As technology continues to become more and more advanced, news readers are often getting their information from somewhere other than a printed newspaper. News can be found all over the Internet, ranging from social networking to online newspapers.
The means by which we read our news today is not the same as how we got news 20 years ago. Young people, especially, who grew up with the Internet are not accustomed to picking up a newspaper and flipping through it; instead, they get most of their news from online websites such as foxnews.com or msnbc.com. Even online newspapers are more popular than the printed newspapers.
In response to the changing times, Ohio Northern is now offering a new multimedia journalism major and minor. Classes in the program teach students a multitude of different aspects of the new media; for instance, a photojournalism class is offered that focuses on the art of digital news
photography as well an overview of the photography and lighting.
The program teaches students what it is really like in the journalism world. Today, news stories are being filmed with iPod touches, and news stories are written on smartphones and tablets. The professors in the program show students what new technology is best for capturing the most that they can wherever they are, such as new iPod filming attachments that have amplified and high-quality cameras.
In addition to the new multimedia journalism major, a few other minors have been added to the communication program. A social media minor, now offered at the school, gives the basics of how to make social networking a place to get the news out and how to get the news out in 160 characters. A digital media production minor has been added and picked up by a few students. In this program, students are taught the production process of getting information out onto the Web, from the beginning stages to the final touches.
Though it is a new major, the communications department has high hopes for the new multimedia journalism major. Many journalism students are switching over to the multimedia major simply because it will be more beneficial for their futures in the career of journalism.
When asked how the current students are being adapted into the new major, Professor Richard Gainey spoke of the classes that are helping students get used to the new forms of journalism.
“The Intro to Convergent Media [CAMS 1101] eases the current students into the transition,” Professor Gainey stated. “We spent about a year working on getting the program ready for students.”
The year paid off, considering the easy transition for previous journalism students. The program is a promising option for incoming students as well as students considering the art of journalism. For more information about the major / minors listed in this article, please contact Professor Richard Gainey at r-gainey@onu.edu.