Internship for student hired as the editor in chief of The Mirror News. Internship will be under the direction of the faculty advisor of The Mirror News. The Editor in Chief of the Mirror News is responsible for the production of the student newspaper and the direction of those responsible for the content, design, and business of the newspaper. The Internship has among its goals: to encourage academic responsibility and critical thinking in the field of journalism, to develop the student’s comprehension and practice of ethics in journalism, and to develop the student’s skills to pursue a career in journalism or a journalism-related field. Class may be repeated for credit.
Goals, Topics, and Objectives
Student will demonstrate the ability to perform all duties of the managing editor of The Mirror News, including the production of the student newspaper and the direction of those responsible for the news, content, design, and business aspects of the newspaper. Student will practice the ethics and standards of journalism, and will develop skills to pursue a career in journalism or a journalism-related field. Class may be repeated for credit.
- The student will learn the duties of the managing editor of the student newspaper, which will include:
- Performing the duties of the Editor-in-Chief of the Mirror News.
- Planning and conducting Mirror News staff meetings.
- Producing, publishing, and marketing The Mirror News.
- Managing the office and staff for the college’s bi-weekly newspaper, the Mirror News.
- Editing content for The Mirror News.
Upon successful completion of the course, students will demonstrate the following:
1. Attend scheduled MIRROR NEWS Student Newspaper Board meetings as an Ex-officio member.
2. Recruit, organize, and supervise a newspaper staff for writing, editing, photography, graphic design and business management positions. Inform staff of necessary qualifications as outlined in the MIRROR NEWS Staff Agreement, which a staff member must sign before his/her appointment.
3. Meet with editors and business manager weekly to plan and manage newspaper operations.
4. Meet with staff on a weekly basis to plan the content of the paper and delegate assignments.
5. Direct the work of the staff members, including reporters, writers, photographers, copy editor, creative/online editor, layout editor, and the business manager.
6. Be responsible for all material appearing in the student newspaper.
7. Work with the Faculty Liaison to develop and implement a newspaper budget for the academic year.
8. Work with staff members to prepare and participate in the annual Michigan Press Association and Michigan Community College Press Association conferences and competitions.
9. Practice ethics and standards in journalism.
10. Operate within the general policy framework of the college.
11. Assure that personal beliefs, opinions, interpretations or other editorial comments shall appear only on the editorial page and be clearly labeled as such.
12. Assure that news reporting is accurate, truthful, impartial, and made without editorial comment and identified as to sources.
13. Manage use of the Mirror News production room, including computers, printers, cameras, files, and other resources involved with the production of the student newspaper.
14. Set and meet publication deadlines.
Note that a grade of C- is not transferrable and is not accepted by some programs at HFC
Assessment and Requirements
- Verbal and written assignments on journalism principles of managing, producing, and editing a campus newspaper.
- Weekly consultations with the faculty advisor focused on management of the staff and the production of the Mirror News.
- Bi-weekly publications of The Mirror News.
- Must have completed a college-level English course, preferably creative writing and/or a literature course with a grade of "B" or better.
- Must have cumulative 3.0 GPA and successfully complete at least six credit hours at the end of each semester.
- Recommended to have completed a college-level journalism class, such as JOUR 131.
- Recommended to have prior newspaper experience, preferably being a staff member of a high school or college newspaper.
- Recommended to have prior experience with managing staff.
- Recommended to have completed a college-level management class.
- Recommended to have completed a graphic design and/or web design course, or demonstrate proficiency in graphic design and/or web design.
The curricular committee that oversees this course maintains a list of approved texts.