Journalism dept. revamps curriculum
Newswriting I course changed to reflect growing importance of online media
Jomaire Crawford, Staff Writer
Issue date: 1/24/07Section: News
As increasing numbers of people are relying on the Web to stay updated on the news, weather, sports and entertainment, St. John's University has realized the possibility that newspapers will some day become an outdated media source. The recent rise of other mass media forms, including blogs and webcasts has led professors to create a new curriculum for the journalism department.
The recent change affects the Newswriting I course. The course is now being team-taught by Dr. Roger Wetherington, associate professor and director of journalism, and Dr. Judith Cramer, associate professor with a specialization in electronic journalism.
According to Wetherington, after the two teamed up, they decided that the course would focus on half newspaper journalism and half electronic. Therefore, for the first half of the semester one section learns print journalism while the other learns radio and television news. Midway through the semester the professors switch classrooms.
Referring to himself as a "dinosaur," Wetherington realizes his strength lies in newspaper journalism, having worked as an assistant city editor at the Daily News and copy editor at the New York Times. Therefore, instead of Wetherington teaching electronic news writing, an area that he is not familiar with, Cramer steps in and shares her expertise in the field in which she has more than 10 years of experience. Wetherington said the decision came after the two realized that anyone given the job to teach students about a particular subject "must be able to do the job themselves."
Cramer will be attending a Poynter Institute seminar titled "Convergence for College Educators" in February. She said the event should "provide helpful information about media convergence and teaching across platforms," which includes print, electronic and the Web. This gives students an advantage because they will not simply spend classtime reading a textbook or hearing about the textbook author's experience in the communications field-rather, it will be the first-hand encounters of their professors, Cramer and Wetherington, that they learn from.
The recent change affects the Newswriting I course. The course is now being team-taught by Dr. Roger Wetherington, associate professor and director of journalism, and Dr. Judith Cramer, associate professor with a specialization in electronic journalism.
According to Wetherington, after the two teamed up, they decided that the course would focus on half newspaper journalism and half electronic. Therefore, for the first half of the semester one section learns print journalism while the other learns radio and television news. Midway through the semester the professors switch classrooms.
Referring to himself as a "dinosaur," Wetherington realizes his strength lies in newspaper journalism, having worked as an assistant city editor at the Daily News and copy editor at the New York Times. Therefore, instead of Wetherington teaching electronic news writing, an area that he is not familiar with, Cramer steps in and shares her expertise in the field in which she has more than 10 years of experience. Wetherington said the decision came after the two realized that anyone given the job to teach students about a particular subject "must be able to do the job themselves."
Cramer will be attending a Poynter Institute seminar titled "Convergence for College Educators" in February. She said the event should "provide helpful information about media convergence and teaching across platforms," which includes print, electronic and the Web. This gives students an advantage because they will not simply spend classtime reading a textbook or hearing about the textbook author's experience in the communications field-rather, it will be the first-hand encounters of their professors, Cramer and Wetherington, that they learn from.
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