Writing class gives students hands-on newsroom experience

In NDSU’s COMM 313: Editorial Processes class, students aren’t just learning about the print journalism industry, they’re experiencing firsthand what it’s like to work in a newsroom by writing, editing and collaborating with each other.

Nicknamed the Spectrum class after NDSU’s student newspaper, students work in teams like the departments found in professional journalism operations to produce content suitable for the Spectrum’s readership. From news stories to sports coverage and opinion pieces, students are developing strong writing and editorial skills they’ll be able to take with them in their future careers.

“I’m hoping this project will give students in the class an idea of the workflow of a professional journalism operation, as well as give the student newspaper and community some interesting content and skills they can use in any mass media setting,” said Ross Collins, professor of communication.

Junior journalism major, Grant Hubbard, said his summer internship with The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead inspired him to further refine his leadership and editorial skills.

“Working in teams means that a leader must step up, and I believe this will help me become a better leader and team player. That is what I think will make me better in my career moving forward,” said Hubbard, who is from Fargo.

For Charlotte D’Avignon, a senior majoring in journalism from Lakeville, Minnesota, the class’s newsroom environment has been equally transformative. She appreciates the creative freedom to cover stories she’s passionate about while learning the importance of collaboration and deadlines.

“The newsroom setting in this class has helped me build a stronger skill set for my future career. I want to work as a news anchor, so working in small groups teaches me how to collaborate, communicate clearly and meet hard deadlines. This will help me better prepare for the fast-paced environment that I will be in,” D’Avignon said.

In addition to writing articles, students create social media posts to inform campus of breaking news, taking photos to accompany their articles and brainstorming creative ways to promote their work.

Morgan Twardoski, a senior strategic communications major from Bismarck, North Dakota, said she’s enjoyed honing her editing and interviewing skills under tight deadlines.

“The ability to push out stories as quickly as the journalists at the Spectrum do is extremely impressive,” Twardoski said. “I’m looking forward to continuing to develop my reporting and writing skills throughout the semester, as the class continues to challenge me to write in styles that I haven’t before.”

D’Avignon said she’s hoping the class helps her continue to strengthen her news sense and is interested in learning more about design layout for both print and digital publications.

Hubbard, who has written for the Spectrum for the past two years and now serves as its editor-in-chief, said he is eager to learn more about the various sections that make up a newspaper.

“I primarily write sports, so trying out the other sections and taking photos is what I am looking forward to most,” he said.

The articles written by students in the class can even be published in the Spectrum, if the Spectrum editors find the articles fit their content needs. So far, two articles and one photo have been published in the newspaper.

Twardoski said the hands-on aspect of the Spectrum class has deepened her appreciation for the journalism industry.

“The newsroom environment has taught me a lot about communication, collaboration and time management,” she said. “Working in teams mirrors what it’s like in a real-world media setting, everyone plays a different role, and it takes strong coordination to get things done on time. Those experiences will be valuable as I move into professional roles where teamwork and clear communication are key.”

That sentiment is echoed by D’Avignon, who said she was surprised by how many layers go into producing news.

“Everyone has to rely on each other in order to meet deadlines and keep things running smoothly,” she said.

Hubbard said he is hopeful the class will make more students aware of the Spectrum and the other student media organizations on campus.

“I want the Spectrum to be an award-winning newspaper. That’s the attitude I want my editors to carry, and that’s what I want this class to be like,” Hubbard said. “I think the work we produce will encourage students to think about how they can contribute to the Spectrum and get involved with our student media outlets, including the Bison Information Network and KNDS.”

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