Student feedback
I began teaching students the summer of 2017, after I answered a last minute call for a volunteer to help at the Frank Bolden Urban Multimedia Workshop, a week-long residential workshop that has been hosted and managed by the Pittsburgh Black Media Federation since 1983. While volunteering, I also learned that Point Park University was in a crunch, searching for an adjunct to take on two entry-level journalism classes that upcoming Fall semester. I offered to fill in.
Since that summer, I’ve continued volunteering, teaching as an adjunct, hosting workshops and mentoring young journalists. My approach is grounded in teaching good process, ethics and critical thinking skills.
Below is some of the feedback I received from students who took the intro to journalism class I taught at PPU from 2017 to 2019.
— 2019, end-of-class survey
“Overall, I have learned that good journalism is not lazy. Good journalists go the extra mile and take the extra step that other journalists may not take. For instance, having other sources to back up something that another source said to make substantiated claims, recognizing that data may not always be accurate, and removing bias or subjectivity, are all involved in good journalism. Good journalism is reporting on what one knows for a fact, not what one thinks …”
— 2018, end-of-class survey
“Overall, this class helped me realize what it truly means to be a reporter and how it all works. This class was filled with fun activities, prizes, and challenging competitions as well as lectures and assignments. All of which made me not only a better reporter, but a better and more caring person as well.”
— 2018, course evaluation
“AmyJo is fantastic and she pushes everyone outside of their comfort zone in a good way, she truly helped me improve in journalism writing.”
— 2017, end-of-class survey
“The constant research, interviews and writing and revising that I conducted in my story was challenging to say the least. The entire process was frustrating, due to either people not providing me with the necessary information, placing many phone calls in order to find the most beneficial source I was looking for, and constantly researching to find out if the information I was obtaining was in fact true. However, the experience was extremely rewarding. Whenever I was able to gather new information that I knew would contribute to my audience wanting to read my story, I could not help but smile uncontrollably and pat myself on the back. I am having so much fun because I am getting experience in the real world.”