Orientation is done, let the school work begin

With orientation and the first few days of class behind us, the class of 2010 is starting to settle into a groove with lectures and assignments starting to roll out.

In the first three days of class this week we have been reintroduced the basics of grammar and the basics of grammar for journalistic writing. First and foremost, we learned that our first priority is to the reader and not to our future employer. Initially this seems to be confusing, but when you look at the big picture and to who journalists are writing for (the readers), it makes perfect sense.

As future journalists we are now expected to be news savvy. As a result, we are expected to stay on top of the happenings in London, Ontario through our daily local The London Free Press but we are to know what is the top stories from the rest of Canada and globally. We will be staying informed through The Globe & Mail. I have to say that although I love the news, I do not read the newspaper, I am an addict of news channels such as CP24 and CTVNewsnet. I will have to expand how I take in the information and get up and extra hour early and read the papers every morning.

I am thoroughly enjoying going to class everyday, which is a departure from my undergraduate days. I am learning much about a culture and profession which I know little about. The future is exciting, and I eagerly look forward to learning the "ins" and "outs" of print, broadcast, and radio.