Learning to Keep the World Informed
Callan Shore, staff writer
It is journalists’ duty to educate and inform the public. The media, specifically news publications, are one of the most important pieces of our democracy and have even been called the fourth branch of government. PVCC provides a direct path to becoming a journalist through The Forum and the Introduction to Journalism class, ENG 121.
In Introduction to Journalism, students learn many media skills from the essential journalistic writing rules to how to layout a newspaper. Students also learn how to edit peer articles and cover community events.
Students taking the class have the chance to have their articles published in the school newspaper, The Forum. Journalism student Montana Mitchell said, “Journalism opened my mind to how journalism works in the real world, and gave me insight into how bias affects the news.”
Dr. Tamara Whyte, associate professor of English, teaches the class. Journalism 1 paves the way to further journalistic experience. After Journalism 1, students can take Journalism 2 or have an internship with Dr. Whyte. “Journalism 1 helps students to improve their writing and express themselves at the college,” said Dr. Whyte.
Introduction to Journalism is a three-credit class on PVCC’s main campus. It is an approved transfer elective in Liberal Arts and General Studies majors, as well as some others. The prerequisite for the class is ENG 111.
Students who do not have time to take a class in journalism can join the Forum Club and be a staff writer.
For the 2019 Spring semester, the class will take place in room M822 on Tuesdays and the Writing Center on Thursdays. The class runs from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. both days.
