Day 1: KU School of Journalism

BARSTOW STUDENTS VISIT KU JOURNALISM SCHOOL

by Matthew N.

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Students from the Media Mania Barstow School summer camp met up with KU journalism recruiter Ashley Anguiano at the KU campus in Lawrence, Kan., on Monday, to learn about the wide range of journalism opportunities offered there.

The students, ranging in age from 11 to 13, first went to the Stauffer-Flint building, the headquarters of the School of Journalism.  Anguiano made a presentation about the journalism school and what journalists do there. The students met Jayhawk journalist and Barstow alumnus Michael O’ Brien, who talked about KU’s journalism school from a student’s perspective. Anguiano also showed a clip about the journalism school from the show “Good Morning KU.”

After that, the students went to the Dole Building, where they met Brett Akagi, the director of KU’s media program. He showed them the newsroom and explained more about what it takes to be a journalist.

“Whatever you decide to do in journalism, you need to feel right about it,” said Akagi. “You get to go on adventures every day, to places most other people can’t go.”

Anguiano, accompanied by O’Brien, led the kids into the filming site for KUJH-TV. O’Brien showed them all the technology used to put together shows on KUJH-TV. Then the students saw the set for the news shows and weather updates.

Next, the students walked up Jayhawk Boulevard to the Kansas Union building, where they saw the Media Crossroads headquarters. Anguiano explained that any student, even non-journalism majors, can participate in "Good Morning KU." The students switch jobs once a week, so everyone gets a chance to do all the positions. Media Crossroads director Cal Butcher said, “Good Morning KU is an [opportunity for] freshman to have experience in front of a camera or behind a camera.”

The students left KU after that, feeling satisfied that one day, they could be Jayhawk journalists.