Drake University students returned this fall to find courses to help them master multimedia journalism and develop entrepreneurial skills.
The School of Journalism and Mass Communication has added a lab component to the introduction to mass media class that all first-year journalism students are required to take.
“Students will take the lab every Friday,” said Kathleen Richardson, director of the school. “They will be introduced to basic Web design, digital photography, multimedia communication, programs like Photoshop and video editing and audio.”
In addition, Drake will offer a course on Entrepreneurial Journalism Online. The course will be taught by Chris Snider, assistant managing editor for digital at the Des Moines Register, who has taught a visual communication course at Drake for several years.
“The new course is an elective that will encourage students to take an adventurous, entrepreneurial approach to their careers,” Richardson said.
She said that both classes are part of the Drake journalism school’s response to the revolution occurring in all aspects of the communications industry due to the growth of the Internet.
The school will also gain a new faculty member in public relations — Kelly Everling, assistant professor of journalism – while Associate Professor Lori Blachford will begin her role as the Peggy Fisher and Larry Stelter chair of magazine journalism.