Timeless Experience

Looking back over my last two years of progress as a journalism major, my memories stray back to the moments of fun, anxiety, bewilderment and uncertainty that I have experienced.


Being a student of Journalism and Mass Communications has brought me close to people I can identify with, helping to reaffirm that perhaps I had chosen the right major among the many disciplines that had interested me. Of course, as any college student can relate, some class days feel more beneficial than others. Between the anxiety of major test days and final papers often lay tedious assignments and the inefficient use of class time. It’s not a problem unique to the University of Northern Colorado, but an accepted institution-wide fault that makes the student wonder if his time could be better spent buying books and implementing theories outside the classroom. But there is still much to be learned during these days and a new JMC major would be wise to show some patience in class and supplement assigned work with independent study on topics that he or she has a thirst for.


The JMC program is a comprehensive one that includes every relevant detail about the news and editing process. My final course, Advanced News and Featuring writing, has given me the personal assurance necessary to feel confident in the skills that I can offer to prospective employers. For that reason alone, I consider the JMC program as a success.


One elective of the JMC program that comes highly recommended from faculty, an internship, I would consider mandatory. With recent newspaper foreclosures, such practical experience gives students the leg-up that they need to enter an industry that is extremely competitive and constantly reshaping. Because of this, classes also seem quite flexible. I was pleasantly surprised to develop and learn online news-writing skills by starting this blog in my capstone class, an assignment added midway through the semester.


Overall, I would consider my time spent as a JMC major at UNC very productive and the skills I have learned a real value.