Journalism Basics
Dylan Arnold
Fall 2018 J1 Student
United States
I took 21st Century Journalism because I enjoy writing and photography. I also had previous experience with the yearbook committee at my old school. Another reason I took this class is because 21st Century Journalism is a prerequisite for Newspaper and Yearbook, both of which had previously caught my eye.
In 21st Century Journalism, I learned a variety of useful skills that I can apply in future classes and jobs. I learned how to use Adobe InDesign and Adobe Illustrator to produce media and graphics. I also learned more about imovie and how to create a multimedia project. I also enhanced my photoshop skills, something which I had previously had little to no experience.
I'm still undecided on if I want to pursue a career in yearbook or journalism.
Some of the things I liked in this class is the ability to move at your own pace on projects. While some deadlines are critical, most projects progress and develop throughout the course of weeks and you can move at your own pace. I specifically enjoyed making graphics for the Typography assignment because it allowed for a lot of creative thinking. On many of the projects, creative thinking is encouraged by the teacher and no two projects are alike.
Something I can do differently next year is work on turning in assignments in on time. I struggle with deadlines and often procrastinate and while my teacher was extremely lenient and nice about grading late assignments, turning projects or homework in late in the future simply won't cut it.
"When adults say, ' Teenagers think they're invincible ' with that sly, stupid grin on their face, they don't know how right they are. We need never be hopeless because we can never be irreparably broke. We think that we are invincible because we are. We cannot be born, and we cannot die. Like all energy, we can only change. Shapes and sizes and manifestations. They forget that when they are old. They get scared of losing and failing. But that part of us greater than the sum of our parts cannot begin, and it cannot end, so it cannot fail." - John Green
