Journalism Students Learn Versatility in Real-Life Environments

For journalism and multimedia arts students, the world is their oyster. But, to find that oyster—and the prize pearl inside—they are moving off the Bluff.

Dr. Mike Dillon, chair of journalism and multimedia arts, has led students in exploring the city and doing good journalism, culminating in a pearl this fall: the first off-campus launch party of the magazine Off the Bluff. Production of the 60-page publication was rescued by volunteer editors Anastasia Farmerie, Robyn Rudish-Laning and Katie Walsh; the gathering at Jimmy Nied’s Hotel in Lawrenceville attracted media attention.

This semester, Off the Bluff focuses on the Strip District and, in the spring, will launch an online edition (it already has an archive), with input from Visiting Professor Bea Wallace.

Besides building clip books, students are serving the community and, intrinsically, acknowledging the value of individuals. “We’re interested in authentic people in neighborhoods. Most people don’t think their lives are worth being covered, and they like it when somebody says, ‘No, your life is interesting,’” Dillon said.

The publication allows students to hone skills that will prepare them for careers that require increasing versatility—writing, editing, photography, design and videography.

“All the kids know how to do everything,” Dillon said. “They’re like Swiss army knives.”

Dillon’s is not the only journalism class getting off the Bluff. Students in the Web Interface Design class of Dr. William Gibbs exhibited analytical and production skills in presenting suggestions to the Post-Gazette for developing the PG Plate website.

“This kind of cooperation is a great example of what can (and should) be done between journalistic institutions and the academy, as legacy media seek a new identity and new business models,” wrote Tom O’Boyle, senior manager of audience and associated strategies at the Post-Gazette.

Media also have shown interest in the research of Dr. Charlie Gee, who is exploring the use of iPads as writing and photography tools. What techniques produce the best results? How do readers react? With a grant from the Knight Foundation, Gee and his students hope to find the answers.

An ongoing collaborative class project by JMA Professor Maggie Patterson and Sociology Professor Doug Harper is documenting struggling Mon Valley steel towns.

“What a great journalism lab we have at the foot of our campus in the clouds!” said Dillon. “The authors are experiencing working in an urban environment—and everything that goes with that.”