Journalism Standards: Some want journalism among core classes

By JASON MICHAEL WHITE
Daily Journal staff writer
jwhite@thejournalnet.com
Oct. 16, 2004

Most Indiana high school students are too busy with algebra and English to run school publications and TV stations, a Franklin College professor said.

The result? Schools in some cities such as Munster have canceled their newspapers or yearbooks because of increasing demands that recommended Core 40 classes place on students and teachers.

“It’s our hornet’s nest,” said Dennis Cripe, Franklin College professor and executive director of the Indiana High School Press Association. “It’s killing us.”

IHSPA and Dorothy Winchester, an Indiana Department of Education director, are leading an effort to make journalism part of Core 40 courses designed to prepare students for college or the work force.

The group has to convince state officials that journalism classes are as rigorous and important as math and science, said Winchester, who attended IHSPA’s annual convention at Franklin College along with students from 65 Indiana schools. Students often do more writing in journalism classes than English classes, Winchester said.

Journalism students are trained to acquire knowledge and think critically, she said. Students then communicate that knowledge to a variety of audiences in language they can understand.

“No matter what profession, everyone today is expected to write clearly and concisely,” Winchester said. “Where better to learn than journalism?”

Skills students learn in journalism can apply to a variety of fields in college or the work force: history, graphic design, public relations, education, politics or broadcasting, she said.

Journalism gives students an alternative setting to learn important skill sets, said Nancy Hastings, a journalism adviser at Munster High School in northwestern Indiana.

The school recently had to cancel its award-winning student newspaper. The newspaper program was cut in favor of Core 40 classes.

For the past year, Winchester has worked with IHSPA to make a list outlining skills students will learn while taking a journalism class. Math, English and other Core 40 classes have similar skill standards.

According to some of the standards, students will learn:

• How to analyze the media.

• How to write about issues in a fair-and-balanced manner.

• Certain skill sets that apply to writing journalism.

• Journalism law concerning issues such as libel and the Open Door Law.

• Ethics, management and team-building.

• Hands-on lessons with producing a newspaper, magazine, yearbook, radio broadcast or television broadcast.

• Photography and graphic design.

“Journalism is not just newspapers anymore,” Winchester said.