What are some of the ways in which we as teachers should prepare our students for the future in journalism? Many of the same skills will be needed in any vocation the learner chooses to pursue.
These skills are leadership, writing, and power of the voice, according to Angela Buenning, journalism teacher at East Palo Alto’s Eastside College Preparatory School and adviser to its school newspaper, Eastside Panther. A teacher should teach life skills that enable the learner to leave her class with not only journalism skills but with skills for life. Buenning teaches these skills by:
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Having students COVER AND WRITE STORIES FROM DAY ONE. Buenning gets her returning students started on their tasks and then works with her journalism 1 students on beginning to learn good writing skills.
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One way Buenning teaches leadership and responsibility skills is found in HER GRADING POLICY. Each assignment essentially gets two grades, one for being turned in on time and one for quality of work. Turning a story assignment in on time will earn the writer ten points; if it is late, they earn nothing. Leadership and responsibility are so important for these students to learn because each and every one of them will go on to college.
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INCENTIVES are also a part of the class. After each is completed and printed, awards are given for best story, photo, layout, and for best team player.
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Buenning also MAKES SURE THAT EACH STUDENT UNDERSTANDS THE “POWER OF VOICE.” Each learner is made aware first hand just how important it is to lend their voices, personalities (writing style) to the opinions of others on any given issue of the day.
What are journalism schools looking for in a student? For this question, Dr. Marcia Parker, assistant dean, Graduate School of Journalism at U.C. Berkeley, has a clear answer. Parker feels that students should know and understand the following skills:
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APPLICANTS SHOULD BE WELL-READ. Exposure to the many different genres of literature, allows students to become familiar with the many styles and voices of the written word.
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THE GENRES OF WRITING SHOULD BE THOROUGHLY EXPLORED: question and answer; long-form, media, blogs, and Web sites.
Each student should also be given the opportunity and class structure to LEARN THEIR OWN VOICE or style of writing.
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Students must learn to TAKE A STAND ON AN ISSUE AND DEFEND IT CONVINCINGLY.
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Applicants SHOULD GAIN A KNOWLEDGE AND APPRECIATION FOR “WHAT IS IN OUR WORLD,” and be able to relate and to connect to the world.
While it is nothing applicants can do anything about, the school is also cognizant of creating diversity in its graduate program, Parker said.
Next, what characteristics will help students be successful once enrolled in journalism graduate school? Parker shares the following. Students should:
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HAVE A PASSION ABOUT THEIR WORLD
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BE CURIOUS
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BE EAGER TO LEARN ABOUT ALL SORTS OF THINGS
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BE ENGAGED IN THEIR COMMUNITY
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BE DEDICATED TO JOURNALISM
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TAKE A BREAK BETWEEN UNDERGRADUATE SCHOOL AND GRADUATE SCHOOL
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BE INDUSTRIOUS
All of the above criteria are considered when looking at a candidate college application. Teachers/advisors must let their students know just how simple it is to apply for college admission. In most cases the whole process can be completed online. At UC Berkeley, you go to their Web site and click of admissions; just follow the step-by-step instructions. The software on the computer allows you to save your application to the system to that you can either complete your application or make changes at a later time.
What do students themselves see as helpful academic habits? Hannah Hart, assistant coordinator, ASNE High School Journalism Program, UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism and an undergraduate at UC Berkeley, majoring in English Literature, says that students should be prepared to be able to “read between the lines” when completing assignments for their professors.