Fast Start for Student Journalists in New COM Program
Students in the class taught by Steve Greenlee, a COM professor of the practice of journalism, are getting real-world experience, publishing 30 stories already in outlets including WBUR, the Dorchester Reporter, the Newton Beacon and the Lexington Observer.
Fast Start for Student Journalists in New COM Program
Students have already written stories for more than a dozen community and nonprofit news publications
BU’s College of Communication journalism department took a big swing this semester, and it’s already paying off for students—and for nonprofit community news outlets in the Boston area.
A new COM initiative paired students with various news outlets in the region. Students reported and wrote stories that were edited by their professor before being sent to those outlets for publication online or in print.
As of Monday, just a few weeks into their semester, the 18 third- and fourth-year students in JO 400—also called The Newsroom—have already published 30 stories in outlets like WBUR, the Dorchester Reporter, the Newton Beacon, the Lexington Observer, the Needham Observer, Fig City News, and the Waltham Times. Their stories include reporting on a mayoral candidate and a local appearance by the Harlem Wizards, an anti-smoking project, concerns around bus fees for students, and pedestrian safety or lack thereof.
“This brand-new program is off to a strong start,” says Steve Greenlee, a COM professor of the practice of journalism and a former editor at the Boston Globe and Portland Press Herald, who was hired last July to create and run the class. “Our newsroom of student journalists is already making a big difference for the local news organizations in Greater Boston.”
The goal was to give the students real-world experience and “clips”—digital or otherwise—while bolstering the 15 participating nonprofit news organizations.
“I couldn’t be happier with the launch or prouder of these impressive young journalists,” Greenlee says. “As our students sharpen their skills, they’re also helping local residents stay better informed about what’s happening in their communities.”
Read some of their stories:
Seeking to capitalize on November wins, MassGOP trains local candidates for office
Despite the emphasis on pedestrian safety, Dot, Mattapan residents still don’t feel safe
A first-ever ‘caninedacy’ for Mayor of Dorchester
Plan for new Mattapan complex aims to foster connection among children and senior adults
Winchester Sen. Jason Lewis files Nicotine Free Generation bill
Harlem Wizards dazzle sold-out crowd at Kennedy Middle School
Young people sound off on Newton’s new ‘Tobacco-free Generation’ policy
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