Journalism & Mass Communication

Diversity in the JMC program

Director’s Note:
JMC is actively committed to helping both media organizations and the university reflect the diverse communities we serve. Only journalists and communicators with keen multicultural awareness can reach all of our audiences effectively and convey their stories honestly and well. Just one sign of this commitment is our Pathways to Excellence in Journalism Summer Intensive, a week-long introduction to journalism and college life specifically designed for incoming students from traditionally under-represented backgrounds. In preparing our students for success at CU, we also get a foretaste of what they’ll teach us.

Chris Braider, Director, Journalism & Mass Communication

MEMO (Multi Ethnic Media Organization)
MEMO is a group designed for students of diverse backgrounds. The group provides resources for scholarships, networking and community engagement.  The student-run group hosts bi-weekly meetings throughout the fall and spring semesters.  MEMO emphasizes the importance of cultural diversity while assisting students in applying to the Journalism & Mass Communication program.   www.cumemo.com

Pathways to Excellence in Journalism Summer Intensive Program
The summer intensive is a week-long bridge program that offers entering freshman from diverse communities the opportunity to prepare for journalism-related academics in an exciting, real-world environment. The students take classes from CU professors and produce their own news projects. During the week they also get help with math, science, college writing and test-taking skills.

The Curriculum
The deepest and perhaps most subtle manifestation of understanding is in the ways diversity is addressed in the classroom. The more students are encouraged to explore issues of representation, identity, community, bias and perspective, the better they will be prepared to work in professional settings and influence thoughtful, ethical, inclusive decision-making….The hope is that when students understand that diversity is one of the paths to excellence in journalism and communications, minority students and others with differences will realize that their life experiences provide valuable perspective

Organizations
JMC students benefit from the schools ties with local, state and national organizations. These ties provide opportunities for mentorships while the students are at CU and create a network of contacts for graduates in the workforce.

Here’s a partial list:

CU Affiliated Chapters
Association of Women in Communications Student Chapter
National Association of Hispanic Journalists Student Chapter
Rocky Mountain National Association of Black Journalists

National Organizations
Asian American Journalists Association - http://www.aaja.org
Asian American Journalists Association, Denver Chapter - http://aajadenver.wordpress.com/
California Chicano News Media Association – http://www.ccnma.org
Chips Quinn Scholars – http://www.chipsquinn.org
Journalism & Women Symposium – http://www.jaws.org
Multicultural Advertising Intern Program (MAIP) – http://www.aaaa.org
Native American Journalists Association – http://www.naja.com
National Association of Black Journalists – http://www.nabj.org
Colorado Association of Black Journalists – http://www.cabj-denver.org
National Association of Hispanic Journalists – http://www.nahj.org
National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association – http://www.nlgja.org
Public Relations Society of America – http://www.prsa.org
Radio Television Digital News Association – http://www.rtnda.org
Society of Professional Journalists Association – http://www.spj.org
The Association of Women in Communications  - http://www.womcom.org
UNITY Journalists of Color, Inc., - http://www.unityjournalists.org