Mike Gruss raises important points/concerns about the journalism program,
and I would like to address some of them.

While I agree that the journalism program needs to work on several fronts
-- curriculum revision, hiring a new faculty member, and developing more
pipelines to intership programs -- those changes will not be a guarantee
for jobs in this highly competitive profession. Students need to hustle to
break into their first jobs.

1) University programs and education will take you only so far in
journalism. Editors value professional experience over education (and those
who value education are likely to like the "English" part of a Miami
degree). My point here is that even if Miami's program were to change
radically, students would still need to be out writing for newspapers and
applying for internships. Columbia's graduate journalism program, arguably
the most respected in the country, is not a guarantee for a job. Many
Columbia grads find themselves (like Miami students) fighting for jobs at
smaller newspapers and other forms of media at the beginning of their
careers.

2) You will be more competitive by having a skill or base of knowledge that
others don't have. In the 1980s, a lot of newspapers were hiring business
writers. Recently, knowledge of the Web has helped people break into Web
pages. Speaking Spanish can help you land a job in a city with a large
Spanish-speaking population. I think Miami's journalism program can help,
but it will be up to students to find their "edge."

3) Journalism as a profession is very demanding. No one is going to hand
you anything (especially not a job). And if you do get a break, it usually
leads to a lot of work. Those of you who want to become working journalists
should be ready for tough working conditions.

I hope that students will not be discouraged by the challenges of the
profession. If someone shuts the door in your face, knock again. If someone
hangs up, call back. And if there's no answer, call back at 2 a.m. You
might get a great (if groggy) quote!!!

Best,

Rodrigo Lazo






>In recent meetings with the journalism department it was agreed that
>everyone wants the program to move forward.  It is disappointing though to
>see that there is no long range plan currently  in place for the
>journalism department.  I believe there are a number of issues which must
>be addressed in order for the program to improve and will discuss them in
>the letter as I doubt the sincerity to which they are being dealt with.
>
>CLASSES: From the many students I have spoken with, it is agreed that more
>journalism classes need to be offered.  These could include "Media and
>Society," "Media Law," or "Computer Assisted Reporting" to name a few.
>While I realize money is required for additional classes to be taught,
>this is a necessity.  If the university is serious about the program, and
>students are seeing as journalism is one of the 10 largest majors at Miami
>(more than literature), the money should follow.  It is asinine for the
>department to offer classes students are not interested in enrolling.  Ask
>a journalism professor when the last time they had an opening in a class
>was.
>
>Students take classes but do not feel they are adequately prepared to work
>in a newsroom and they are not.  Few have had the experiences of covering
>a zoning meeting or interviewed the board of education.  Few have searched
>for public record or would know how to go about covering a police beat.
>These are important skills that are necessary to any entry level position.
>I recognize Miami does not view itself as a vocational school,  but for
>the program to gain any kind of respect, student placement in the work
>force is essential.  I see myself as a qualified candidate for many jobs
>in the journalism field as I have spent substantial time on the school
>paper and immersed myself in a number of internships.  Last year, the
>English Department itself awarded me the Montaine Award, given annually to
>top journalism students.  Yet, when I am still denied an interview by
>employers because I do not have formal training in topics such as computer
>assisted reporting, there is a problem with the system.
>
>Also, the program is held back by a number of non-journalism majors taking
>journalism classes.  If the communications department is interested in
>having their students take our classes, then perhaps they can help with
>our funding and throw in a professor for their own 211 and 212 classes.  I
>feel it is a waste of my time and the professorís time to repeat AP style
>over and over again to the public relations major who cares more about
>their GPA than their future career.
>
>INTERNSHIPS: I am aware that the internship program has been a point of
>contention for many years, but I believe if serious progress is to be
>made, it must be made in this area.  Many of Miamiís journalism students
>are good enough for metropolitan papers but do not receive the
>opportunity.  It is time for internship placement to be worked out with
>major papers in order for Miami students to succeed.  While there is merit
>in having internships from the Oxford Press and Middletown Journal on a
>regular basis, there needs to be a more motivating program for students
>who could easily meet these requirements by the end of their sophomore
>year.
>
>The quality of journalism students here is high.  I proudly state that as
>editor in chief of The Miami Student, we have received high amounts of
>national recognition in recent years.  At the National College Media
>Convention, The Student was ranked third in its division and our
>entertainment subsidy amusement placed fourth.  In this yearís Society of
>Professional Journalists Mark of Excellence Awards, The Student was named
>the best overall paper in its division, beating out media from three
>states.  We have qualified for nationals and are already one of the top 12
>papers in the country.  This year, the University of Missouri-Columbia,
>one of the top J-schools in the country, beat us in competition by one
>place.  Miami journalism students are ready to be a major contender, it is
>a shame the program is not.
>
>I came to Miami because of its academic reputation as a whole.  I knew if
>I wanted strictly a journalism background I could have attended Ohio
>University or the University of Texas.  However, my journalism experience
>in class has been sub-par.  I would hope that Miami would care enough to
>improve this crucial department, rather than face the atrocity of losing
>talented high school journalism students each year because it decided to
>rest on its laurels.
>
>I am not displeased with the journalism program, although I did once
>comment that I should be reimbursed for one teacherís performance on an
>evaluation, I only hope for more.  There is room for improvement that I
>hope for future studentsí sake, will be made.  If you would like to
>respond to my letter, please reach me at [log in to unmask] or 664-7768.
>
>Thank you,
>Mike Gruss