Throughout the semester, I quickly learned journalism is more than just discovering or even writing a good story–it’s about presenting data and information in a clear and compelling way. A good journalist keeps their audience engaged and informed while still able to come to their own conclusions. Multimedia journalism opens up better ways to report these stories by combining tools like maps, graphs, timelines, and even social media posts alongside effective writing to keep readers engaged.
Learning how to embed and work with these tools was one of the most valuable parts of this course. Choosing the right format can affect how well the audience connects with the piece, especially in today’s fast-paced digital world. I now feel more well-rounded and capable in presenting information visually and interactively.
Doing research on Michigan’s school districts was illuminating and highlighted the importance of having invaluable data being made accessible to the public. Additionally, hearing from the guest speakers who visited our class over video to answer questions and share their experience in how they do their work was eye-opening and motivating.
Weekly student-led discussion posts were also a highlight of the course. Great contemporary articles were shared and thought-provoking questions were asked. Despite the emotional and political topics, the responses and comments stayed productive, respectful, informative, and insightful. It was a worthwhile experience where I learned about the topics being presented as well as how my peers felt about them.
Ultimately, I would recommend this course to anyone at University of Michigan-Dearborn who wishes to study and excel in journalism. As a journalism minor myself, I am even considering switching it to my major. After this class, I am more confident that I can use all of the tools at my disposal to write more compelling and engaging data-driven pieces.
