More opportunities are now available for MU School of Journalism students with the relocation of another professional journalism organization to MU’s campus.
The American Society of News Editors, an organization for journalism leaders, has announced its new partnership with the School of Journalism as well its move to the Reynolds Journalism Institute.
A year ago, ASNE decided to partner with a journalism school and received eight formal offers, ASNE’s executive director Richard Karpel said in an email.
“Our board of directors ultimately decided that the offer from (MU) was the one that made the most sense for ASNE,” Karpel said.
Beyond the school’s history of working and partnering with other professional journalism associations, ASNE noted the standing of the journalism school, acting executive director of RJI Roger Gafke said.
“I think they recognized the prominence of the journalism school here (and how it) relate(s) well to the journalism enterprise,” Gafke said.
ASNE is moving its headquarters from Reston, Va., into RJI throughout the spring and summer, Karpel said.
“We should be completely Columbia-based by this fall,” he said.
ASNE sees promise in its move to RJI because it brings together members as well as journalists, researchers and students working in RJI, ASNE treasurer David Boardman said in a news release.
“I have no doubt this collaboration will be a force for meaningful innovation in the news industry,” Boardman said, in the release.
For School of Journalism students this is exciting news.
Karpel said MU was chosen partly because of the quality of its student body. MU’s journalism students will benefit by this partnership as well by working with ASNE on projects relating to real-world media issues, he said.
“We would like to create a social media internship under which a student or students would help to plan Twitter and CoverItLive chats, and help augment ASNE’s social media presence.”
In addition, students will have “the opportunity to meet and work with leaders throughout the news business, including the top editors at the largest news organizations in the U.S.,” Karpel said.
RJI has begun a collaborative project with ASNE before it can even unpack.
RJI conducted this year’s edition of the annual Newsroom Employment Census. According to ASNE’s news release, the census is used to see if ASNE is on track to hit its goal of having the percentage of minorities in newsrooms equal to the nationwide percentage of minorities by 2025.
The partnership continues with the upcoming Innovation Week at RJI, Gafke said.
“We, of course, will be inviting some of their members here to share their insights and opportunities,” he said. “The next step is moving the resources here and getting them set up.”
