Yes, I'm here in the US as a grad student. Yes, I'm supposed to take grad courses. No, the grad courses offered this quarter were not inviting. Yes, I'm taking undergrad stuff! No, I don't give a damn about what Fulbright might have to say about this.
This quarter (my last here in Seattle) I have decided to doff all the thoughts about requirements, credits and expectations professors, sponsors, family and all the other people who might want to have a say in my life might have.
I am taking three undergraduate courses in totally new fields this quarter. Well, not quite. They really all aren't that new - only rediscovered.
Two of the courses are closely related and tie in with my previous studies of mainly immigration to the US.
- "Forced Migration" will give me an overview of the theme itself rather than the sample of migration-related minority issues. If I am lucky, I might even get credit for this at home. For my analysis of a refugee interview - conducted by myself
- "US-Mexican Border in Literature and Film", a 300-level course is one of these samples that I have wanted to get a piece of. It ties the migration issue with my interest in film.
- "Digital Journalism" is probably the most exciting of them so far (although they are all cool!). Take a peek of what it is like:
Journalism Reloaded
Traditional models of journalism as in newspapers are in distress (to read more about this, see here)
This class (tought in a horribly dark classroom that doesn't make for good spontaneous pictures) is designed to bring journalist students into the digital age.
Some of my fellow students thinking about the future of Journalism
Since I have so far had experience mostly with traditional journalism, it is quite exciting for me. Over the course of the quarter, we will learn how to use facebook, twitter, podcasts, photo slideshows, digital video etc. etc. for journalistic purposes and will produce content in these media ourself!
On Monday, Kathy Gill introduced us to Twitter
Kathy's shirt says: "I'm tweeting this" Kathy's face says: "I'm lovin' it"
As a twitter addict, she knows the site like her own pocket and this is how she explains twitter: Twitter is a messaging system over the internet. Like text messaging (SMS), people can write short messages (140 signs) to other users over the internet or the phone. The difference is that Twitter is not limited to phones. It amplifies the message sent out (like Kathy visualizes below).
amplify your message: "Shout. Shout, let it all out" - but with the right manners!
Twitter is a useful tool for Journalists and businesses. It is a way to get business information out to a mass of people and it is great to get information and have your finger on the "pulse" of what is happening.
I have spent two days on Twitter now and I think I am already hooked. The world of web 2.0 and Journalism 2.0 is fascinating. I'm curious what else it has in store for me.
Part of the course is our own Journalism Blog. Check out both the course blog and MY BLOG for the course
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