Newspaper Editing

January 12, 2010 - 4:00 PM

Where has this class been all my life?

After taking grammar three years ago to the term, I realized my life's calling: putting commas in their place and replacing misused words with the appropriate word choice.

I spent a lot of time during the past three years at the U of O's School of Journalism and Communication trying to decide which concentration I would choose: Public Relations, Electronic Media, Magazine, and finally Newspaper/Editorial.

I never considered advertising because it seemed too clichéd to me, and I would hate having my income dependent on spur-of-the-moment creativity (which would probably come once every three thousand moments).

Not that the concentration I chose really guarantees a generous and steady income, but at least it's something I love, which is more than I ever planned on finding.

So as I was poking around with all of the different concentrations, I started reading the course descriptions for the upper-division courses in each of the subjects.

Pretty soon I happened upon the course descriptions for two courses: Newspaper Editing, and of course, Advanced Newspaper Editing.

As my eyes finished picking up the period ending the course description, I instantly decided that Newspaper/Editorial was the concentration for any self-respecting grammar fanatic.

So here I am, winter term of my senior year, and I am finally in a course that allows me to uncap my red pen and go to town on the course material.

Another wonderful part of this class is that it is structured well for those of us who are actually in the class for the love of learning good editing skills. There are no tests, no homework assignments, and no stressful requirements, letting the students prioritize the material presented in the classroom, and for me, this is a great approach because I learn best when I can converse about the material.

I would have never known that I loved grammar as much if it wasn't for the required courses at the university, but after the required courses I was able to do the research to find the major that was right for me.