What is Citizen Journalism University?
We get it. You have too much to cover and not enough reporters – and no time to train them if you did. We’re here to help: The Minnesota News Media Institute (MNA’s nonprofit) and Bethel University are collaborating for a third year to train your community members to become journalists through Citizen Journalism University this fall.
Citizen Journalism University is an intensive, online five-week program that provides practical training in reporting, ethics, news judgment and working with editors. Launched in 2022, 45 people sponsored by MNA member newspapers have successfully completed the course; many are now working for their sponsor newspapers as staff members, freelancers and stringers. At least one CJU alum is now an editor!
Prime CJU candidates are community enthusiasts (not political activists), retirees, sports parents and fans, current or former journalism professionals who want to reinvest in themselves, high school students who are ready to freelance, and adults looking for side hustles such as covering meetings or sports. Candidates should be at least 16 years old; online registration will open in late July.
To help you recruit, MNI has developed updated promotional advertisements and sample columns for 2024 that members may customize and publish. Scroll down to select and download.
The 2024 CJU session will meet in two-hour online sessions on Thursdays from Sept. 26-Oct. 24. Seasoned Minnesota journalists will equip participants with the skills needed to cover sports and human interest stories, report on government meetings and tackle other community assignments. Mentors will help reinforce class topics between sessions.
“The idea is to create an affordable, short-term class that will allow community members to learn reporting basics so they can freelance or work part-time for their community newspapers without being high-maintenance employees for their editors,” said Scott Winter, associate professor of journalism at Bethel University.
Tuition for Citizen Journalism University is $300 per student for MNA member newspapers, $600 per student for nonmembers. As an MNA member benefit, the Minnesota News Media Institute, MNA’s nonprofit, will pay half of the tuition for students sponsored by MNA member newspapers that are participating for the first time (up to 30 students), cutting the cost for first-time sponsor newspapers to $150 per student.
Additional funding for CJU can help cement the program’s future. Make a donation to MNI by clicking here.
For more information about Citizen Journalism University follow the MNA Bulletin or contact Lisa Schwarz at lisas@mna.org. To become a volunteer mentor, email Laura Niemi at laura@mna.org.
Resources
2024 Citizen Journalism University sample columns
2024 Citizen Journalism University promotional ads
Large – Click links to download:
Small – Click links to download:
