Grownups will say that technology is a teen's native language,
something you've known and absorbed since birth. In case you're behind
in some of the dialects or syntax, here's a quick primer in key
software that could help you as a journalist.
What programs do you really need to know? Laura Ruel, assistant
professor for visual communication and multimedia at the prestigious
University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, writes about a consensus of
expert opinion in a story on Poynter Online, Teaching Tomorrow's
Journalists: Today's Best Tools:
All agreed that knowledge of software skills will never replace the
need to emphasize to students the importance of being critical, curious
and analytical thinkers. Yet there also was strong sentiment that
software is an essential component to journalism education."Because that's the thing," Gahran said. "Journalism i
s a practice, not just a philosophy. The tools really do matter."
Key
to knowing what software to teach or learn is knowing your educational
goals -- and what kind of jobs you're targeting. Collectors of
information will need to know different software than those editing and
presenting it.
Here are the Tidbits team's thoughts on four
types of software that may seem similar to an outsider, but do quite
different things.
See this story's sidebar for insight into what hiring professionals are looking for. (And
look here for more discussion among educators about what works and needs work at their schools.)
To read what Ruel had to say about each package, read the Poynter Online story
here.
