Having completed the fall term of my junior year, I now have a much better sense of my career objectives. It is my intention to earn a Bachelor of Science degree with a journalism major in conjunction with minors in computer science (CIS) and computer information technology (CIT).  The School of Journalism and Communication (SOJC) would allow me to combine my love of coding and writing to prepare for the data journalism field. The SOJC journalism major would give me the best education possible for data journalism as it, “train(s) communicators who are well-equipped to practice accurate reporting, responsible analysis, and other traditional values across a broad array of evolving online, audio, video and print media.”[1] The accurate reporting and responsible analysis I learn would give me the skill set I need to be a data journalist. Data journalists evaluate and present data with a journalistic narrative. Without the training the SOJC offers, my course work would limit me to the education of a data analyst.

The journalism program is said to be innovative and evolving. While data journalism is not a new subject, it is gaining popularity. I see this new interest arising within the SOJC as well. Having spoken with instructor Sung Park and advisor Sally Garner, I know that the instructors and course work are available within the SOJC to make my major completion not only possible but plausible. Having instructors within the SOJC such as Damian Radcliffe, who wrote a book on the data journalism field, I feel confident that I would have the opportunity for success.

It is my hope that my pursuit of data journalism would benefit the SOJC as well. My passion for coding and writing makes me work very hard to achieve my goals. I want to produce work for SOJC publications that would be of value to them. I have applied to work with OR magazine as a data journalist and, if accepted, hope to be a valuable asset to their digital publication. During my pursuit of internships, the Snowden Internship in particular, I would represent the SOJC well with a professional attitude and ethical work. In speaking with Matthew Schroder, I have learned that the SOJC is working to expand their data journalism department and I am looking forward to being a part of that innovation.

While watching documentaries and reading books for enjoyment, I continuously write reviews to keep my writing skills sharp. I also tutor other students and am hired to revise their essays. Both of these hobbies aid my pursuit of journalism and a career in mass communication. However, I can not rely on my writing skills alone. The journalism major would give me the opportunity to learn both news and narrative skills on a technology platform. The combination of a journalism major, CIS and CIT minors, and selected courses from the multimedia minor for design skills, give me high potential for success within the developing data journalism field.

Footnotes:

1. “Journalism – School of Journalism and Communication.” School of Journalism and Communication. Web. 1 Dec. 2015.