Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why major in journalism at EIU?

What careers will I be prepared for?

What is the department's Vision Statement?

Can I get practical experience in addition to what I learn in the classroom?

Can a major in Journalism help me prepare for graduate or professional school?

What scholarships and financial assistance opportunities are available?

What are the course requirements for a major in Journalism?

What minors and other academic programs are offered in Journalism?

Where are graduates employed?

How can I obtain more information?

Why major in journalism at EIU?

  • Offers a Bachelor of Arts degree
  • Combines professional and liberal arts education
  • Strong, flexible, well-rounded program of study
  • Accredited by the Accrediting Council for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication
  • Co-curricular experiences and professional internships that supplement classroom work
  • Eleven tenured or tenure-track faculty positions
  • Classes taught by tenured and tenure track professors
  • Average Journalism class size is 15
  • Preparation for careers requiring strong communication, writing, and critical thinking skills
  • Cooperative relationships with university's student publications and radio/TV departments
  • Numerous scholarships, grants and work opportunities
  • Learn on state-of-the-art technology
  • Full-time faculty serve as academic advisers
  • Placement assistance
  • Strong job market for graduates, excellent career opportunities
  • Journalism program encourages students seeking a second major
  • Service and research/creative activities are encouraged
  • Collegial governance structure
  • Demand for graduates exceeds supply
  • Strong alumni support and involvement
  • Faculty actively involved as members and leaders of college and university committees
  • Faculty active in professional and academic organizations as members and officers
  • Co-curricular experiences and professional internships supplement classroom work
  • Serves as headquarters for Mid-America Press Institute, Illinois Journalism Education Association and Eastern Illinois High School Press Association
  • Committed to offering off-campus classes and non-traditional learning opportunities
  • Participates in Illinois Articulation Initiative

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What careers will I be prepared for?

  • Reporters, editors, designers, photojournalists, producers, publishers for print, broadcast, and online media
  • Public relations writers, editors, and counselors
  • Advertising sales and design
  • Management positions for which strong communication, research and critical skills and a liberal arts background are essential qualifications

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What is the department's Vision Statement?

(Approved by the faculty: April 22, 2005)

            The Department of Journalism is committed to excellence in teaching, in professional and creative activity, and in service to journalism and public relations.
            The department will promote excellence in learning by encouraging students to become skillful communicators, critical thinkers, knowledgeable media consumers and users, and ethical leaders capable of understanding and protecting the democratic process. An enriched professional environment will encourage students to gain the experience and skills essential to life-long learning. The faculty will assure excellence in teaching that reflects the diverse heritage that enriches a free and democratic society and prepares students for an ever-changing world.
            The faculty will set an example of their commitment to life-long learning through their continuing scholarly, creative and professional activities.
            The faculty will demonstrate excellence in service through a commitment: (1) to develop a media-literate society through cultural and educational enrichment for journalism consumers, educators and students in Illinois, for Eastern students and for journalism majors, (2) to broaden the practice and understanding of the communication of public information so crucial to the preservation of a free and democratic society, (3) to provide opportunities for continuing intellectual development for journalism and public relations professionals, and (4) to contribute to department, college and university committees, activities, programs and service.
          The Department of Journalism will provide education that is (1) durable enough to weather changes in the careers of our alumni, (2) flexible and broad enough to span the time and space of their lives and careers, (3) responsive to the changes in the discipline, and (4) practical and successful in teaching students how to communicate knowledgeably, critically, ethically and effectively.

 

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Can I get practical experience in addition to what I learn in the classroom?

A strength of Eastern's Journalism program is the number and variety of co-curricular learning opportunities. These include:

  • The Daily Eastern News,the campus daily newspaper (print and online editions)
  • The Warbler yearbook
  • Minority Today, a monthly newspaper
  • Vehicle, the student literary magazine
  • MPI Reporter, newsletter of Mid-America Press Institute Foundation
  • Reporter, a newsletter serving high school journalists
  • WEIU-FM
  • WEIU-TV, including Newscan, a daily live 30-minute newscast.
  • The Agency, a student-run public relations organization
  • Internships in professional media and agencies

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Can a major in Journalism help me prepare for graduate or professional school?

