Why Take Journalism?

When I first began the journalism course, I did not know what to expect because I did not have much experience with this world. However, as I learned more and grew as a writer, I found that it is so important and there is so much I have gained through my experience. Journalism does not look one particular way or have a specific format it follows. It is not just writing about mundane information for the newspaper, there are so many other aspects and types. I have been able to experiment with various kinds of articles, such as editorials, different types of features, and even obituaries. There is also so much more that goes on behind the scenes of an article, such as using the “flitj” method to see if a headline will fit on a page. There are also photography aspects of journalism and specific guidelines to follow so that there are no legal issues. People do not realize how much work and effort goes into being a journalist, which is what this course helped me realize.

In traditional English classes, students read required books and write traditional essays. However, journalism allows students to broaden their skills and explore new forms of writing instead of always following MLA format with a professional tone. As a student, this has enabled me to grow and mature by giving me more exposure to different types of writing, which I would have not encountered in other English courses. Also, as a student journalist I have had to step out of my comfort zone to try new things, such as having my writing published online and creating podcasts. This has allowed me to become more confident in myself and in my writing pieces, which I have improved on using constructive criticism. What I have learned through this course can help me in the future because I have an expanded skill set in the field of writing. In addition to this, I have worked on using social media in a more professional, instead of recreational, way. I can use this to my advantage in the future if I need to use social media platforms to promote an idea or a cause. Overall, getting to learn about journalism has been extremely beneficial, allowing me to grow in many different ways. If you ever get the chance to take a journalism course, take the opportunity to better yourself as a writer and as a person.