St. Clair’s Mock News Day

by Mary Anne Vanderaa

Classroom learning is changing and St. Clair College is starting a new trend for journalism students as they experience what it is like in the real world.

Blitz Day turns The Converged Citizen from a student newspaper into a real media outlet. The day begins with a morning meeting to discuss deadline and story ideas. Students then go out and interview sources and gather research before writing a story and submitting it for the editing process. This year’s first-year fall Blitz day took place Nov. 9.

Sean Previl, 24, a first-year journalism student who participated in the Blitz, chose his story based on to his own interests. His topic of choice involved members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexuals and Transgender community and how it has changed over the years.

“I just really wanted to detail what it was like growing up gay,” said Previl. “Obviously I wanted to try and look at someone in the younger generation but unfortunately couldn’t get a source. So more about what it used to be like and what that generation thinks of it developing for youth who are now coming out, and whether the struggles are worse or are just as tough or better.”

Previl’s story joins many others that are to be added into the paper. Production manager Marissa DeBortoli is in charge of putting out the paper. The main difference between a regular paper and the Blitz paper is that everyone’s story and photo will be included.

“When the other people aren’t doing their jobs, it makes my job harder and also because of the time,” said DeBortoli. “I would usually get the stories in earlier than today, like 1 p.m. and instead I am getting them in at 5:30 p.m.”

DeBortoli’s Converged Citizen duties do not change. She still has to have the Blitz paper in on the same deadline that has been set for any of the regularly printed papers.

The Blitz was added by program coordinator Veronique Mandal who wanted to give her students the real experience of what it was like in a newsroom. Six years ago Mandal ran the idea by students and professors to see if it could be a real motivator and experience outside of the classroom. Mandal wanted journalists to have a sense of confidence and accomplishment after the experience had finished. According to Mandal, the staff was very proud of them and they deserved to pat themselves on the back.

“Students need to tell themselves that things are going to go wrong and it is okay,” said Mandal.