shoe66

TheLorax:

I totally agree with you. The point that elsijfdl is missing is that by trying to teach so-called new technologies to its students, Medill may simply, in part, be wasting its resources and the students' money and time.
Newspapers don't have R&D departments. In fact, history has proven that the industry is a poor predictor of its own future. I can remember our own paper dumping millions of dollars on a new computer system around 1985-90 because it thought "that Windows thing" wasn't the way to go.
This current fixation with blogs and podcasts will pass, mostly because there are better "instant" news sites. In the end, the better trained journalists won't be the ones who learned how to use a camcorder and iPod at Medill, but the ones who were taught their craft responsibly, ethically and creatively. Hopefully at Northwestern.
Popmartyb is correct. Anyone entering the profession these days should do so with an open mind. The newspaper business has about as poor a business plan for the internet as any industry on the planet. (Its lifeblood is advertising revenue, yet it virtually gives away its product for free on the internet, which discourages people from ever seeing those ads).

Susa

Wow, I definitely did not expect this to turn into a discussion. Sorry for not being more active, guys. Well, here's what I can offer:

On the $40,000 education and the risk of your Medill education being useless:

Your Medill education absolutely will not be useless. Even in the first quarter, where you barely do writing, they put a HUGE emphasis on ethical standards, well-researched pieces, and careful quote-usage and phrase arrangement. You just can't go wrong - if this is truly what you want to do.

Plus, Northwestern has an awesome arrangement of classes. I took an incredible course on urban Latino life (LAT_AM 351: El Barrio, if any of you are interested) that has changed my perspective on immigrants - all nationalities - as a whole. There are a million aspects of NU that most have well to be excited about. There are several other reasons I'm transferring alongside with being dissatisfied witht the 21st Century Dedia deal, mainly dealing with the cold hard fact that Northwestern was just a poor match for me.

On podcasts and blogging being useless:

Maybe they will be, eventually. But the main point that Medill is trying to make in introducing these new platforms of journalism is that journalism IS branching out. The main focuses of the intro class are:

1) Laying down the expectations of being a journalist of today and tomorrow
2) Understanding the market that you will be working in

The New Market:

Look at yourselves. How often do you read, digest, and remember everything you read in a newspaper? How often do you watch a full news report without changing the channel at least once? How often do you absorb every form of media you read, see, hear, and are exposed to? Medill is gearing journalists to be ready for the challenge of catering to a desensitized audience, and this means branching out into other forms of exposure besides radio, tv, and the internet. In addition to this, many people already have their niche news organizations - CNN, New York Times, Fox News - that they pay attention to. My roommate, for example, would read nothing but the Times. My parents (who are ultra-conservative) only watch Fox News. However you may scoff at this, at them being blind to biased news, you've gotta understand (as a journalist of the future) that this is YOUR audience that you must reach. Medill is doing everything they can to prepare with the ways and means to do this.

My problem with this came in the fact that I couldn't stand the idea of pouring my heart into an occupation where the majority of the consumers were going to eat up and digest and **** out my work without a second thought about genocide in Darfur or a school shooting or a corrupt, oppressive government other than "Hmph. That's too bad." Today's audience, and the way news for these new platforms must be formatted, cuts everything out of a story except for the very cold, hard facts, which do little to move a human being.

TheLorax

thank you Susa, your posts have been very helpful/insightful. I've applied to both Medill and UChicago (as contradictory as this may sound to some) and lament the decision between a broad liberal arts curriculum and hyper-focused journalism curriculum. I know I want to write as a career, but that's about it so far.

Sam Lee

You can still get a broad liberal arts curriculum even if you choose to go to Medill. If I am not mistaken, Medill students are required to have 2/3 of their classes taken in other schools. Many Medill students end up with a second major in WCAS.

laughingbrunette

I know this may seem out a little out of context, but in Time Magazine's Person of the Year issue it heavily goes into this subject of today’s news outlets changing. That is, if you wanted to read some of the articles yourself.