Journalism is an excellent major for students planning to continue their studies in graduate and professional schools, such as law, in which a broad background in the humanities, arts and science is desirable.

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What scholarships and financial assistance opportunities are available?

  • Scholarships for freshmen, continuing, and transfer students
  • Talented Student Awards and Grants-in-Aid
  • Part-time jobs in Student Publications, departmental office, computer labs
  • Go to the Journalism Dept. scholarships page for more info

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What are the course requirements for a major in Journalism?

  • 39-40 hours of Journalism courses
  • 18 hours of Liberal Arts (Block A)
  • 12 hours of General Electives
  • non-Journalism Specialty (Block B)

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What minors and other academic programs are offered in Journalism?

  • Minor in Public Relations
  • Minor in Journalism
  • Concentration in Writing and Reporting
  • Concentration in Editing
  • Concentration in Design
  • Concentration in Photojournalism
  • Concentration in Public Relations
  • Concentration in Broadcast News
  • Concentration in New and Emerging Media

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Where are graduates employed?

The Eastern Illinois University journalism program has produced over 1,200 graduates since the first bachelor’s degrees in journalism were conferred in 1975. Our alums work as newspaper and magazine reporters, designers and editors, as television reporters and producers, and as company public relations specialists. We also have graduates who are elementary and high school teachers, who are college professors, and others who have become lawyers. Many have established careers in a multitude of fields outside journalism. (updated 8.18.10)

Here is a sampling of what our former students are doing:

