AT ISSUE: Ball State’s Strategic Communications department can deny interviews to journalism students for class, undermining the university’s academic integrity.
Ball State’s journalism program has had many successful people walk through its doors, from Chelsea Kardokus, the assistant art director for Time magazine, to Adam Baumgartner, Indiana’s top student journalist in 2014, now working for Vox Media.
The university hasn’t hesitated to take credit for the achievements of both journalists. Google either of their names and you’ll find a Ball State page recognizing them.
It makes sense that the university would use their success to its advantage. However, what doesn’t make sense is that, at the same time the university is bragging about its journalism department, the Strategic Communications department is also refusing interviews to student journalists for classes.
Page 18 of the university's strategic communications guidelines states, “Due to time constraints inherent in all professional Ball State University offices, the Division of Strategic Communications Media Strategy/News Unit is unable to assist students with class assignments other than those specifically assigned to a student journalist by the editor of the Daily News, Ball Bearings, or other official Ball State University working media outlets.”
It's important to note that the policy states that students who produce content that could later be submitted to a Ball State media outlet should be able to obtain interviews. However, students would have to say that in their emails.
Typically, journalists can't speak to anyone in the president's cabinet unless they go through the public relations department. Therefore, students can’t conduct the interviews they need to produce well-researched, fair content for class.
This isn’t just some line in a handbook. This semester, students have received responses from Associate Vice President of Strategic Communications Joan Todd refusing interviews for classes “due to time constraints.”
It isn't just for 100 or 200 level courses. Students are being denied interviews for 400-level courses that journalism majors usually can’t take until their junior or senior year.
While student journalists have the opportunity to work for a variety of campus publications, the university is holding back students in journalism classes.
Classes are designed to teach student journalists how to succeed in the real world. And the only way to do that is by researching, interviewing and producing content — whether that’s taking photos, creating graphics or writing articles.
We can learn about the history of journalism or how to use a video camera, but if we can't write a story with meaning and relevant interviews, we're incomplete as journalists. We will fail in the real world.
Usually people argue that that is what student media is for, but in-state students still pay more than $7,500 in tuition money to attend classes. It's only fair that we learn something, and aren't just wasting our money and time. The university is sending a message that journalism classes are pointless.
Would we prevent nurses from going to practicals? Or teachers from student teaching? The journalism department needs to be looked at in the same light.
In addition to being future journalists, journalism students are just that — students. They pay tuition, and those students that have jobs pay taxes. No student should be denied university information.
The university needs to start taking journalism classes seriously. We can’t just rely on our student media experiences for a successful future.
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