Wheaton College Alumni Magazine Winter 2015 | Page 25

The Next Generation: Wheaton’s Journalism Certificate Program W H EA T O N . ED U / M A G A Z I N E One of 18 certificate students this year, Nicole Spewak ’15 has interned with the editorial staff of International Justice Mission, as well with Potsdamer Neueste Nachrichte, a daily German newspaper in Potsdam, Germany. During her first day on the job at the newspaper, she conducted interviews with people on the street in German—making subsequent interviews in English “much less intimidating.” In writing articles and shadowing experienced journalists at press conferences during her internships, Spewak says she gained a more global perspective on her faith and the power of truth telling. Thanks to Spewak and other students, Morgan is optimistic the future of Christian journalism. “Journalists deeply believe in the proposition that we can become better as a society,” Morgan says. “That’s a gospel thing.” Nicole Spewak ’15 at International Justice Mission headquarters in Washington, D.C., summer 2014. Jeremy Weber ’05 To equip students for careers in journalism, Wheaton’s communication department launched a 24-credit journalism certificate program in 2011. “We want to do our part in shaping the next generation of journalists,” says Dr. Ken Chase, chair of communication. “This is a matter of pursuing truth in public life, which is necessary for the pursuit of justice and a check on the abuse of power.” The courses train students not only to do the work well, but to do it ethically. “We expose students to some of the classic ethical questions like when to give a source anonymity,” says Timothy C. Morgan, program director and senior editor of global journalism at Christianity Today. “We also ask students to sit down and write their point of view on journalistic ethics.” The program, assisted by Wheaton Magazine editor Allison Althoff ’11, integrates foundational journalistic principles and best practices with innovative social media and marketing techniques. One of the distinctive elements is the focus on experiential learning: guest speakers including Sarah Pulliam Bailey ’08, national correspondent for Religion News Service, and TIME correspondent Elizabeth Dias ’08 have spoken on topics ranging from global religion to digital innovation. Students are required to complete two internships—some have interned at Christianity Today, FOX News Chicago, WBEZ-FM, NBC affiliates, and more. Indianapolis, and we cover the Indy 500 every year,” Batt says. “One of the highlights of my career was covering the inauguration of President Barack Obama. It’s a historic inauguration, regardless of your political views,” Batt says. She is thankful for the broad education she received at Wheaton, especially for her political science and communication courses. “I use that information every day when I cover news.” For Paul Carr ’02, now a senior researcher with ESPN Stats & Information, faith influences not just his work, but everyday life. Carr leads a team of people responsible for generating accurate and interesting story-telling content for all soccer platforms, including coverage of major events like the World Cup. Though his work is behind the scenes, he offers advice that transcends the media—advice on taking faith to work anywhere. “Work hard and well. Show integrity in personal interactions,” Carr says. “Display God’s love to people…People will learn about your beliefs, and then you have opportunities to impact lives through words and actions.” Above: A regular contributor to Wheaton Magazine, Jeremy Weber ’05 (pictured above) has traveled the world in his role as news editor at Christianity Today—from Cuba to Egypt to eastern China. In 2010, he traveled 600 miles through the jungles of the Central African Republic to examine water wells funded by Christian donors. “The landlocked nation is one of the world’s poorest and most tumultuous, but mixing missions with best business practices can make a difference,” Weber says. He also traveled the length of Algeria in 2008, investigating why it shut down half of the nation’s Protestant churches, but let Catholic ones (like the one above) continue operating.   W H E A T O N    23