Alumni return to speak to freshmen
- Posted by Robert Stewart in From the Director on 10/14/2008
- tags: alumni, freshmen, j101
The freshmen class in the JSchool recently heard four alums speak about their careers. What they heard was simple: You are part of a tradition. Don’t blow it.
OK, their message was a little more nuanced, but in essence Cooper Jones (’00), Stephanie Busack (’05), Dan Farkas (’98) and Chelsea Hamilton (’06) told students in my J101 class that they have a responsibility to work hard, achieve and then give back. That’s the formula for making the JSchool a quality program.
I agree. Our newest students need to understand that they are part of a larger community. How they comport themselves in the classroom, in extra curricular activities, during internships, and on the job will go a long way in preserving the JSchool’s reputation. That reputation, in turn, will go a long way toward increasing the value of a BSJ from Ohio University. And that’s good for all of us.
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WOUB News blog
- Posted by Robert Stewart in First-Year Experience on 09/11/2008
- tags: freshmen, j101
Last year’s mentoring coordinator for WOUB News created a series of podcasts that introduce the hands-on broadcast news opportunities available through that operation. Check them out at woubnews.blogspot.com.
from his blog: "Ed Zelaski, the mentoring coordinator at WOUB. These podcasts are here to serve as a training aid to the new student staffers at the station. Feel free to contact me with any questions at ez327206@ohio.edu."
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How to get involved
- Posted by Robert Stewart in First-Year Experience on 09/8/2008
- tags: freshmen, j101
For the returning student the new year starts with some familiarity. Indeed, returning to campus may even feel like returning home.
But for freshmen, the sense of choice and opportunity can seem overwhelming. I was reminded of this during Welcome Saturday, held just before the beginning of the fall quarter. One new student already asked for instructions on how to drop a class so that she would have more time for getting involved in one or more student organization.
Sure, in a month or two, or certainly in a quarter of two, things will fall into place for you new students. But at the beginning, every opportunity seems golden, enticing, and hard to resist.
My suggestion: Experiment and resist, all at the same time. This may seem like contradictory advice. But it isn’t. Don’t be afraid to visit and dabble when it comes to figuring out whether to jump in to the deep end or just stick your toe in the shallow end. You don’t have to figure it all out right away. Give yourself some time to be confused. At some point -- and it probably won’t take very long -- it will all make sense. You’ll pick the activities that feel the most natural and give you the greatest sense of accomplishment. Then you’re on your way.
But for now, don’t worry if it all feels a bit overwhelming. Relish the confusion much as you would a roller coaster ride.
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While you were away...
- Posted by Robert Stewart in From the Director on 09/8/2008
- tags: j101
We start the 2008 academic year with much to celebrate: two new faculty members (Assist. Profs. Aimee Edmondson and Yusuf Kalyango), an incoming class of 250 bright freshmen as well as a stellar class of new graduate students, new technology in classrooms (Anderson Auditorium, Scripps 108 and Sing Tao 101), and a Web site that helps keep everyone informed about accomplishments and programs in the JSchool.
At the same time, we face the very real challenge of keeping up with the pace of change in our industry. This is a challenge facing the faculty as well as the students in the E. W. Scripps School of Journalism.
Collectively we need to redouble our efforts, through teaching and learning in and out of the classroom, through our curriculum, through our student organizations, through internships and on-campus hands-on activities, and as always, through diligent study. Each of us -- faculty and students alike -- have the capacity to make the JSchool a highly productive institution for educating the next generation of journalists.
Good ideas for change also can come from our alumni and other friends of the school. Let’s commit ourselves to providing the best journalism education possible.
