Convergence was once a new concept in journalism. Now, everything is being done together. It’s not uncommon for a print reporter to shoot video, a radio reporter to take photos or a television photographer to go on there air.
Maria Mendoza, a multimedia storyteller and social media producer, works on getting experience in all areas of journalism.
“I am a student at the University of Houston and studying journalism. I do podcasts, I’ve done videos, right now I’m working on for News for Coogs, I updated the social media that’s on Facebook,” said Mendoza.
This Fall 2019 semester University of Houston has combined broadcast journalism and print media into one major: Journalism.
“The more skills you have, the more marketable you are,” said Temple Northup the director of Jack J. Valenti School of Communication at the University of Houston.
“There are a lot of news organizations whether it’s print or broadcast that want the writing background. The more you understand how to edit yourself the more eligible you are. When you have all these skills it puts you in a better position.”
Employers prefer candidates to have experience in almost all areas in journalism.
“There’s benefits in having experience in all areas because there is a lot of blending, because it’s not just television anymore,” said Robin Freese, a producer at Houston television station KPRC.
“Now there is a whole digital component with social media and you have to be able to manage all of that, So the more experience you have in those areas can help.”
Through the influence of media professionals and news changing constantly, the convergence of the two majors at the university is believed to help students land a job more effectively.
“If universities keep using that old method of print, broadcast or radio or whatever that combination is… what if a student who wants to be a writer really wants to take advantage of broadcast just to learn how to use a camera to learn how to be good at it. Well maybe they’ll be barred from it because they can’t get the prereq,” said Aric Johnson a programs recruiter and Adviser at ASU.
Because of the demand for experience in multimedia journalism skills, Maria Mendoza works on surrounding herself as much as she can in almost all areas in journalism.
“I do more than that outside of school. I’m doing this so I can find a job or an internship. I’m willing to do anything. I can do podcasts, I can edit videos, I can go and interview people,” said Mendoza.
Tagged under: Journalism, UniversityofHouston, convergence, eij19, eijnews19