Blitzed out

Journalism students at St. Clair College work in a real-world newsroom environment during the program’s Blitz day.

Blitz happens once each semester and requires first-year journalism students to complete a story in one day before deadline which is by noon. The students conduct interviews, write a story and have it edited three times by second-year journalism students and guests from local media.

Journalism program coordinator, Veronique Mandal, said Blitz day gives students a chance to work under pressure to meet the deadline.

“Most of the time they have a week to complete their assignments but on Blitz day they know they have a deadline and if that deadline isn’t met then their story doesn’t go in the paper,” said Mandal. “It is a tremendous opportunity for what it feels like to be in the real world.”

Blitz also allows first and second-year journalism students to work together. The managing editors for Blitz help make preparations in order to make the day happen.

“In preparing for Blitz, it’s a lot of making sure that the first years have their sources and stories together. A lot of things can fall through at the last minute so we have a lot of backup stories and ideas,” said managing editor Ashley Ann Mentley.

In the week leading up to Blitz, first-year journalism students look for a story and set up three interviews for the Friday Blitz is held. They are not allowed to do the interviews in advance because

Mandal said it would not be working under a one-day deadline, which reflects what is realistically expected in this field. First-year student, Alyssa Horrobin, said the most stressful part of Blitz is trying to find interviews for a story.
“I just called people, I wouldn’t let up. I just called and called and called until they answered me. I got a few interviews lined up and then I could relax,” said Horrobin.

Mandal said Blitz day is important to journalism students because it gives them an opportunity to prepare for the field they are going into, as well as having the communication between junior and senior reporters.