A thought-provoking overview.
Teaching the future of journalismIn the past year, newsrooms have begun to treat convergence differently, to see it as a solar system of loosely connected functions, rather than a hard-wired fusion of media. As bloggers and independent niche online publishers attract fast-growing audiences, media executives feel pressed to invest in experimentation. They seem more aware that prizes go to the swift, the nimble and the daring.
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Convergence now means that photographers are getting writing tests, print writers are asked to show they can write a radio or podcast script and online applicants have to prove their creativity with images and their grasp of design. All are quizzed about their work ethic and self-motivation. In today's competitive job environment, the journalism applicant with both a depth and a breadth of skills and a willingness to work at engaging the audience has the edge.
In my Publication Workshop class, we had an assigned reading that was essentially a letter from an experienced writer written to a college student who was thinking of writing as a career (I think it's called "Dear Joy").
The experienced guy mentions that one of the biggest questions for writers in college is "What classes do I take?" because most colleges offer few courses that seem to relate directly to the craft of writing as a profession. He suggests that she take whatever courses most interest her, because her writing will always benefit from any learning experience, no matter the subject. He also points out that in truth, no one can really teach you how to write; as Dr. Arnzen said during the classroom discussion, his goal isn't to teach us how to write, but rather to teach us how to teach ourselves how to write.
I think journalism falls under that category, along with creative writing (short stories, poetry, etc.), technical writing, and just about any other sort of writing you can name. Since it's up to you to teach yourself how to write, then "learning how to write" shouldn't be your focus in college; instead, you should focus on learning about the things you want to be able to write about. If you dream of writing about politics, take some poli-sci classes; if you want to write science fiction novels, take some biology/physics/chemistry/astronomy/computer courses; and so on and so forth.
You're both absolutely right. A journalist has to be able to draw on multiple sources, synthesizing them into something that makes sense to a non-expert. Taking a few classes in far-flung areas is a great source of raw material that you might be able to draw on in order to make some connections on your own, but even more important is the practice it gives you as you *seek* those connections.
Versatility. That is one of the good things about Seton Hill's mandated core classes. Whether you are a journalism major or not, you can get a broader educational experience. That one biology class you take in college may pay off years later when you are doing a science article and the basic parts of a cell are being discussed. You will know what you are talking about, unlike the journalists that aren't familiar with the subject matter at all.
On my resume, I try to focus on the "depth and...breadth" of my experiences in both college and in the working world. Versatility, true, is key to success in the journalism world.