Pre-journalism students get glimpse into news industry through FYE course

Posted on March 1, 2023February 11, 2025 by UConn Journalism

UConn Journalism introduces its newest students to the varied fields of journalism with its UNIV 1810 course: Introduction to Journalism Practice.

The course is one of a wide range of First Year Experience courses (FYE) at UConn. FYE started in 1999 to help new students adjust to college and succeed here. Sarah Scheidel, who until recently was managing FYE through her work in the Office of First Year Programs and Learning Communities, has said that the small classes (capped at 19), caring instructors and peer mentors influence students’ decisions to remain in school after the first year.

First-year retention rates at UConn were 85% in 1998, the year before the FYE program started. They are now at 92%, according to the latest report.

UConn Journalism’s FYE course is taught by alumna Lisa Caruso '90, the department’s educational program coordinator. The one-credit course is open to first year pre-journalism students and first-year transfer students.

The course exposes students to the many ways journalism is practiced. “We also introduce them to the faculty and different media outlets on campus,” Caruso said.

Students have taken tours of the newsrooms at the UConn student newspaper — the Daily Campus, UConn’s radio station WHUS-FM, and the student-run television station UCTV.

Current and past students in Caruso’s class say the once-a-week 50-minute sessions help them get involved with campus outlets and see career choices. Journalism faculty members take turns visiting the class, speaking about their specialties in photojournalism, broadcasting, print, digital and environmental journalism, and documentary filmmaking.

Freshman Alec Beane said he learned something new every week. “We learned about broadcasting, which I was interested in,” Beane said. “The guest speakers were really helpful because I didn’t know about different types of journalism like photojournalism.”

Beane said he plans to take broadcasting and sports journalism courses next semester. He already is working as an anchor in UCTV’s sports department thanks to Caruso’s help. He is thinking of double majoring in journalism and sports management.

Sophomore Jalen Allen, a journalism and communications major, said the class helped him identify his interests in public relations and journalism last year. He working in advertising at UCTV. “I got connected with them after I toured the station,” he said. “I found the class helpful because I want to get into PR. This class introduced me to different people and got me familiar with the department.”

Caruso requires that students create LinkedIn accounts. “Since they’re first-year students, a resume isn’t ideal since they are just starting to gain experience,” she said.

Beane found this helpful. “I check in every week on Linkedin to see if there’s anything new like a connection or opportunity that is available,” he said. “Our instructor had us all connect with her.”

Caruso’s leadership has made a difference, Beane said. “She is really getting us to where we need to be.”

by Crystal Elescano

War in Ukraine: Hear from region’s journalists during virtual panel March 2

Posted on February 26, 2023December 27, 2024 by UConn Journalism

UConn students are invited to attend a free virtual discussion at 11 a.m. ET on March 2 with Russian and Ukrainian journalists to discuss the ongoing challenges to their work. The journalists will discuss their daily struggles under fire, threats from the Russian government, and efforts to seek asylum abroad and maintain a journalism practice.

The online event is hosted by the National Press Club’s Press Freedom Committee and the National Press Club Journalism Institute.

One year into Russia’s full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine, journalists in both countries have responded valiantly in insisting on their right to provide independent, accurate, and piercing news coverage that serves the public’s interests.

As so many of the region’s journalists have pushed themselves to the limit in covering the war and its many ramifications, the physical, mental, and emotional toll is growing. Ukrainian journalists have worked to provide coverage of the war’s ruinous impacts on their communities despite risks to their personal safety, emotional trauma, and uncertain financial prospects. And Russian journalists have made the difficult decision to leave their families, flee Russia, and make a new life abroad rather than submit to the Kremlin’s propaganda machine demands.

Speakers include:

Elizaveta Kirpanova, who worked as a special reporter of the Russian independent newspaper “Novaya Gazeta” for the past five years. In her articles, she covered problems in health care, education system, charity, and immigration. The Russian government recently revoked the newspaper’s media license for its position on the war in Ukraine.

