A Former Student’s Perspective: Study at a Large University

My interest in journalism started when I was around 8 years old and I read a children’s story about muckraker Nellie Bly’s undercover reporting from Bellevue Mental Hospital. I was amazed that someone could effect such important changes by investigating an issue and writing about it. As the years went on, I was convinced being a journalist was one of the best jobs on the planet.

In 2002 I began college at California State University, Long Beach, and, to no one’s surprise, majored in journalism. Upon graduation, I was accepted as a Dow Jones Newspaper Fund Copy Editing Intern, and completed my internship at The Fresno Bee. I went on to be a copy editor and city editor for the Los Angeles Times Community News, a subsidiary of the Los Angeles Times. In 2009, I served as a volunteer English teacher in Peru.

I now work as an editor/writer for a long-term health study and am preparing to return to school to study public health, with a special interest in the role media have in fostering positive behavioral health changes in society.

While attending j-school at CSU Long Beach, I received an excellent education in the foundations of what makes ethical, intriguing and useful journalism. A large focus was placed on a journalist’s responsibility to be accurate, responsible and unbiased – to not just follow stories, but to be a news leader by investigating overlooked angles. We were encouraged to think critically about our coverage and ensure it was fair and legal.

The fact that the school had three on-campus student publications meant there were several venues for students to practice skills learned in the classroom. Undoubtedly, the most valuable part of j-school was being heavily involved in these publications. This is where I learned the inner workings of a newspaper/magazine, including how to generate interesting stories, how to collaborate with an array of clashing personalities, and most importantly, how to meet deadline.

If there is any area of j-school I might have benefited from that was not present, it would be evaluating recent historical data on attempts to gain readership. As newsrooms struggle to entice readers of all ages,

more of an emphasis should be placed across the board (in and out of j-school) on the question, “Is this the best use of our time and resources?” Just because the New York Times is doing something edgy does not mean that (1) it is actually catching on, and (2) it is right for your readership. Tactics for distinguishing predicted value for readers should be a key component of every j-school’s curriculum.

To those considering j-school, I would offer up three bits of advice. First, gain as full of an understanding of the industry that they can obtain to ensure journalism aligns with their skills and areas of interest. I met many students who said they got into journalism because they loved to write. However, they were not passionate about going after stories. A love of the written word is important, but this will not carry someone through a career in journalism. Students need to make sure they have enthusiasm for informing others.

I also advise those considering j-school to double major. Students should develop expertise in an area outside of journalism. This gives students an edge when they are reporting (especially if reporting on science and technology).

Finally, once students have enrolled, I advise them to be open to every job at the student newspaper. Do features, hard news, write opinions, design a front page spread, copy edit, take photos and ask for more work. Not only will this exploration help you decide which areas you excel in, but it will give you an appreciation and understanding of the roles of each department of a publication.  As someone who has a passion for educating the public, I am very happy I was able to attend a j-school. I learned what constitutes worthwhile journalism, and just as I suspected as a child, the power it has for lifting society. I plan to take these lessons with me in future roles, and I am grateful for the opportunities my j-school education has given me thus far.

Jennifer Frehn lives in Southern California. She is currently a project editor for the Adventist Health Study-2, a long-term study funded by the U.S. National Cancer Institute exploring the links between lifestyle, diet and disease.