SDNA launches ‘Earn Your Press Pass’
If you’ve ever had the urge to write for your local community newspaper, that urge can now be satisfied.
The South Dakota Newspaper Association has “borrowed” a great program created by Kansas community journalists called, “Earn Your Press Pass.” In a nutshell, Earn Your Press Pass is an online training program – not a substitute for a journalism degree – that provides the tools for community journalism.
Community newspapers around the country, including the Brandon Valley Journal, often find themselves in a position where recruiting trained journalists is problematic. Convincing a newly graduated journalism student to move to a rural community, for example, can be a challenge.
This leaves many community newspapers in a position where they must hire a community member to train them to be reporters. Unfortunately, many of these newspapers also lack the time and skill set to do proper training, leaving these newly conscripted reporters fumbling through how to properly report on news, find stories, follow style, etc.
This course will fill in those gaps. Community newspapers, like the Brandon Valley Journal, will be able to ask their new hires to complete each lesson, allowing them to learn everything from common newspaper terminology to story writing to media laws.
Lessons are designed to take the layperson to a functioning newspaper reporter upon completion in a straight-forward and comprehensive approach.
This is by no means a college course, nor is it designed to be one. The goal of this course is to impart practical, usable knowledge. While we agree journalism history and deeper discussions of media ethics and goals are fantastic academic pursuits, we do not believe those are important pieces to get a starting reporter – perhaps you – ready to fill their local newspaper with well-written, well-reported stories.
It is our hope at the Brandon Valley Journal that you’ll want to join us in our pursuit of strengthening our newspaper as a trained, professional journalist, who is ready to shine a light on our community.
The SDNA is also working with South Dakota State University’s School of Communications and Journalism in developing in-person training opportunities for its member newspapers, and should be rolling out in the new year.
If we’ve piqued your interest with either the online courses or in-person training, give us a call. We’re eager to get you enrolled and add your name to our staff box.
