Since Hunter’s Department of Film and Media is revising its journalism curriculum – should I say struggling to revise – colleagues and students might consider the following from a blog – Outposts – by Timothy Egan of the NYT online, July 3, 2008:
Newspapers Exiting Stage Left …
July 4th, 2008Another WORD Experiment in the Making
July 2nd, 2008The WORD has signed up with Uwire for the obvious reason: Serious Hunter J-students should be networking with other serious J&M students, that’s Journalism and Media students.
Here’s what Uwire says:
“Connecting Aspiring Media Talent with Each Other and the World”
Founded in 1994, UWIRE is a community-driven service devoted to the needs of student journalists. Our aim is to identify and promote the brightest young content creators and deliver their work to a larger audience.
Our recently re-launched UWIRE.com is the only career networking community dedicated exclusively to aspiring media talent. It offers young journalists a place to establish themselves professionally, post a resume, interact with other like-minded content creators, and show off their portfolio.
Follow-up of: Behind-the-Scenes Snapshot of SPJ, Region 1
July 1st, 2008Okay, I changed my mind about this behind-the-scenes discourse regarding the SPJ, Region 1 [see June 29 post]. The director and the professor who terminated his SPJ membership emailed me with permission to publish.
So here it is.
Jacqueline Fernandez at the Filipino Express
June 28th, 2008
From Jacqueline Fernandez:Â
The Filipino Express hired me as a correspondent for them … $50 an article and $50 if I get a photo …  I get to cover the President of the Philippines’ speech today [June 26] at the UN and then I’m also covering the reception for all these prominent people in the FIl-Am community at the Hilton.”
“So that is pretty exciting.”
The Parisi Paradoxy: An Imperative — Part 2
June 28th, 2008This is probably more tattling about F/M politics than most students (and others) may want to know - Lingua Franca, not – but students should be aware that their careers can be affected by the vicissitudes of department politicking, especially if the politicking is lame and feeble and partisan with a narcissistic bent so that earning and education are devalued in pursuit of the great game.
Thus:
The Parisi Paradoxy: An Imperative — Part 1
June 26th, 2008This post may help clarify for students any confusion regarding publication of the WORD. It may also provide clarification for others on and off the Hunter College campus who come across this blog.
The WORD is an innovative pedagogical tool to teach students journalism. It’s based on this principle: Require students to write for publication and provide media that will showcase their work. The publishing imperative requires the students and the instructor to strive for higher academic standards and achievement. Burgeoning technology, of course, has significantly increased not only this potential for improving student writing but also the potential for enhancing student education. The WORD has also significantly improved student opportunities for getting internships and jobs.
True, a lot of professors believe that it’s not their responsibility to help students get internships and jobs, that such responsibility regarding career choices and decisions falls on the the students’ shoulders or with their colleges’ career services support systems. Hunter has a really good support system but this instructor believes that J-professors, especially, should be proactive mentorers (especially when there are operations like the WORD that can help make it easier for them to contribute to students’ careers).
Hunter’s Erstwhile Renaissance Woman Says …
June 25th, 2008… that for now she only accepts $$$ for movie projects and she is appearing in several soon-to-be released pics.
Advanced Reporting (MEDP 293), Feature Writing (MEDP 299.47)
June 17th, 2008Disastrous.
These classes weren’t as organized as they should have been (too many departmental distractions for the instructor) and too many students in the poorly under-enrolled classes weren’t prepared, that is, their introductory news classes hadn’t prepped them for advanced courses. That’s been happening a lot.
MEDP 292 (AKA Basic Reporting), Spring, 2008
June 14th, 2008Final Grades
A+ (1)Â
A Â (1)Â
B+ (3)
B Â (4)
B- (2)
C+ (1)
C Â (3)
Again, another semester showing a paltry number of A students. I’m not sure why, though there were B+ students who could have earned higher grades.
Conflict: A Behind-the-Scenes Snapshot of SPJ, Region 1
June 29th, 2008I’m not identifying anyone regarding recent email correspondence sent to me as part of an info-outreach by the Region I Director of the Society of Professional Journalists. Since several WORD writers have won SPJ Mark of Excellence awards in recent years, I try to be in contact with the organization though not actively involved.Â
What follows is the edited response from a journalism professor who has been seriously involved with the organization for several years.  I thought I would post without explanation an edited version of what he wrote to the regional director but if several days from now I notice the need for more clarity, I will re-address this decision. I think the whole matter is very informative.
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Tags: journalism, journalism education, SPJ
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