Well, yes, it would be nice if journalism students knew something about grammar and spelling, wouldn't it?
From the Daily Tar Heel:
Spelling test causes distress among some
Journalism school may offer course
September 16, 2009
Trevor Kapp
For about 40 years, the School of Journalism and Mass Communication’s spelling and grammar test has caused doubt, discomfort and distress for hundreds of journalism students.
The exam, which consists of 100 questions and is a requirement to graduate the school, was offered last week for the first time this year.
The journalism faculty will discuss Friday whether to require a one-credit hour spelling and grammar course before students begin taking other journalism classes.
Students would be able to take News Writing the same semester as the spelling and grammar course.
Bryan Murley at PBS MediaShift asks why more college student newspapers don't have web sites. It's a good question, and touches on a favorite theme, which is that college journalism students aren't necessarily as cross-trained on platforms as some professionals believe. A number of times, I have been quite surprised to encounter journalism students whose web knowledge seems limited to knowing how to post on Facebook and other social media sites. And many of the college sites aren't as sophisticated as you might expect. So there does seem to be a continuing divide between print and other kinds of media students, one that smart and responsive journalism departments probably ought to address more than they already are.
Here's what Murley says:
Summer's almost over and college newspapers across the country will be cranking up to full speed soon. Likely, they'll be getting ready for further adventures in online journalism, expanding their online presence while attempting to keep the print product financially successful.
But hard as it is to believe, there are still student newspapers around the country that have no online presence at all. At the Associated Collegiate Press Summer Workshops recently, I asked for a show of hands from students whose newspapers didn't have websites. In two sessions, several hands were raised.