Olga Rudenko, the editor in chief of The Kyiv Independent. Prior to 2022, she was the Managing Editor of The Kyiv Post.

Anastasia Tishchenko, a human rights reporter and news presenter with Radio Svoboda, RFE/RL’s Russian Service based in Prague since 2021. She joined RFE/RL in Moscow in 2017 as a reporter covering the deteriorating rights situation in Russia. She also has spent significant time in Ukraine.

Jessica Jerreat, who leads Voice of America’s award-winning press freedom coverage, will moderate the discussion. With a background in press freedom and international news, Jerreat has worked for organizations including the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists and The Times of London. She has a master’s degree in War, Media, and Society from the University of Kent at Canterbury, with a focus on propaganda, the press, and conflict.

Event: Fireside Chat with ESPN’s Molly Qerim on March 7

Posted on February 26, 2023April 1, 2025 by UConn Journalism

Molly Qerim is the familiar female face and voice who hosts the number one sports morning show, ESPN’s First Take. The Emmy Award-winning Qerim is at the helm, working alongside Stephen A. Smith and a rotating team of guests to moderate very strong personalities with both warmth and authority.

Join us as Molly shares insight into how her experience at UConn opened the door to a career in sports broadcasting.

She is a 2006 graduate from the College of Liberal Arts in Sciences with a major in Communications and a minor in Business Administration.

She will speak on Tuesday, March 7, 2023 from 6-8:00 pm in Konover Auditorium at the Dodd Center for Human Rights.

UConn Journalism major Samara Thacker '23 will moderate the discussion.

Report for America Info Session on Nov. 15

Posted on November 7, 2022November 7, 2022 by UConn Journalism

Report for America (RFA) is a movement to strengthen communities, and our democracy, through local journalism that is truthful, fair, fearless and smart.

RFA is growing its journalism team. Applications open in December for 100+ journalism jobs.

Join the Report for America info session on November 15 at 9:30 am in OAK 408 to learn about the organization and job opportunities.

Report for America helps local newsrooms report on under-covered issues and communities by helping them find great emerging or experienced journalists and paying half their salary. Corps members are talented, service-oriented journalists who provide residents with the information they need to improve their communities and hold powerful institutions accountable. There are currently 300 RFA reporters and photographers in 200+ newsrooms serving communities across the U.S.

Recruiter Rhema Thompson Bland ’06 talks journalism jobs on Nov. 14

Posted on November 7, 2022November 7, 2022 by UConn Journalism

Spring 2023 Journalism Course Offerings

Posted on October 25, 2022December 2, 2022 by UConn Journalism

ELECTIVES

Introduction to Sports Journalism
JOUR1095: Special Topics
This course is open to all majors and will introduce students to the history of sports reporting, the evolution of sports media, the influence of sports on culture, and the fundamentals of sports journalism -- including sourcing, interviewing, writing and production of sports stories on various platforms. Instructor is Steve Buckheit, an award-winning features producer at ESPN.

Journalism in the Movies
JOUR2010 (CA-1)
Open to all majors. Students will watch and discuss motion pictures with journalism themes. Many of the films are about important cases in journalism, U.S. and international history. The rest are fictional representations of journalistic stories and scenarios. Themes from the films that will be examined include: the nature of news, historical development of the press, journalism ethics and law, diversity in the news, newsroom dynamics and relationships, and the fields of broadcast and investigative journalism. The course satisfies a General Education requirement for history.

Art of the Interview in Documentary Film
JOUR2095: Special Topics
This production course will explore approaches to navigating the technical and ethical considerations of preparing for and conducting filmed interviews. Develop essential tools of documentary film production, such as research, interview aesthetics and formal approaches, and post-production uses of recorded interviews. Coursework will provide students with a range of long-form and short-form documentaries, from intimate direct to camera interviews to talking heads. Students will work independently and collaboratively on interview assignments and exercises that deepen their communication and understanding of how recorded interviews drive narratives forward.

