of redefining an urban school with Yates Principal Kenneth Davis and HISD Board of Education Trustee Jolanda Jones, who presides over District IV where Yates is located.

“It’s absolutely great to be back,” Martin said. “What I’m doing now – that was the focus when I was 14 years old and I came [to school] here.”

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.

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.

“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 High School a topnotch communications magnet not just in HISD but the city of Houston,” Jones said. “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.”