Dear Editor,
Rachel Shapiro's article "The Boston Globe partners with students at BU to give students a shot at professional journalism" that appeared in the Daily on Nov. 9 suggested that there are few opportunities for student journalists at Tufts to gain the kinds of journalism experiences provided by the Boston University program.
While it is true that we do not have a large school of journalism like BU, I'd like to suggest that Tufts does, indeed, provide a rich range of possibilities for those who wish to pursue training for careers in journalism.
Apart from the two courses in print journalism now offered by the English Department, there are often courses offered through the Experimental College. Recognizing that students need experience with other platforms in a journalistic world that is not always print−based, the Communications and Media Studies (CMS) program will next semester offer a new, cutting−edge course on multimedia journalism taught by alumnus Anthony Everett (LA '83), a former Daily editor−in−chief and broadcast journalist at WCVB−TV with many years of experience in utilizing print, broadcast and social media.
CMS' internship program, which runs both semesters and over the summer, provides yet another outlet for aspiring student journalists to get "hands−on" experience at media outlets in Boston and around the world. Our January "winternship" program gives students an intensive one−week experience at many print and broadcast companies in Boston, New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco. And our David Burke Media and Public Service Internship offers a paid summer experience at a major media outlet such as ABC News in Washington or WBUR.
Every working journalist I know tells me that the single best preparation students can get for a career in journalism today is not a journalism degree: It's a rich liberal arts education, some knowledge of media gleaned in communications classes and the opportunity to practice the craft of journalism through working at campus publications, TV or radio stations and at internships. Tufts offers all of these to our students. Sincerely, Julie Dobrow Director, Communications & Media Studies Program
