Ignorance is bliss. That's why Nathan is so sad.
The $40,000 question: Was my journalism education worth it?
The simple answer is yes. Yes, I have the basic skills I need to work in the news industry. Yes, I can wield the tools of the reporter. Yes, I've suckled the teat of journalistic culture with its focus on professional practices and values.
I have tasted, and believe.
But I've had to swallow an awful lot of fat while eating my academic meal. Most of this lard loosely hangs from the idea that I need to be well rounded and versed in the humanities. While I agree with the idea, the portion size has created a curricular obesity that clogs out more relevant, vocational study.
Read: My YEAR of Western Civ. was overwhelmingly worthless and ate into my reporting time.
I put the most effort and derived the most satisfaction out of classes that were relevant to my core motivation for attending KU: learn how to do journalism. This usually implies that a journalism faculty member teach a class that will help me be a good journalist. J101 didn't fit that mold, but all my other J-School classes did.
My favorite classes were those that made me miss the most meals and instigated the severest conniptions. Multimedia Reporting and Advanced Reporting, like a dose of colon blow, are self-induced traumas that beget growth and a sense of euphoric lightnessâ€â€once completed.
And I gotta say, Gentry teaches delectable and digestible courses in finance, management and other business-worldly delights.
But there are those vegetables that are missing, and would be nice to see served. Can I get a side order of info-gathering strategies and product delivery and other computery things with that?
But, all and all, I am satisfied. Check, please!
Bliss.
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