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Journalism

Journalism is the newest program in the English Department, offering both a major and a minor.  This program gives students a strong balance of theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience and can be easily combined with other majors and minors.  Our journalism students have chosen to combine their journalism majors with majors ranging from political science to Spanish.   All journalism students are required to work on Bethel's award-winning student newspaper, the Clarion, under the direction of Professor Bill Norton who has recently joined Bethel's faculty after a long career at the Kansas City Star.   Dr. Phyllis Alsdurf whose work recently appeared in Books and Culture magazine teaches in the program as well as directs the Johnson Center for Journalism and Communication, a program which brings some of the finest Christian journalists from around the country to Bethel's campus.  All journalism students complete internships at newspapers and publications around the twin cities and around the United States.  Learn more about the launch of this new program here. 

Journalism Through the Eyes of Faith   Each year, through the generous support of Gene and Kathy Johnson and the Johnson Center for Journalism and Communication, Bethel sponsors a conference that brings some of the finest Christian journalists to campus.  Students can attend all conference events at no cost and are invited to special "students only" events where they can engage in dialogue with the featured speakers.  At right, Ray Suarez, a featured speaker at the 2008 conference, discusses the intersection of faith and politics in the United States.  Audio of JTEF events is available here.
New York Center for Art and Media Studies     Journalism students have the option to spend a semester at Bethel's New York Center for Art and Media Studies, living and working in the heart of the news and publishing industry.  Under the direction of Bethel faculty and local instructors, students complete ENW405 Publishing and Being Published, ENW300A Writers Workshop and ENW481 Internship in Writing    The NYCAMS facility is featured here.	\
Journalist in Residence Program One semester per year, the Johnson Center sponsors a Christian working journalist who spends the semester at Bethel working with students and bringing cutting-edge expertise to the department.  Bill Norton was  the department's first JIR.  During Bill's semester, he taught a course entitled,  "The U. S. Press and the War in Iraq and served as a consultant to the student newspaper.  Bill also arranged for a student internship at his home newspaper, The Kansas City Star, where a Bethel journalism student is currently serving.