Journalism Overview
As an interdisciplinary, pre-professional program, the Journalism minor grounds students in an academic subject area (their major) while giving them the tools to translate and transmit knowledge to a particular audience. It rests on Monmouth College's commitment to train students to be critical thinkers and exceptional writers in the context of a strong liberal arts curriculum. Journalism students major in traditional liberal arts majors—English, History, International Studies, Political Science, etc.—while pursuing a journalism minor, adding an additional career option to their program of study at the college.
The journalism program attracts strong students interested in researching and writing about the world in which we live. The program features a high level of student engagement through involvement with journalistic activities—campus radio and television, student newspaper, and regional reporting.
Objectives of the Minor: Students in journalism learn to:
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Demonstrate an understanding of the history and role of professionals and institutions in shaping journalistic communication;
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Demonstrate an understanding of the diversity of groups in a global society in relationship to journalistic communications;
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Understand concepts and apply theories in the use and presentation of images and information;
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Work ethically in pursuit of truth, accuracy, fairness and diversity;
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Conduct research and evaluate information by methods appropriate to the academic discipline(s) in which they work;
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Write correctly and clearly in forms and styles appropriate for the audiences, disciplines and purposes they serve;
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Critically evaluate their own work and that of others for accuracy and fairness, clarity, appropriate style and grammatical correctness;
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Think critically, creatively and independently and correctly apply quantitative concepts;
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Apply tools and technologies appropriate for the communication professions in which they will work;
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Understand and apply First Amendment principles and the law appropriate to professional journalistic practice.
Key Features of the Minor.
The minor is designed to complement a liberal arts program that includes a strong major, as many practicing journalist come from academic backgrounds other than journalism programs.
The minor provides the key skills necessary to profit most from a practical experience in the form of an internship. These elements include knowledge and skill in reporting (as taught in COMM 260), news writing for various media (as taught in COMM 363) and visual design/layout principles for various media (as taught in COMM 367).
An appropriate and well-supervised internship as required for the minor is critical to obtaining entry level positions in the media generally and is a key to career development.
The Journalism program offers a variety of opportunities for students to obtain pre-professional experience in order to be prepared for the world of journalism. In addition to the internship experience students are encouraged to participate regularly in on-campus media (The Courier and MC-TV), take advantage of the opportunity to write for the new Warren County News Wire serving local professional news outlets, and to seek opportunities to write part-time for local media in the Monmouth area or in their hometowns
Program Coordinator
Trudi Peterson