TV & Video News Programming
JOUR2095: Special Topics
This course teaches students the steps required to build an online video or TV newscast. It is excellent preparation for students who plan to work in broadcast, cable or online news. Learning how a recurring news program is built, planned and executed is also important preparation for students who plan entrepreneurial endeavors or who may be called upon to produce video programming in a recurring format for social service organizations or commercial industry. This course may be of particular interest to students who plan to take advanced courses in audio and video journalism, podcasting, or to those who intend to participate in UCTV.

Feature Writing
JOUR3012W
Feature writing is the art of storytelling. It contains the elements of fiction writing –vivid scenes, strong characters, a narrative arc –but is grounded in dogged reporting and sharp observation. It can be off-beat or topical, funny or sad. Unlike a straight news story that simply presents the facts, a good feature goes beyond to put those facts into some larger context and provide deeper meaning. A good feature is imaginative, original and authentic. This class will teach you how to write features, from developing ideas to effective reporting and interviewing skills to organizing and writing stories. Students will explore different types of features, including profiles, trend stories and human-interest stories. Students will learn by doing, by writing and re-writing, by reading lots of features and dissecting one another’s work.

Design for Digital Journalists
JOUR3031
This course introduces editorial design to journalism students. Learn the fundamentals of visual communication design as applied to modern media. Topics include design principles, aesthetics, social media, intuitive design, typography, layout, photo editing, color theory, motion graphics, and informational graphics. Think critically and creatively about designing material for diverse audiences. Learn how to assess and critique visual journalism work.

Newswriting for Broadcast & Digital
JOUR3040: (formerly Audio & Video Reporting and Writing)
Application of newswriting and news reporting techniques for broadcast, digital video and digital audio. Practical use of digital media recording equipment and professional audio/video editing software.

Reporting & Editing TV News
JOUR3041
This is an advanced broadcast journalism class that teaches students how to gather, edit and deliver accurate, newsworthy information for television newscasts. Students develop the skills needed to report news and organize newscasts through actual experience in and out of class.

Business Reporting
JOUR3045: Specialized Journalism
Learn the basics of the business and financial news beat. Sharpen your skills telling stories about money, jobs, the economy, entrepreneurs, workers and labor unions, companies and consumers.

Environmental Journalism
JOUR3046
Explores specialized coverage of environmental issues by journalists, emphasizing news reporting with the opportunity to produce print, visual and multimedia news reports.

Visual Journalism
JOUR3065
Examines current trends in visual digital journalism; develops skills in photojournalism, multimedia and video storytelling. Instructor approved digital camera required.

Black Documentary Film Archival Practices
JOUR3575/AFRA3575
Critical and historical examination of Black American archival usage through documentary films and media.

Video Storytelling
JOUR4065 (formerly Advanced Visual Journalism)
Explores journalistic storytelling techniques through video. Students will learn how to gather video and audio content and develop production and post-production techniques to create and publish extended narrative multimedia projects.

Supervised Field Internship
JOUR4091

CORE COURSES

Press in America
JOUR1002

Newswriting I
JOUR2000W

Newswriting II
JOUR2001W

Portfolio I: Multimedia Skills
JOUR2111

Journalism Ethics
JOUR3002

Media Law
JOUR3020
Analyze First Amendment issues (speech and press) with clarity and accuracy. Navigate laws regulating newsgathering and publication. Create effective public records requests. Analyze and obtain court records. Develop strategies to avoid libel and defamation. Understand the history of U.S. statutes and legal precedents that have shaped modern media law. Evaluate how restrictions on free expression have historically targeted minority groups and dissidents
and the conundrum of regulating hate speech in the U.S. Understand the U.S. protections of a free press and freedom of expression in a global context.