1975-77 graduates
• Mike Cowling, chair, department of journalism, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh; copy editor, New
York Times Online Edition
• Bill Flick, columnist, Bloomington (Ill.) Pantagraph
• Tim Yonke, copy editor, The Daily Journal, Kankakee, Ill.
• Robert Fallstrom, sports writer, The Associated Press, St. Louis, Mo.
• Barry Smith, executive director, Nevada Press Association
• Mark Turk, president, International Label & Printing Co., Wooddale, Ill.
1978-80 graduates
• David Shanks, supervisor, Caterpillar’s Cat Logistics, Mesa, Ariz.
• Susan Nasenbeny Byrne, editor, Reader’s Digest Co.
• Dr. Norm Lewis, assistant professor of journalism, University of Florida;
• Phil Vettel, food critic, Chicago Tribune
• Bonita Gower Tillman, public relations, Purina, St. Louis, Mo.
• Kathy Klisares Spitznagel, graphics designer, Converse Marketing, Peoria, Ill.
• Gwen Paglia, attorney, Zurich/American Insurance Co., Chicago
• Ed Cobau, director of state association services and communications, Illinois Municipal Electric Agency,
Springfield
1981-83 graduates
• Christine Goerlich, promotion manager, Aurora (Ill.) Beacon-News
• Ted Gregory, reporter, Chicago Tribune
• John Plevka, managing editor, Peoria (Ill.) Journal-Star
• Daniel Brannon, managing editor, Alton (Ill.) Telegraph
• Robin Scholz Roberts, photographer, The News-Gazette, Champaign, Ill.
• Dru Sefton, senior editor, Current newspaper, Washington, D.C.
• Linda Fraembs, design editor, The State Journal-Register, Springfield, Ill.
• David Kidwell, reporter, Chicago Tribune
• Marcel Bright, director of public relations, John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, Chicago
1984-87 graduates
• Tim Broderick, art director, Daily Herald, Arlington Heights, Ill.
• Matt Krasnowski, Los Angeles Bureau, Copley Press Inc.
• Denise Zimmerman, managing editor, Vision Monday, New York City
• Madeleine Doubek, managing editor, Daily Herald, Arlington Heights, Ill.
• John Humenik, publisher and editor, Arizona Daily Star, Tucson
• Fred Zwicky, photographer, Peoria (Ill.) Journal-Star
• Lisa Green Newhouse, assistant business editor, Ft. Wayne (Ind.) Journal Gazette
• David McKinney, Springfield (Ill.) Bureau chief, Chicago Sun-Times
• Ronald Yoakum, copy editor, The State Journal-Register, Springfield, Ill.
• Jeff Long, sports reporter, Aurora (Ill.) Beacon-News
• Kevin McDermott, Springfield (Ill.) Bureau chief, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
1988-91 graduates
• Susan Duncan, assistant editor, Tribune Star, Terre Haute, Ind.
• Jeff Britt, copy editor, Chicago Sun-Times
• Jean Wright Medina, managing director of external communications, United Airlines, Chicago
• Larry Smith, reporter, Hartford (Conn.) Courant
• Amy Carr Burke, managing editor, Time Out Chicago magazine
• Sue Cutsforth, executive producer, WOWT-TV (NBC-6), Omaha, Neb.
• Matt Hortenstine, attorney, Effingham, Ill.
• Matt Mansfield, co-director and associate professor, Medill/Washington, Northwestern University
• Mike Fitzgerald, assistant state’s attorney, Will County, Ill.
• Jon Sall, photographer, Chicago Sun-Times
• Rob Montgomery, executive director, Visual Editors, Naperville, Ill., and international media consultant
• David Lindquist, music critic, Indianapolis Star
• Lori Higgins, reporter, Detroit Free-Press
• Chris Selfridge, producer, WBBM-TV (CBS-2), Chicago, Ill.
• Cam Simpson, European correspondent, Bloomberg News, stationed in London
1992-95 graduates
• Chris Boghossian, sports designer, Chicago Tribune
• Debbie Carlson, news editor, Dow Jones Newswire, Chicago
• Kelly Seifert, director of marketing and public relations, Resurrection Health Care, Chicago
• Don O’Brien, sports editor, Quincy (Ill.) Herald-Whig
• Scott Dean, account executive, Area-Wide Technologies, Danville, Ill.
• Kyla Farroll, supervisor of financial aid, Webster University, St. Louis, Mo.
• Dana Phelps Hughens, senior vice president, Fleishman-Hillard North Carolina (public relations)
• Robert Sanchez, reporter, Daily Herald, Arlington Heights, Ill.
• Jeffrey Ormond, public relations, Electronic Data Systems, Detroit, Mich.
• John Ferak, reporter, Omaha (Neb.) World-Herald
• Ryan Giusti, community content manager, Coxnet, Atlanta, Ga.
• David Putney, designer, Virgina Pilot, Norfork.
• Chris Sundheim, a national news editor, The Associated Press, New York
• Patty Culhane, correspondent for Al Jazeera English, Washington, D.C.,
1996-99 graduates
