Jack chose to pursue his passion for education through journalism.
Why did you decide to pursue your major?
I really fell in love with Journalism in high school when I was the Editor-in-Chief of the school newspaper. There was something deeply enjoyable about the reporting process. From interviewing to writing, I found the idea of educating people about relevant topics. When I looked at colleges, the U stood out because of its strong Journalism school. Diverse courses, strong student media organizations and the location of the University in a major city made the idea of going to the U and majoring in Journalism an easy decision.
Which course or professor would you recommend for other students in your major?
Seth Richardson is, hands down, my favorite professor at the University. I’ve had Seth for both JOUR 3101W: News Reporting and Writing and JOUR 3121: Intermediate News Reporting. For around a decade, Seth worked in media outlets across the country. Both funny and helpful, Seth’s teaching style is second to none in my opinion. My reporting has significantly improved because of Seth. I recommend anyone to take a class that Seth teaches.
What minors, internships, or activities are you pursuing outside of your major? How do you think these enhance your major and/or your future career plans?
I have worked at the MN Daily since last school year, and I’m currently the editor of the City Desk. I’ve also written for The Wake and the Park Bugle. These opportunities have not only given me clips to use in my future job applications, but have allowed me to use what I have learned in my major in real work. In my sophomore year, I decided to also major in Political Science as a way to both enhance my political reporting and give me a leg up in my future job search.
What advice do you have for future Hubbard School students?
It might sound cliche, but try everything. If you don’t know what you want, then give every opportunity a try. If you don’t like something, then just drop it and move on to the next one. Eventually, you are going to find something you really want.
What is one aspect of your major that has surprised you?
I’ve been surprised by just how many opportunities come with the major. The classes themselves give you chances for published clips. In the major, there are the Field Based Practicum and Brovald-Sim Community [Journalism Practicum] classes, which almost act as a free internship. These types of classes help not only improve reporting. but also give published clips that can be used in future job applications.
