E-mail this pageWhat Is Journalism?
A Constant Adventure
Simply put, journalism is the collecting, writing, editing, and presenting of news or feature articles for one of the media: newspapers, magazines, broadcast, or online. It involves reporting on ideas and events as they occur - from dogs that bite children to developments in ideas about the universe.
As a result, your schedule could change from day to day or month to month. It's like always learning something new. Your typical day might begin by tracking people down and learning enough about them to interview them. You call sources and do interviews. You might be interviewing anyone from CEOs of corportations to criminals. Next, you might be busy reading clips and primary source material and taking notes for your articles.
Journalism can be hard work. But there's a payoff: It's work that matters. Journalism makes a difference. Your stories can touch readers and inspire action.
As journalists will tell you, it's an exciting and rewarding job. And you get paid to do what most others can only do for fun: read, write, travel, meet all kinds of people, and learn a lot about the world around you. You might meet celebrities or visit exotic destinations or simply discover the joy of connecting with readers.
Questions, Comments, Suggestions?
If you would like to learn more about the Journalism Department at Plattsburgh State, please contact
Shawn Murphy
Chair, Department of Journalism
Co-Director, Center for Communication and Journalism
Office: Yokum Hall 103-A
Phone: 518-564-2422
Fax: 518-564-2105
E-mail: shawn.murphy@plattsburgh.edu
Resources for Students
General Information
- Journalist's Tool Box - Online resources for reporters and editors
- World Wide Web Virtual Library - The journalism section of this site covers broadcasting, media, communications and news
- Journalism.org - Online home for the Project for Excellence in Journalism
Organizations
- American Society of Magazine Editors - This site includes information about the editorial internship program that integrates the interests of editors, journalism schools, and college students working toward careers in magazine journalism.
- Associated Collegiate Press - Provides services and information to college journalists
- Freedom Forum - A nonpartisan foundation dedicated to free press, free speech and free spirit for all people. The foundation focuses on three main priorities: the Newseum, First Amendment issues, and newsroom diversity.
- Journal of Magazine and New Media Research - The magazine division of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication
- Magazine Publishers of America - A great resource site for getting statistics and facts about specific magazines and the magazine industry, or information about magazine internships.
- Poynter Institute - "Everything you need to be a better journalist."
- Student Press Law Center - The SPLC is the nation's only legal assistance agency devoted exclusively to educating high school and college journalists about the rights and responsibilities embodied in the First Amendment and supporting the student news media in their struggle to cover important issues free from censorship. The Center provides free legal advice and information, as well as low-cost educational materials for student-journalists on a wide variety of legal topics.
- Society of Professional Journalists - Dedicated to the perpetuation of a free press as the cornerstone of our nation and our liberty. Resources and information galore.
Career Resources
- American Journalism Review - Media jobs throughout the country
- Conde Nast Publications - Publishers of more than a dozen magazines, including Vogue, Glamour, Self, and The New Yorker.
- Editor and Publisher - Classified employment ads
- Insert Text Here - A journalism web site devoted to resources and jobs
- JournalismJobs.com - Lists employment ads, and is partnered with Columbia Journalism Review magazine
- Hearst Corporation - Major publisher. Titles include Cosmopolitain, Country Living, and Popular Mechanics.
- MediaBistro.com - Includes classified employment ads
- Society of Professional Journalists - This site has a Job Bank.
- www.copyeditor.com - Copy Editor newsletter site contains job advertisements for copy editors.
Research Databases
- Feinberg Library - Plattsburgh State's Feinberg Library has compiled a useful list of links as research resources.
- FastPolitics - FastPolitics is helpful site for information about politics, plus links to various news media.
- FirstGov - FirstGov is a comprehensive link site for information about federal and state governments.
- Profnet - PR Newswire's comprehensive database of expert sources.
- North Country Public Radio - NCPR offers a helpful list of regional newspapers and magazines located in the North Country.
- web.lexis-nexis.com - Started as a research resource for lawyers and journalists, Lexis-Nexis gives full-text access to over 7,000 legal, news, and business sources. (Free if using an on-campus computer.)
Watchdogs and Think Tanks
- Committee to Protect Journalists - A nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to the global defense of press freedom.
- Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting - FAIR, a national media watch group, offers well-documented criticism of media bias and censorship; works to invigorate the First Amendment by advocating for greater diversity in the press and by scrutinizing media practices that marginalize public interest, minority and dissenting viewpoints; as an anti-censorship organization, exposes neglected news stories and defends working journalists when they are muzzled.
- Moving Ideas: News and Resources from The Policy Action Network - The Policy Action Network is dedicated to explaining and popularizing complex policy ideas to a broader audience. Its goal is to improve collaboration and dialogue between policy and grassroots organizations, and to promote their work to journalists and legislators.
- Znet - A community of people committed to social change.