JOUR 3010 Article 4

New traditions adapt to the future

by Morgan Scroggs

Students at Georgia State in the journalism major are encouraged to learn theory and then use that theory in practical application exercises. That is why Dr. Amos Gelb from the Washington Media Institute has been speaking to classrooms all over campus to educate students about the summer study program offered in Washington D.C.

What will they do? Gelb explains that students will techniques and technology to be multi-platform media creators, consumers, and thinkers. But thinking isn't all the program demands.

WMI was designed to “bridge the growing gap between what college degrees provide and what professional work places demand,” according to its brochure. The focus is on practical application of academically founded theories and skills.

“It will change the way you process your work flow,” says Dr. Gelb. Instead of separating concentrations, the WMI strives to make students multifaceted, with the ability to utilize content creation to engage audiences whether the practitioner be in print journalism or public relations.

“It really is very much practical,” says Gelb, “about 30 percent of people come out of the program with job offers and internships.”

Gelb said that the WMI now believes that many professional internships require students to already have internship experience – making it increasingly important for students to have professional experience before seeking jobs after graduation. According to Gelb, to be successful, students must master both the practical aspects and the academic theory behind them which today's institutions have difficulty doing.

The idea is to give Georgia State students a program in Washington as a capstone course without having to create an actual program in Washington, says Gelb. The only issue – the program costs $10,000 for the summer, not including room and board.

However, professors at Georgia State have already recognized a need for practical experience in the classroom, and while it may not come with a certification costing $10k, it's clear that the mindset in already established institutions are beginning to change.

“I want students that challenge me,” says Dr. Joe Trahan, a public relations professor at GSU who also owns his own public relations firm – Trahan and Associates.

How does Trahan get students to challenge him? He utilizes practical application of academic theories by asking students to apply theories to their own real life research with non profit organizations.

“A lot of times in academia all they do is talk about theoretical stuff. We all learn differently, but I think if you can show people how to do something and they do it – and then they repeat it – I think you retain something more that way,” says Trahan.

Although it's not in Washington, Trahan's practical approach to teaching will benefit students and comes without an additional price tag. “I think students that can solve problems and that can contribute to the bottom line of an organization will definitely number one, get a job; number two, retain that job; and number three, advance professionally.”