WVU journalism students to teach new media

Many small community newspapers are struggling to make the transition to the Internet. Sometimes their reporters are so busy, they don’t have time to learn how to shoot video, gather sound and produce multi-media stories for the Web.

But soon, journalism students from West Virginia University will be helping those small-town reporters learn the skills they need to post stories on the Internet. WVU has just been awarded a $85,000 grant from the McCormick Foundation for the multimedia training program.

Maryanne Reed, dean of WVU’s P.I. Reed School of Journalism, explains how it will work.

"We’ll be teaching the reporters how to use technology, certain things like small video cameras and audio recorders that are very inexpensive that can be used to capture stories in the field. As well, students will be able to work with reporters and really share the concepts behind producing content for the web. What stories work best with video, what stories work best with audio, in a way that will really appeal to readers."

Students also will improve their multi-media skills by passing them on to others.

Reed says, "The students have had a lot of experience learning how to produce pieces through multiple formats for newspapers, broadcast and the web. Also, the students will learn through the process of teaching. There’s no better way to learn your subject than to teach it. It’s a really good opportunity for our students to do outreach throughout the state and hopefully, have a really positive impact on the future of journalism."

The journalism school’s assistant dean, John Temple, will be spearheading the project. Reed says it is an extension of the school’s other community journalism efforts, such as a program to help a community radio station in Monroe County.