JOURNALISM DEPARTMENT’S FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Question: Do you have a student newspaper or magazine?
Answer: Yes! The Telescope newspaper has been reporting and writing on campus happenings since 1947. We are a student-run newspaper that doesn’t receive any money from the school so we can be an independent observer of the news. We no longer publish a physical newspaper but have an active website and social media presence. We no longer sell advertising. Our Telescope website features breaking news, features and multimedia projects including podcasts and videos.
We also have a campus magazine that focuses on student culture since 2009. It is student run and published each May. Stories are also posted on the Impact website.
Question: If I want to write for the campus newspaper or magazine, what do I have to do?
Answer: To write for The Telescope, you must take Journalism 105, 205, 210 or 215. To write for Impact, the campus magazine, you need to take Journalism 105, 205, 210 or 215 in the Spring semester.
We recommend you start by taking Journalism 101: Introduction to News Writing. That is a three-unit course, available online and on the San Marcos campus, that trains you on how to write for a newspaper. But this class doesn’t allow you to write for the campus publication. You can take Journalism 105 at the same time.
To write for the newspaper or magazine you have two choices.
1. Cooperative Education 150 – This is a 2-unit lab where you attend one orientation at the beginning of the semester and then write 10 stories (or photos or graphics) for The Telescope on your own time. You can work in our newsroom but you are not required to. You really set your own schedule and pick the kind of stories you want to write about. We correspond with you mostly via phone and email although we love it when people in this class come in and hang out with us. Estimated time it would take a week (6 hours)
2. Journalism 105. This is The Telescope class and it meets Monday and Wednesday from 11 – 1:50. This course requires 10 written projects, 10 story ideas and other pertinent work. This class is offered in person only. Estimated hours per week (6-9 hours, including class time.)
Question: How can I take photographs for the newspaper?
Answer: Take Journalism 140, also called Photo 140, where you learn the fundamentals of photojournalism and take photos for the magazine and newspaper, covering everything from features to sports and news.
Question: I love to write. What careers can I use this skill in?
Answer: Learning to be a good writer can help you in any field. In Journalism, it leads to careers in online journalism, newspaper writing, public relations, broadcast news writing and advertising. We have also had alumni use our degree to head toward careers in book publishing and law.
Question: How long does it take to earn the AA degree in Journalism?
Answer: If a student takes a full load and the right classes, it should take two years. This program website will help you plan your schedule.
Question: What careers can you go into with a degree in Journalism?
Answer: Our graduates are trained to work in the following fields:
- Newspapers
- Social Media Manager
- Internet news sites
- Magazines
- Television News
- Public Relations
- Advertising
- Newsletters
- And more …
