Some pre-semester advice for students

A few thoughts for my students before heading back to the classroom.

Yes, I know some of you “only want to write.”

That’s fine: the world needs more polished writers and storytellers. I’m not going to argue, either, that it limits your job prospects, because determined, talented people will always find their niche. But the other skills we force you to learn — in audio, video, photography, social media and on and on — are good for your writing, too.

Beyond the technical skills, everything is about finding and structuring information. Learning how to shoot and edit video or audio sharpens your ability to recognize the scenes of your story. Developing your photographic skills sharpens you ability to see. Skills in using social media develop your ability to cast wide and focus narrowly.

By all means, become the writer you know you can be, but learn the rest of it well and apply those skills to your reporting and to the way you put your words on paper.

It’s not just about the classroom

A classroom exercise, or series of exercises, will give you the grounding you need for specific skills. The only way you will develop those skills is through repeated use and exploration of the possibilities. Outside the classroom, beyond the homework, you need to push it, whether “it” is writing, photography, multimedia storytelling or engagement with audience. Preferably, all of that and more.

Carry a camera, even if it’s just a $100 point-and-shoot, and use it. Write regularly. Create some video. Gather and edit audio. Give yourself assignments. Do it all with purpose — to learn a specific technique or skill, to learn to write short or structure complexity, etc. Publish it, where people can see it and comment on it.

Follow the news news

You’ve been hearing this since the beginning, but I’m going to put a twist on it. The news you really need to follow is the news about news media. You need to know what’s happening with and in media, because that’s the news that is having the greatest effect on you and your future.

Find and follow the media news organizations and bloggers that make sense to you and speak to your career goals and desires. Find some you disagree with. Read them regularly.

Start your portfolio now

Early in the semester, I’ll show you how to build a free, online portfolio. Build it and start using it now, putting up your best pieces or writing, photography, design work and other items. At this point, don’t worry that a single piece isn’t excellent.

Set aside a half-hour every week to work your portfolio, because it’s not a static document. Add to it as you produce more and better stuff. Delete the older and weaker. Reorganize as necessary to put the emphasis on the skills that you want to promote. Get feedback from others, inside and outside the program.

It’s your education

There are some things I want to teach you. There are some things you want to learn. Most, but not all, of the time, those line up. If I’m not teaching you something you want to or need to learn, let me know.

Relax

Everyone learns at a different pace. All I’m expecting is that you are doing the best that you can at the time of the doing. Charlie Smith, editor of the Georgia Straight and a former teacher here at Kwantlen, once gave students the best advice I’ve ever heard for passing a course: Show up, pay attention and do the work. It really is that simple.

And, if you’re not having fun with most of this, we’re all doing something wrong.

Go read Suzanne

Suzanne Yada has written the blog post Resolutions for journalism students, part 1. I consider it essential reading.