Journalism students prepare for Blitz

Journalism students at St. Clair College’s MediaPlex rushed to get news stories for their Blitz day, March 1.

Blitz is a feature of the St. Clair College converged journalism program where first-year students simulate a real day in the newsroom by writing, editing, and publishing a news story within a very brief period. James Zimmerman, one of the managing editors of the Converged Citizen student newspaper, said he knows how difficult it can be.

“It’s a long process. The editing team has to take a long time to make things look as good as they can,” said Zimmerman.

Although this is a relatively new tradition, Zimmerman said it has improved greatly in the past few years. The MediaPlex campus opened in 2010, enhancing the existing journalism program with new high tech equipment that covers all media across print, radio, television and online news.

While the Blitz day only simulates the print aspect, it is a major part of the program. It occurs once every semester and serves as a type of mid-term examination for the first-year reporters. The second-year journalism students also organize, edit and manage the Blitz day. The final result is printed and distributed in many locations in downtown Windsor.

During weeks when the Blitz does not occur, the students publish a weekly issue of the Converged Citizen. Karen Fallon, an instructor in the journalism program, said the paper started in 2005 as a pilot program for journalism students with only nine students and one issue. But after the MediaPlex opened, the Citizen became a regular part of the program.

“I think our students have come a long way,” Fallon said. “They get a newsroom feel to what they are doing.”

Although Zimmerman said things are generally going well this time around, there’s still room for improvement.

“I wish I would have prepared better,” said Taylor Desjardins, one of the first-year students who wrote a piece on the increase of Porter Airline flights to Windsor. “It turned out pretty good, but I didn’t get any passengers and I wish I would have.”

Overall, the students said they feel they had a pretty good day.

“I’m very proud of all we’ve done at the MediaPlex,” said Zimmerman.