2018-2019 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
    Mar 29, 2024  
2018-2019 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Electronic Journalism Arts - Lyndon


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Tim Lewis, Professor
Meaghan Meachem, Associate Professor
Donna Smith, Assistant Professor
Aaron Young, Video Broadcast/Theatre Operations Technician

Bachelor of Science in Electronic Journalism Arts

Associate of Science in Electronic Journalism Arts

Minor: Electronic Journalism Arts for Broadcast Meteorologists

 

Mission Statement

The Northern Vermont University-Lyndon (formally Lyndon State College) Department of Electronic Journalism Arts offers preparation toward a professional career in the ever-changing field of journalistic storytelling across multiple visual and media technologies, leading to an Associate’s Degree or Bachelor of Science Degree. Classroom study complements extensive hands-on experience at both the introductory and advanced levels.

Program Description

Our common program goals are designed to ensure that our students acquire the skills and knowledge necessary for professional career opportunities in electronic journalism (visual, editorial, online, print.) The two-year Associate of Science degree provides individually designed study for those persons seeking skills enhancement for entry-level professional opportunities. The four-year Bachelor of Science degree consistently leads to entry-level career placement upon graduation. A minor designed for broadcast meteorologists enhances their chances for employment with field reporting and photojournalism techniques to add to their in-studio “green-screen” skills.

Program Goals

Graduates of the program will demonstrate proficiency and creativity in written, oral, and presentational communication. Graduates will also acquire the critical thinking and analytical skills demanded by the profession and required for success in the rapidly changing information industry. The experiential nature of the program through the Vermont Center for Community Journalism, internships, field trips, regional conference participation, and national convention attendance are unmatched in all of New England.

The Electronic Journalism Arts program trains students in reporting methods and techniques for visual, editorial, online and print mediums. The program produces graduates able to report across multiple platforms with research and presentation abilities needed for success in fields beyond journalism. Students may select courses to specialize in a particular medium. The capstone community service learning experience for students takes place in the Vermont Center for Community Journalism at NVU-Lyndon. The VCCJ provides a geographical laboratory and classroom instruction for the training of journalists in the various communication modes that deliver news and information vital to communities for the practice of democracy and a civilized society.

NVU-Lyndon’s Electronic Journalism Arts program enjoys a growing national reputation for excellence. In 2013 and 2014 EJA was named one of the Top 10 Journalism Education Programs in the country by a survey of news professionals conducted by the Radio Television Digital News Association and Crain’s TV NewsPro Magazine. The VCCJ’s web outlet NewsLINC went online in 2008 and immediately became nationally recognized-named as a Finalist, Best StudentWebsite, by the Broadcast Education Association in 2009, 2010, and 2011; and by the College Media Advisors in 2009). NewsLINC joined the established and award-winning live broadcasts of LSC-TV News 7, which was named Best College Newscast in the Country by the Society of Professional Journalists in 1997 and won an NATAS Emmy in 2004. The VCCJ also debuted a new electronic print publication NewsINK 2010. Since 1987, students in the program have received some 110 awards for their work - 37 of those in national competition.

Student Learning Outcomes

Graduates completing the major in Electronic Journalism Arts will be able to:

1. Demonstrate competency in the various elements associated with electronic journalism and non-news video, print and web content production.
2. Utilize video/image acquisition, studio production written communication, and online technologies to meet minimum expected industry standards for entry-level positions.
3. Tell significant stories to self-governing citizens in an interesting and relevant fashion utilizing various media technologies
4. Meet and maintain industry ethics, practices and standards, maintained by the National Press Photographer Association (NPPA), the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) and the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA).

Program Assessment

Regular changes are made to our Electronic Journalism Arts program, based on cooperative education supervisor feedback and other assessment gathering information tools. Since our interns are placed in positions that demand appropriate and up-to-date skills, we are able to adjust the program based on the success and limitations that result from our students’ cooperative education placements, and alumni feedback.

In addition, the faculty is actively engaged in working with and observing the industry. Faculty members have been awarded grants for extended visitations and participation at regional news outlets such as WCAX-TV CBS Affiliate, Vermont Public Radio, and at national media such as CNN. These activities provide continuous assessment of the program.

Public feedback from viewers of LSC-TV programming also provides documentation for our program assessments. In a similar fashion our competency-based assessment of individual students helps us identify possible changes in the program itself as do the end-of-term “demo reels” or portfolios we require of our students.

Since 1996, the program has achieved consistent recognition regionally and nationally from organizations such as the Associated Press, the Society for Professional Journalists, the Broadcast Education Association, the Vermont Association of Broadcasters, College Broadcasters Inc., the American Women in Radio & Television, the College Media Advisors and the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Foundation. Students consistently achieve recognition by those same organizations as award winners in photojournalism, feature and spot-news reporting (broadcast and online) as well as overall excellence in journalism.

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