I can definitely see how print journalism's audience is slowly evaporating (as a sophomore working for my h.s. newspaper haha), and the need to learn different sources of outlets is becoming more imperative; but it doesn't take 40k to learn how to podcast, create a website, etc. I've learned how to maneuver these independently, and so have the majority of my peers. The price seems a little out scary at first, but if you say that with Medill opens the door to more opportunities of great internships, and worthwhile connections then it should be worthwhile. Aren’t one of the essential keys in succeeding in this field is having good connections?

username17

so if the new medill opens up more opportunities in technology/media related careers, does it open up opportunities anywhere else?

granted, i'm only a sophomore. but i'm interested in journalism, political science and law... let's say i got into medill and did a double major in political science but then after 4 years i decided i didn't want to be a journalist (because i too am more interested in print journalism.) with that background, could i apply to law school or go into government? or does medill prepare you with really specialized skills that are only really applicable to today's technology/journalism world?

Mcailles

I'm a sophomore in Medill and I just wanted to clarify some of the misconceptions about the equipment requirements for incoming freshman. Medill strongly recommends, but in no way requires, that students purchase the $3,500 (not $6,000) worth of equipment.

Susa

In response to Mcailles, I'm positive that as a freshman, the amount was somewhere around $6000. I never bought the equipment, but those who did complained frequently about the cost. You might also note that last years freshmen ('06 highschool class) were the 'guinea pigs' for Medill's new changes and requirements. That's exactly what my freshman advisor called it. Mcailles might be right for those at sophomore levels and above, but I think it's different for younger classes.

Everyone I knew at Northwestern, so far as I know, loves it. Looking back on my own experience, the best advice I can give is not to go to Medill JUST because you like to write, or are a good writer.

Anyways, I just wanted to give a quick update - I transferred (to a state school, if that interests any higher-end-school prospects) and am majoring in a field I love, and I don't regret leaving Northwestern at all. The ability to write is a gift and an art and I love it, and it has helped and will continue to help me for the rest of my life.

If you have a passion, go for it. If it's journalism - the pure act of gathering and reporting and everything else that's coming with its new territory - do it. But if it's something else and you just happen to love writing also, let the writing aide you, not lead you.

_taryn_

With regard to equipment expenses, this year's incoming Medill freshman are recommended to buy a $2,500 computer/software bundle.

I think that in and of itself is absolutely ridiculous - I can't even imagine having to buy $6,000 worth of equipment.

Sam Lee

xnormajeanx

After my first few quarters at Medill, I thought about transferring too. You can even look back at my posts and see my desperate requests for advice. Well guess what. I'm still here. I'm a senior. I'm about to graduate. And I've loved my Medill experience. Yeah, Medill is going through a lot of changes. Classes have a different emphasis. But I don't think it'll be for the worse. I like to complain about Medill 20/20 as much as the next Medill kid, but I still think Medill gave me great chances to contribute to public service. There are still professors who really believe in journalism.

I also believe that what makes Medill really great isn't so much the classes as the community of students and faculty who are passionate about writing and muckraking. If the dean doesn't -- who cares. You don't have to interact with him. I've been inspired by some of my professors, my classmates, and the student publications at Northwestern. I've been involved in The Daily Northwestern for several years -- including being editorials "forum" editor -- and that has been a more valuable experience to me than any classroom.

Medill's career services are still great. Without them, I would not have gotten my internship at The Charlotte Observer last year, and The Associated Press this summer. And I wouldn't have gotten a Dow Jones Newspaper Fund internship and scholarship.

Basically what I'm saying is, Medill is worth it. You just have to be willing to put effort into your education. It's not all about sitting in class. If that's all you do, then not only are you wasting your own time, you're wasting everybody else's, too.

csquaredx

someone mentioned something about spending $2500 on 'equipment' as a freshman.. i'm just wondering what specific equipment is required..or recommended .. is it just a tool to create podcasts?

_taryn_

After being nearly finished with two quarters of Medill, we have used/purchased the following equipment:

voice recorder
video camera (w/ firewire cable for connecting it to laptop)
lavalier microphone
tripod
Adobe Creative Suite software (InDesign, Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Premiere Elements, Photoshop Elements, Flash)
digital camera

It all gets pretty costly, but if need be, you can rent half of the above from Medill and fine the rest on Amazon for a lower price. It's well worth it.

jessielou1189

Susa: I am an aspiring journalist as well and an applicant to Northwestern..but share many of your concerns. Do you mind sharing your new career goals, or where you might transfer to?

elsijfdl

actually, i think medill might have MORE required distribution classes than UChicago