Dow Jones News Fund Annual Report 2014
He said he also uses his duty in the school’s commons to observe different student groups and encourages his editors to do the same.
“I’m always seeking out the student that may not always fit in. Anyone from any background knows they
are welcome in the newsroom.”
He said relationships built from the first set of students when people start to succeed naturally continue to
evolve.
Message for New Advisers
Waugaman said he would tell new advisers the ultimate success comes with trusting their students.
“The young adviser is somewhat afraid if students
mess up it would be the end of the world; if there was
an error in the story it’s the end of the world. I tell
them to be adventurous,” he said.
He said once access was reserved for professionals
but it opened so much that his students were able to
obtain press credentials to cover Obama and Romney’s political campaigns in 2012.
Waugaman with Prince George journalists.
Photo credit: Chris Waugaman
“Just having that sense of adventure and trust in students to act professionally, the sky is the limit for
what these kids can do,” he said.
More about His Students
He said he tells his media students they have the most important job because they should be interested
in everything that goes on in their building. Beyond that he said the community depends upon the media
staff for coverage.
“Nobody covers our football program like we do. If something happened to our students, we know our
people better than anybody else,” he said.
Although is he is acknowledged for his technological expertise, he said journalism students need to learn
patience and empathy. They need to learn to wait for the right moment to take a picture, negotiate and
wait to get the interview, in person. He bans email interviews.
“We are asking our students to search deeply for their sense of empathy. If you don’t have a sense of
empathy you are going to be at a loss when you try your hand at this profession.”
He said, “The key point is despite the fact that you might have an iPad, DSLR camera, etcetera, if you
can’t sit down and have a conversation with someone, all of that technology is for naught.”
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