• LaShinda Clark, photographer, Philadelphia Daily News
• Heidi Keibler, designer, Chicago Tribune
• Tim McCann, sports editor, Bradenton (Fla.) Herald
• Dan Fields, managing editor, Daily Commercial, Leesburg, Fla.
• Amy Sciaccotta, senior account executive, Edelman Public Relations Worldwide
• Mike Rice, visual team leader/design and graphics, The Arizona Daily Star, Tucson
• Reagan Branham, designer, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
• Katie Vana Manker, picture editor, Chicago Tribune
• Chuck Burke, designer, Chicago Tribune
• Jessica Sedgewick, feature designer, Chicago Sun-Times
• Sarah Gover, sports copy editor, Ft. Worth (Texas) Star-Telegram
• Cristy Melvin Meredith, communications manager, State Farm Insurance, Bloomington, Ill.
2000-02 graduates
• Deana Poole, reporter, State Journal-Register, Springfield, Ill.
• Meghan McMahon, copy editor, The Herald-News, Joliet, Ill.
• Luke Ryan, vice-president of theatrical productions, MGM Motion Picture Group, Hollywood, Calif.
• Joe Collins, assignment editor and producer, Comcast Sports, Chicago
• Chris Sievers, marketing director, SIU Credit Union, Carbondale, Ill.
• Joseph B. Ryan, reporter, The Daily Herald, Arlington Heights, Ill.
• Bill Ruthhart, Indiana statehouse reporter, The Indianapolis Star
• Melissa S. Nielsen, managing editor, member communications, The Society of Critical Care Medicine,
Des Plaines, Ill.
• Pat Guinane, copy editor, The Times, Munster, Ind.
2003-05 graduates
• Nate Bloomquist, sports copy editor, Quad City Times, Davenport, Iowa
• Sarah B. Marten, community relations manager, Fresno Grizzlies Baseball Club, Fresno, Calif.
• Michelle Jones, reporter, Pantagraph, Bloomington, Ill.
• Shauna Gustafson, attorney, Rockford, Ill.
• Amber Jenne, reporter, WCIA-TV (CBS-3), Champaign, Ill.
• Jessica M. Youngs, attorney, Atlanta, Ga.
• Tremaine Williams, reporter, KWQC-TV (NBC 6), Davenport, Iowa
• Lauren Brody, communications specialist, American Medical Association, Chicago
• Matt Williams, copy editor, Rockford (Ill.) Register-Star
• Holly Myers, copy editor, Beloit (Wis.) Daily News
• Carly Mullady, legal assistant, NBC Universal, Chicago
• April McLaren, public relations, Illinois National Guard
2006-08 graduates
• Whitney Self, associate producer, Country Music Television, Nashville, Tenn.
• Laura Griffith, web designer, Lewis and Clark Community College, Godfrey, Ill.
• Sara Wagoner, director of communications, American Junior Golf Association, Atlanta, Ga.
• Tim Martin, reporter, Wall Street Journal, Chicago
• Adam Testa, reporter, Southern Illinoisan, Carbondale
• Jessica Cantarelli, community manager, Triblocal.com, Chicago Tribune
• Amanda Dugan, assistant to the publisher/executive marketing coordinator, Investment News, New
York, N.Y.
• Ashley Rueff, reporter, Triblocal.com, Chicago Tribune
• Dan Woike, sports writer, Orange County (Calif.) Register.
• Amy Simpson, copy editor, Northwest Herald, Crystal Lake, Ill.
• Marco Santana, reporter, Daily Herald, Arlington Heights, Ill.
• Michelle Brueggerman, news producer, WAND (NBC-17)), Decatur, Ill.
• Matt Kelly, public affairs specialist, State Farm Insurance, Bloomington, Ill.
• Mike McGlothin, feature editor, DieselPower magazine, Los Angeles, Calif.
2009-10 graduates
• Dylan Polk, reporter, Lincoln (Ill.) Courier
• Juliette Beaulieu, copy editor, Lynchburg (Va.) News and Advance
• Christina Peters, page designer, Ottawa (Ill.) Times
• Chris Essig, police and courts reporter, Galesburg (Ill.) Register-Mail
• Matt Hopf, staff writer, Quincy (Ill.) Herald-Whig
• Sarah Ruholl, general assignment reporter, Molene (Ill.) Dispatch
• Angela Pham, associate editor, Wildfowl magazine and Gun Dog Magazine
• Kevin Murphy, copy editor/page designer, Sauk Valley (Ill.) Newspapers
• Chris Lee, graphic designer/Pulliam Fellow, Arizona Republic

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How can I obtain more information?

Spend a day with a student who is majoring in journalism, call to make arrangements.

Ask your teacher to invite a journalism faculty member and student majors to come to your high school or community college and speak to classes and meet with interested students.

Come to the Journalism offices, 2521 Buzzard Hall (located on 7th Street)

Call 217-581-6003 or fax 217-581-7188

E-mail James Tidwell, chairman of journalism dept. at jtidwell@eiu.edu

Write to:

Eastern Illinois University
Department of Journalism
2521 Buzzard Hall
Charleston, IL 61920-3099