Summer 2007
Loyola University Chicago teams up with the Chicago Sun-Times
A Unique Journalism Partnership
| Beth Konrad with Loyola Journalism students at the Chicago Sun-Times |
"I was surrounded by real reporters and editors. It was the best education one can receive in the area of journalism because you are in the middle of it all!" -Gina Shermetaro, Journalism student
It began as a 'get acquainted' lunch. Editors of the Chicago Sun-Times were curious about Loyola's
new and expanding journalism program. Journalism professors David Eason and Beth Konrad
spoke to the Sun Times editors about the popularity of the new program and its growing enrollment, currently at 200 students. Chicago Sun-Times general manager, John Barron, was surprised by the increasing student interest in journalism at a time when newspaper readership and circulation are steadily decreasing. Excited at the prospect of working closely with undergraduate students, Barron agreed to join forces for an educational partnership with Loyola's journalism program.
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"John Barron, General Manager of the |
The partnership began with a research project focused on how and why students get their news, conducted by Konrad's journalism classes and members of the student chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. The majority of students indicated that they obtained their news from a variety of sources, including hardcopy newspapers and corresponding online editions, television, radio and the internet. The results of this six-month study were presented at an on-campus forum with Barron and several Sun-Times editors. Secondly, the partnership included an experiment to conduct a Loyola journalism class on site at the Chicago Sun-Times. Each week, Konrad transported one of her classes to the newspaper's Merchandise Mart location, and the students raved about the experience. The partnership continues throughout the summer, as six of Loyola's journalism students enrolled in an advanced journalism practicum course are shadowing Sun-Times reporters, photographers and editors in the newsroom and in the field. Students are researching, interviewing and assisting with the creation of stories to be published in the Sun-Times or displayed on the newspaper's online site. |
Loyola's journalism program plans to expand its partnership with the Chicago Sun-Times, and
develop similar relationships with other local news organizations. The director of Loyola's
journalism program is John T. Slania. He can be reached at jslania@luc.edu.