In September of 2021 I was sitting in my JAMM 100 class when two people came in and talked about the student newspaper, The Argonaut. In high school I was a writer and editor for my high school paper, so I decided to apply. The day after I had submitted my application I heard back and was able to schedule a meeting with the editor-in-chief at the time. A few weeks later, I started writing as a columnist.
Within a few months of working at The Argonaut, I became the new opinion editor for the spring 2022 semester. I was brought back as the opinion editor and also became the Vandal Nation manager for the next semester. I was then brought on to be the production manager at KUOI, the student radio station, where I have worked for the past two semesters. My choice to join Student Media my freshman year was one of the best choices I could’ve made.
A big reason I enjoy The Argonaut and KUOI so much is the experience I get working in Student Media. There is a big difference between sitting in a classroom and learning how to write, record a podcast, or edit, and actually doing that.
Working at The Argonaut the past four semesters, I have learned so much about writing, editing and news media as a whole. I also got the chance to learn how to manage a team and work in a group. All of my work in Student Media led to me applying and being selected as the Station Manager for KUOI next year.
A lot of people may think that if you aren’t part of the School of Journalism and Mass Media you wouldn’t get anything out of working in Student Media. I would disagree. There are plenty of people in both The Argonaut and KUOI who aren’t a part of the JAMM. They still gain plenty of valuable experience and really enjoy what they do.
On top of the great experience working in Student Media, I have also been able to meet a lot of great people who have become good friends. Being able to work and learn from other students who are also studying media has been incredibly helpful.
Getting involved in Student Media was such an integral part of my first two years at the University of Idaho.
For me, the hardest part of joining Student Media was just applying. Once you get your foot in the door, the entire experience becomes a lot easier and you will gain so much from it.
If you are unsure where to start, UI has a webpage where you can search different clubs and organizations on campus. It may take a little effort to find somewhere that fits you, but it’s out there and you should find it.
Mark Warren can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @MarkWarren1832