Ohio University Society of Professional Journalists
Planners and participants in the OUSPJ breaking news simulation. Back Row: Tre Spencer, Claire Schiopota, Dori Gray, Tate Raub; Middle Row: Alyssa Cruz, Arshi Singhania, Kayla Bennett; Front row: McKenna Christy, Isabel Nissley, Maya Morita
The Ohio University Society of Professional Journalists (OUSPJ) chapter offered students the opportunity to practice their news gathering and writing skills in a breaking news training simulation on campus on the 8th ‘April.
Students responded in real time to changing circumstances, including a scenario about a wrong-way car crash on Court Street that involved injuries and one death. SPJ chapter leaders wrote the scenario that included press releases from government organizations and a hospital, as well as “witnesses” from the scene. Chapter leaders acted as witnesses and collected the news, photos, videos and social media posts produced by the student teams.
Journalism professors Mark Turner and Elizabeth Hendrickson, Ph.D., were judges for the event.
“We wanted another way for students to collaborate with each other that might not be found in the student publications themselves,” said Kayla Bennett, chapter president. “When planning, we also knew it was important to give an opportunity to students who might not experience it. That’s why we chose a scenario that included how to report on trauma journalism. As journalists, it’s important to know how to report on sensitive issues and approach – us at the sources in an ethical way”.
Bennett and SPJ Vice President Claire Schiopota participated in the Fall 2021 Homeland Security Simulation at Ohio State University. Two dozen OHIO journalism majors were invited to play the roles of journalists and public relations professionals in that simulation.
“The idea came from OUSPJ’s goal to have more hands-on workshops,” Schiopota said. “I wanted more opportunities for students to grow their skills through experience, and that’s when I came up with the simulation of an informational event. It seemed like a fun opportunity for students to try out cover events that they don’t normally get a chance to do in Athens. It’s a way for us to compete with some of the big city universities where breaking news is happening all the time.”
Keynote speaker and Ukrainian journalist Tetiana Gordiienko shared best practices for trauma reporting with students.
The event also included a presentation by Ukrainian media analyst and journalist Tetiana Gordiiendo, who is a visiting scholar at Purdue University within the Brian Lamb School of Communication and the Purdue Policy Research Institute. He is a PhD student at the School of Journalism at the Mohyla Academy of Kyiv National University. After working in various Ukrainian media, Gordiienko joined the non-profit organizations Detector Media and Media Development Foundation. He works with journalists who cover trauma.
“This event fits perfectly with the university’s renewed emphasis on experiential learning. I am so proud of these students for making it on their own and for providing an excellent co-curricular experience for their peers,” said Nerissa Young, OUSPJ faculty advisor.
Ohio University’s SPJ chapter has been named a National Outstanding Campus Chapter nine times in its history. It is affiliated with the national organization of the Society of Professional Journalists in Indianapolis and is part of a national network of professional and campus chapters. Its missions are professional training, ethics, freedom of information and inclusion.
