Owens' Intro to Photojournalism course: The little engine that could

Intro to Photojournalism class, featuring Bittersweet Farms marketing director Shannon Dane, center. The class went to Bittersweet Farms to shoot their team photo story, published in the Owens Outlook student newspaper. (Photo by Lori King)

Dec. 4 Screen shot of Owens Outlook student newspaper.

  The end is here, and what do students have to show for it?

   In too many college classes, final grades and a stack of textbooks are all that tangibly remain once the semester is over.

  Sure, most students gain a heightened intellect in every class they take.

  However, potential employers want to see visible proof that their hires are capable, dependable and talented. This is especially true for students who are expected to have a portfolio to prove their worth.

  I am lucky enough to have the type of course that can provide that proof: Ten students in my Intro to Photojournalism class are the  ‘little engine that could.’

  Not only do they have required classroom assignments, they also are staff members of the Owens Outlook student newspaper, which covers a campus with about 13,000 enrolled students.
   Let me make this perfectly clear - these 10 students are the ONLY staff members on the student newspaper, except for Kyle, who will be taking the Intro to PJ class next Fall.
   This small staff publishes fresh content, including stories, videos and photo galleries, every week, and they don't even get paid!

   The Intro to PJ class is very progressive and task-based.

• In only four months they learn the following theories and skills:
  • What news is
  • The Anatomy of a newspaper
  • How to caption photos using the Associated Press Stylebook
  • Create and maintain blogs, Twitter and Instagram accounts
  • Shoot feature, sports, portrait and photo stories
  • Write, write, write
      I’m well aware most of the 10 commercial photography majors won’t  go into the photojournalism field, but I’m confident these skills will benefit them in whatever field they choose.
     Alas, the end is indeed here, but their blogs, tweets and Outlook stories shall live on forever!
  

  

  Screen shot of Dec. 4 post by Owens Outlook EIC Katie Buzdor. #proud

   To view their individual course blogs, go to King's Klass Blog.