A Journalism & Integrated Media minor combines the study of the roles and responsibilities of the media in society with practical, ethical knowledge about reporting events, sharing opinions, and creating media content across a wide variety of digital platforms.
Media outlets on campus and in the Springfield community offer opportunities for students to graduate with the inquiring mind of a liberal-arts graduate and the portfolio of a practicing journalist or digital content creator.
At Wittenberg, we believe that the best preparation for a career in journalism comes from the breadth of intellectual interest typical of a liberal-arts student, and that critical thinking and problem-solving are invaluable for such students.
The journalism minor is built around two core courses:
- English 241: Beginning Journalism provides an overview of various kinds of journalistic writing with a concentration on basic news writing. Students explore questions of First Amendment rights and ethical and legal obligations of the profession.
- Communication & Digital Media 205: Media Literacy illuminates the role and function of media integration across all forms of media content, with a special focus on journalism, its digital transformation, and societal implications of that transportation.
Two types of elective courses are available to JRIM minors. Some courses will help students build specific skills, such as opinion writing, digital imaging, photography, or podcasting. Other courses will focus on the role of journalism in a democratic society via examination of topics such as media law or media coverage of politics.
JRIM students are also encouraged to discuss internship opportunities with the JRIM program director. Wittenberg students have participated in both off and on-campus opportunities in order to develop professional skills in journalism and integrated media.
Journalism & Integrated Media in the News:
- Lauren Swanson '15: Successful Editor Proves Power of Wittenberg Education in Journalism Field (published December 21, 2021)
- Stop the Presses: From Michael Jordan to Muhammad Ali, Fred Mitchell 鈥�69 has interviewed the biggest names in sports. Mitchell explains the art and scrap it takes to be a sports writer (published Fall 2017)
- Prestigious Recognition: Chicago Tribune Sportswriter Earns Wittenberg Class of 1914 Award (published November 16, 2016)