The Reporter Online | The Collegiate Journalist (TCJ) Online

Editor's Notes...
The Collegiate Journalist: New Format, New Challenges, New Opportunities
by Adam Earnheardt

"Welcome back!"

That cheer greets all of us as we head back to school. It's also an appropriate greeting for The Collegiate Journalist as the publication makes a triumphant return from an eight-year hiatus.

Of course, this isn’t your Mom and Dad’s TCJ. Things have changed, including the format of TCJ.

It all started back in 1963. Articles in the inaugural issue were devoted to yearbooks, newspapers, and student magazines. Dario Politella, editor of the first TCJ, said the intent for the new publication was to provide “an informative, sprightly and concisely-written magazine for the modern young journalism set…reporting every facet of campus journalism.”

We hope the new TCJ meets those objectives in this new environment.

TCJ now has a more accessible home on the web. Art H. Barlow, a fixture in the Society for Collegiate Journalists, suggested moving TCJ to this paperless format. Barlow’s goal for bringing the magazine to the web was two-fold. First, it would eliminate print costs (and save a few trees). Second, it would bring TCJ into the 21st century as a web-bound publication and, as a result of the electronic format, increase readership.

There is virtually no way to know for sure how many readers we reach. We can review hit counters and web statistics, but even those numbers don’t tell the whole story.

One thing we are sure of is that TCJ and SCJ now have the ability to reach many more students and educators.

Contributors

Our first online issue is more of a toolbox for student journalists and educators. Beginning with the keynote speech from this year’s SCJ biennial convention at Valdosta State University, Michael J. Roberts offers a “journalist’s” review of the 2000 U.S. Presidential election and vote recount.

We revisit Roberta Clay’s discussion of the use of humor in student publications (from TCJ Volume 8, Issue 2).

Frank Barnas, associate professor of mass media at Valdosta State University, advises readers on the challenges and opportunities in the journalism job market.

Robert Stevenson, associate professor of journalism and director of student publications at Lander University, offers advice on the use of clichés, euphemisms, and redundancies in student publications. In his second article, Stevenson talks about listening techniques specific for student journalists.

Let’s Grow

I hope you enjoy this rich collection of advice and techniques from some of the top scholars and practitioners in the field of journalism education.

I also hope you consider submitting some of your own research and ideas for future issues of TCJ. As of now, this is a yearly publication. My hope is that with increased readership and exposure we can produce to issues a year.

Spread the word and share this publication with others. Let’s expose TCJ to a larger audience in order to attract more scholars, educators and professionals willing to share their knowledge with student journalists.

Dedication

This first “online” issue is dedicated to the foresight and talent of a champion of student journalists, Dr. Arthur H. Barlow. No one is really sure what the “H” stands for. Some think it stands for “hellion.” Some think it’s merely a lone “H.” At SCJ, we think it stands for “Hercules.”

Way to go, Art! Thank you for your tireless dedication to the promotion of student journalism.

** Interested in submitting an article for an upcoming issue of TCJ?  Send manuscripts to acearnheardt@ysu.edu for review.