Kellogg Community College students this summer will for the first time in several years have the opportunity to take a journalism class during the summer semester.
JOUR 112: News Writing, usually only offered in the spring, has been added to the summer schedule and will run asynchronously online from June 1 through Aug. 5.
Here are six reasons to take JOUR 112: News Writing this summer, according to course instructor Simon Thalmann:
- JOUR 112 is offered online and “asynchronous,” meaning you don’t have to be in a certain place at a certain time to complete your work (as long as you turn it in by the due dates). You can work remotely and flexibly on your own schedule to complete required coursework.
- Some JOUR 112 assignments will be published in The Bruin News, KCC’s online student newspaper, which gives students the opportunity to build writing credits that will look great on resumes and college applications in the future. One of the College’s recent Bruin News editors even took Third Place for Journalist of the Year in the latest Michigan Community College Press Association Awards.
- JOUR 112 fulfills one of the two class requirements from the Effective Communication category of General Education/Applied Core classes required to earn an associate degree at KCC.
- JOUR 112 is among the classes that can be used to fulfill requirements in the Communications category of the Michigan Transfer Agreement.
- JOUR 112 transfers to more than two dozen colleges and universities in Michigan, including Western Michigan University, the top transfer destination for KCC students. Click here for a list of colleges and universities in Michigan JOUR 112 will transfer to.
- JOUR 112 starts two weeks later than most summer classes — on June 1 — so students have extra time to prepare.
According to Thalmann, JOUR 112 grades are based on a mix of short quizzes, interview and story assignments, which will give students a comprehensive introductory education in the creation of basic news stories through instruction related to:
- Information collection (through background research, interviews and personal observation)
- Information presentation (through the exploration of news writing style and structure)
- Information distribution (via considerations related to social media, advertising and public relations tactics relevant to media professionals)
JOUR 112 students will learn the basics of journalism through consistent hands-on learning and practice, significantly improve their writing and communication skills, Thalmann said.
“The goal is for our students to finish the class equipped with the confidence and experience necessary to pursue continuing education in the journalism field or even entry-level internships,” he said.
Thalmann is a former online editor for Booth Newspapers/MLive and a former Kalamazoo Gazette reporter who works as the digital marketing manager in the Public Information and Marketing Department at KCC, where he writes press releases and other content for the College, manages the KCC Daily blog and runs the College’s main social media channels. He also oversees the College’s search and social media advertising; serves as the College’s official photographer; advises the student staff of The Bruin News; is creator and writer of the College’s award-winning “Blaze Goes to College” children’s book series; and is cofounder and coordinator of Bruin Boo, KCC’s annual Halloween/trick-or-treating event for families.
For more information about JOUR 112: News Writing, contact Thalmann at 269-303-0298 or at thalmanns@kellogg.edu. For information about signing up for summer semester classes, the first of which begin May 17, visit www.kellogg.edu/registration.