Multiplatform Editing
JOUR3030 (formerly The Editor's Craft)

Portfolio II - Multimedia Production
JOUR3111

Portfolio III - Professional Presentation
JOUR4111

Journalism Internship and Involvement Fair on Oct. 12

Posted on October 7, 2022January 2, 2025 by UConn Journalism

The UConn Journalism Department hosted a Journalism Involvement and Internship Fair on Wednesday October 12 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. on the 4^th Floor of Oak Hall (outside Oak 439).

Students from any major could learn about paid and for-credit internships in TV, radio, digital & print news, multimedia production, social media and audience engagement.

Students discovered media-related experiential activities on and off campus, including opportunities in writing, reporting, photography, audio and video production, design and social media.

Participating organizations included: The Daily Campus, UCTV, WHUS, Nutmeg Publishing, Planet Forward, The Connecticut Mirror's Student Voices Project, Connecticut Public, The CT Examiner, The Writing Minor, UConn Sports Business Association, UConn Championship Labs and Society of Professional Journalists.

Questions? Email journalism@uconn.edu

What We Did This Summer: Fellowships, Internships, Research

Posted on September 20, 2022October 10, 2022 by UConn Journalism

Internship at WCVB Channel 5 in Boston

UConn junior Sophia Dover, center, completed a summer internship at WCVB News Center 5, the ABC News affiliate in Boston. She worked in the creative service department, which gave her the opportunity to experience every step of the production process. Sophia participated in daily newsroom meetings, attended live field shoots, wrote topical and promotional scripts, as well as edited numerous pieces that appeared on air. She also shadowed anchors and producers during live newscasts, learning the ins and outs of the broadcasting process in front and behind the camera. The two anchors pictured are Maria Stephanos and Ed Harding.

Internship at Washington Post Creative Group

UConn senior Christie Wang worked as an editorial intern for the Washington Post Creative Group, the branded content team at the Washington Post. Working on the Creative Leads team, she experienced the full life-cycle of custom advertising from pre-sale to post-sale. She wrote proposal copy, article copy, headlines and promo copy for branded content stories. She also imagined and pitched creative partnerships to clients. Christie's internship was based out of New York, but she took a trip to the DC office to help out with and attend a WP Live event.

UConn senior Samara Thacker worked as an intern with Lockheed Martin for the second summer in a row. She supported the company's Rotary and Mission Systems business, crafting newsletters and producing videos to educate and engage employees. Samara said she enjoys “the great sense of community that the company provides for interns” including mentoring and networking opportunities. Previously, she produced and hosted seven episodes of The Lockheed Martin Intern Experience Podcast. Samara is a Journalism major with minors in Communications and Africana Studies

‘Landfall’ documentary screening and Q&A event on Oct. 13

Posted on September 1, 2022April 1, 2025 by UConn Journalism

The Department of Journalism will host an in-person screening and Q&A for the documentary LANDFALL, on Thursday, Oct. 13.

Screening Time: 12:30 - 2 p.m.

Filmmaker Q&A, moderated by Assistant Professor Martine Granby: 2:00 pm - 3:15pm

Location: Gant North 020

About the Film: Through shard-like glimpses of everyday life in post-Hurricane María Puerto Rico, LANDFALL is a cautionary tale for our times. Set against the backdrop of protests that toppled the US colony’s governor in 2019, the film offers a prismatic portrait of collective trauma and resistance.

While the devastation of María attracted a great deal of media coverage, the world has paid far less attention to the storm that preceded it: a 72-billion-dollar debt crisis crippling Puerto Rico well before the winds and waters hit. LANDFALL examines the kinship of these two storms—one environmental, the other economic—juxtaposing competing utopian visions of recovery.

Featuring intimate encounters with Puerto Ricans as well as the newcomers flooding the island, LANDFALL reflects on a question of contemporary global relevance: when the world falls apart, who do we become?

This event is cosponsored by: Department of Journalism, Humanities Institute, el Instituto: Institute of Latina/o. Caribbean and Latin American Studies, the Women's Gender and Sexuality Studies and the Africana Studies Institute

Register for the event: s.uconn.edu/landfall