They are a diverse group. Freshmen to seniors. Journalism majors. A nursing major. Some who have not yet chosen a major.
Something is working for most of them this semester.
Let me explain:
For the first few weeks of class, they read The Amazing Life of Henrietta Lacks and we discussed it. We talked about the intersection of quality reporting and writing. We had spirited discussions about how society could have allowed the medical establishment to have taken Henrietta Lacks' cells without her knowledge or without compensating her family. And we also discussed the techniques that the author and reporter, Rebecca Skloot used to compile the story.
Then, for the last two weeks, the students were on their own to find a person to interview and to feature in a character sketch.
Their work has been extraordinary.
But don't take my word for it.
Read the stories for yourself here:
Some summaries:
John Veauthieu started his interview with Emily Stanley thinking that he was going to compile a story about a woman who has faced challenging situations in life and who has chosen unconventional means of dealing with those challenges. Instead, he has written a compelling narrative about a woman who was quite candid concerning the choices she's made in her life and about her assessment of her own education. The story opens with a compelling quote from Emily:
“We fight to beat the odds, and then we beat the odds and we’re still in the same place that we were in the beginning. It’s like, college I didn’t know my only reward would be internal.”
In traditional journalism classes (whatever they are today) students are usually discouraged from writing in the first person. This is not a traditional journalism course. It's Journalism as Literature and these are not traditional times. After much discussion with the class and careful consideration, student Natalie Hoezel kept herself in the moving account of one woman's battle with breast cancer. Natalie said she was incredibly moved by this interview.
Student Billy Ludt has captured a fascinating story about a man who fills his days and nights by stocking the shelves of a local Giant Eagle and calling into local radio talk shows.
Laura McDonough has produced a story about a long-time high school substitute teacher. (Keep in mind that this assignment was the student's first work and the students were only required to talk to one person.) The students welcome comments.
Alexis Rufener tells about a woman who has four children, a minimum wage job at a Dairy Queen and a desire to create a better life for your children. When you read about this woman's daily routine, you are going to need your own energy drink.
Journalism major John Stran spent time with a local record store owner and guitarist capturing the stories of the glory days. This aging rocker isn't about to let anything stand between him and music though. The story is entertaining and even includes a little recording.
Another journalism major, Erik Svenson got a lesson about growing up in post-Depression Youngstown. Svenson captures one man's memories of stripping cars and playing pranks.
Chris McBride, a journalism student, spent days talking to an Eastern Gateway professor about his life. McBride has produced a fascinating draft about a psychology professor's own battle with depression and struggles with religion.
