Reflections on the first several weeks of JMS-550
So far through the first several weeks of JMS-550, my progression has gone well. I have learned a wealth of different knowledge and skills. For most students, taking classes online during a pandemic has been difficult, but this course has flowed very well and I take away something new every week as I work on my capstone project. Here are three of the most important things I’ve learned in JMS-550.
First, one part that has stood out to me is the wealth of knowledge from a platform like LinkedIn Learning. For class, we participated in an Audacity tutorial to understand how to create audio stories. I found it to be super helpful since I never had much experience with the platform. We also watched video tutorials on Adobe Audition, iMovie and Final Cut Pro. Those tutorials were also very informative. LinkedIn Learning was valuable because it taught me how to install journalistic skills such as editing, writing and storytelling into my work.
The second most important takeaway I’ve had from class so far is about photojournalism. You should make sure your photos incorporate techniques such as the rule of thirds, clean backgrounds and negative space. Doing so allows the pictures to look good, and the audience can understand them better. It also helps add context to your story.
Another important thing from JMS-550 is that copy editing is facing challenges in today’s digital age. In the readings, 59% of magazines said they had less rigorous copy-editing standards for online-only content. Before, newspapers and magazines would have copy editing desks as part of the staff, but now that’s no more. Seeing those shocking statistics make me realize that having copy editing as a skill is so valuable because employers expect you to edit your own work.