Photo courtesy of James Sarmiento via flickr
This is a guest post from Gina Joseph, social media community manager.
This week I had a chance to talk to some students in the Department of Communications at Lewis University. I joined via Google+ Hangout, and was privileged to be able to share some of my experiences on how I went from a journalism degree to a career in social media. Later, I asked The Flyer Newspaper editor and president of the Lewis social media club, Alex Veeneman, about his thoughts on joining the communications workforce, and how students like him are preparing for careers in PR and journalism.
Q: In what ways has the curriculum changed for journalism, PR and marketing in recent years?
A: I think because of the rise in digital journalism and the shift in consumption it has changed the focus that students need to look at. The curriculum at Lewis emphasizes it, and I think it’s crucial for others to emphasize it.
Q: How are students preparing to enter a world where communications almost always involves social media and the knowledge of new platforms?
A: The curriculum has gone through a number of changes to reflect the nature of the industry, so the platforms and social media is very much emphasized. I think the establishment of the social media club has also secured that. At the end of the day, it will be the student who needs to seize the opportunities and platforms.
Q: Where do students see themselves and their peers after graduation?
A: There is still very much speculation as to whether or not students can achieve work in this industry. I think Lewis specifically—and I imagine there are other universities that do this—has given us an advantage because of the practical applications of what is being learned in the classroom. For us in the Communications Department, I think Lewis has gone out of the box. It is more than going to listen to a lecture or do an exam. I think it has now become a starting point in our careers. If I made the decision for my undergraduate to go to a larger school (whether in Illinois or any of the top national schools), I think I would not be able to have the opportunities that I’ve been able to have at Lewis. I think in order to maintain their abilities to be the best but to have the best value for students, it needs to be more than just theories. It needs to focus on the practicalities in order for students to help set themselves up for a career in the industry.
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