Journalism
The Journalism Program at Western Illinois University prepares its majors and minors for careers in news-editorial, public relations or advertising in all media. Its graduates become ad executives, authors, broadcast journalists, editors, lobbyists, magazine writers, media consultants, photojournalists, press agents, public relations specialists, reporters and sportswriters. Its graduates also become business executives, teachers, entrepreneurs, government officials, lawyers and sales representatives. In part through its affiliation with English in a combined Department of English and Journalism, in part through it place in the College of Arts and Sciences, and also through the interests of its faculty, Journalism at WIU is within the classic liberal-arts approach. As a result, its students acquire breadth in various liberal arts and depth in journalism. Those moving forward into journalism do so with the wide knowledge essential for success. Those who pursue other interests become versatile enough to move in new directions.
Journalism’s essentials include focusing on what’s important without being distracted by trifles: writing clearly, concisely and entertainingly; maintaining ethical standards; and covering current events with a broad background. Graduates leave the program able to write with precision, and to cut to the nub—find the “lead,” so to speak—whenever they are faced with confusing amounts of information, in whatever fields.
At Western, journalism students work closely with a faculty of highly accessible, experienced journalism professionals who love to teach. As a result, the training available in the Program’s skills courses has the special strength that comes only when the instructor has practiced that skill as a career. Yet faculty members hold doctorate and masters level degrees that support strong instruction in theory courses, too.
Journalism here offers three specializations but does not require students to select one. The specializations are news-editorial, public relations and advertising. Six faculty teach in news-editorial, one in public relations, and one in advertising. Students begin their WIU journalism studies with an introductory mass communications course and two news writing classes required of all J majors and minors. Then, usually at the start of their junior year, they begin to specialize. The news-editorial students turn toward courses in editing, magazine writing, reviewing and criticism, beat reporting, sports reporting, journalism history, and the foreign press. Public relations students turn to courses introducing public relations, PR writing, and PR campaign planning. Advertising students turn to courses introducing advertising, media planning, creative strategy, and ad copy and layout. About 20 percent of majors don’t specialize. Some courses appeal to all J majors and minors: problems in contemporary mass communications, ethics and photojournalism. All J majors are required to take a course in communications law and another in research methods.
Journalism is at once a rapidly changing field and an unchanging one. The rapid changes are in means of delivery but certain basics remain the same. Someone must keep people informed. Those who do so must be sharp enough to know what’s important and disciplined enough to focus. They must be able to write tightly, with force, momentum and clarity. In public relations, the timeless element is to mediate relationships between business, government and social organizations and the groups they serve. In advertising it is to generate the commercial speech that makes an economy hum. The Journalism Program at WIU addresses the basics, and then tries to keep its students abreast of the innovations in delivery that make today’s journalism turbulent and exciting.
What former students say...
“Being part of WIU’s award-winning Western Courier staff provided me with great clips, terrific guidance, lasting friendships and a little extra scratch each week for beer money. Three out of those four things landed me in the journalism career I enjoy today.”
—Chris Ward, Wizard Magazine and freelance journalist
“I knew WIU was the place for me after my first visit to campus. I was interested in both print and broadcast journalism and was impressed with both departments. The newsroom at the student newspaper and the production experience I received at the school television and radio stations provided me and other student journalists the tools and preparation we needed to prepare for life after college. Today, in this world of merging and ever-changing media, both print and broadcast-writing skills I learned in and outside the classroom at WIU have served me well.”
—Will Buss, Belleville News-Democrat
“The small size of Western’s journalism department allowed me to develop good relationships with my professors and get the one-on-one attention I couldn’t get at a larger program. With my degree in journalism from Western I was able to get into a competitive graduate program, where I worked in the Capitol Press Corps in Springfield. Now I have a job covering education and growth in Chicago’s suburbs.”
—David Fitzgerald, Northwest Herald
“I spent the best four years of my life (so far) at Western. I got a good education, learned a ton of valuable experience for the working world, and met some of the best friends I’ll ever have. The journalism program and working at the Western Courier prepared me for my current job as a copy editor for a suburban Chicago daily.”
—Ann Reus, Elgin Courier News
“Western landed me friends that I still keep in touch with more than 30 years later. And a part-time job at the student newspaper, just to make a few extra bucks, yielded a career that has lasted just as long.”
—Jan Dennis, Associated Press
“My four years at Western remain pivotal in my life. The intellectual challenges I faced helped prepare me for all the troubles, opportunities and surprises that naturally occur in one’s personal and professional life. My work at the Western Courier introduced me to the rigors of the journalism career I now have pursued for some 30 years, and helped me see what a vital, stimulating role the media can play in everyday life. And, the personal relationships I made continue to be some of the most precious and meaningful that I have developed.”
—Jim Slusher, assistant managing editor, Daily Herald
“Western Illinois University afforded me the opportunity of actual real on-the-job experiences above and beyond classroom credits, plus valuable contacts with various media outlets that proved beneficial upon graduation.”
—Jim Haas, sports editor, Pekin Daily Times
Faculty
| Barr, Lisa Assistant Professor Law and Mass Communication | 226B Simpkins Hall 309-298-1514 lj-barr@wiu.edu |
| Butzow, Mark A. Assistant Professor Copy Editing, Media Ethics | 226G Simpkins Hall 309-298-3171 ma-butzow@wiu.edu |
| Carrigan, Clara Office Support Associate | 226D Simpkins Hall 309-298-1216 cm-carrigan@wiu.edu |
| Kernek, Lisa Assistant Professor Journalism | 226I Simpkins Hall 309-298-1326 l-kernek@wiu.edu |
| Knight, Bill Professor; Deputy Director, Journalism Newsroom Writing | 226H Simpkins Hall 309-298-1217 bk-knight@wiu.edu |
| Moreno, Richard Instructor; Advisor, Western Courier Magazine and Feature Writing, Introduction to Mass Communications, Magazine Design and Content | Heating Plant Annex 309-298-1876 r-moreno@wiu.edu |
| Siddiqi, Mohammad Professor; Interim Chair Public Relations, International Press, and Research Methods | 124 Simpkins Hall 309-298-2812 m-siddiqi@wiu.edu |
| Simmons, Teresa Associate Professor Advertising | 317 Simpkins Hall 309-298-1426 tl-simmons@wiu.edu |
| Strother-Adams, Pearlie Associate Professor | 226J Simpkins Hall 309-298-1425 p-strother-adams@wiu.edu |
