Alternative Learning

Olivia Lewis

Walking around on the campus of Hampton University I have heard the pompous remarks from business, engineering, and pharmacy majors ridiculing journalism as an easy major. The work of a journalist is not lax, it’s just different. The work outside of the classroom truly mirrors what a journalism student has learned.

At the University of Missouri students are taught by doing, while at most universities journalism students are taught in a structured classes to gain experience on their own. The burning question still stands, how do you get experience if jobs, including internships, require prior jobs?

Many university’s have school newspapers, radio stations, and even television stations; but all run by students with faculty advisors. The University of Missouri has them all; the difference is they also have community news outlets on campus run by professionals where students work as staff.  The movement of teaching journalism in the workplace, rather than 24/7 classroom time is monumental.

The novelty idea is one of the many that have helped Missouri claim itself as one of the top journalism schools in the country and proves that a large part of journalism should be taught in the workplace.


“In journalism you have to learn-by-doing,” said Greg Bowers, sports editor of The Missourian.


His statement is true. Media outlets expect potential employees to already have experience. 


“It’s kind of like an internship on campus,” Bowers said. 


As a professor of the Missouri journalism school, Bowers believes the system works because of the direction it gives students. 


“Students have passion and energy but no direction. They need help with direction and that’s where we come in,” Bowers said.