Geneseo students currently interested in studying journalism only have the option of becoming a communication major on the journalism and media track. As of fall 2019, there are only 31 communication classes offered, compared to the 1,497 classes offered at Geneseo. Of these 31 classes, not all of them focus on the skill sets of journalism and media.
Part of the issue is Geneseo’s lack of permanent communication staff. There are less than 10 full-time professors, the rest being adjunct or visiting, according to the Geneseo website.
This is not to say that Geneseo isn’t making any strides toward a better education for prospective journalists. The Geneseo website offers a number of internship opportunities for students pursuing a career in journalism.
Communication majors can visit the links provided to learn more about interning with programs such as the POLITICO Journalism Institute, Rochester Red Wings Baseball and Volunteers of America. Information for communication-based scholarships can also be accessed on the Geneseo website.
Geneseo also offers journalism experiences on campus through the student-run radio station, WGSU, and The Lamron, the student-run newspaper. Both organizations are open to all Geneseo students and offer real-life journalism and media duties such as editing, reporting and broadcasting.
Literary magazines such as MiNT and Gandy Dancer are offered to Geneseo students, as well as LIVE, a community and business magazine. In the past, Geneseo had a campus cable television network called GSTV.
The journalism career path is extremely competitive, so prospective journalists will need as much experience and credibility as they can get. Geneseo is off to a great start with their journalism track but should consider expanding it into an independent major in order to help students compete upon searching for a job in journalism.