Graduate with honors from the J-school

Do you have an overall GPA of 3.5 or higher? Would you like to graduate with honors from the J-school?

If the answer to both of these questions is yes, then contact professor Anne Johnston at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to indicate your interest and learn more.

To graduate with honors, you will complete an honors thesis. Check out some of the past projects completed by J-school honors students.

More information about the J-school honors program is also available here: jomc.unc.edu/current-students-content-items/honors-program.

Additional courses available during fall 2012 semester

The School of Journalism and Mass Communication has added nine courses for fall semester 2012 to better accommodate student schedules and needs.

The courses include extra sections of “Professional Problems and Ethics,” “Audio-Visual Information Gathering,” “Newswriting,” “Introduction to Mass Comm Law” and “Public Relations Campaigns.”

Other course sections being added include “Writing for Electronic Media,” “Concepts of Marketing,” "Public Relations Writing” and a second section of the popular course “New Media Technologies.”

These courses are now available for registration through Connect Carolina. Check there for the times these new course sections are being offered.

'Reporting' class available during Summer Session I

The Summer School will offer JOMC 253: “Reporting,” during its first 2012 session.

Students who have completed the JOMC 153 requirement can take the class in a five-week, concentrated format that will differ considerably from spring and fall sections.

In summer session, JOMC 253 will be arranged around general assignments rather than beats. Students will do more breaking news, although some news features will be assigned. Students should expect to write three stories most weeks. There will be no tests or quizzes, and there will be no major project at session's end.

Class meets daily from 9:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. in the J-school's Franklin Street newsroom, above Sugarland Bakery in the Hill Commercial Building. Much of the student work will be completed during those hours, but students will be expected to cover some weeknight and weekend activities in the area.

Paul T. O'Connor will be the instructor. Students with questions can contact him at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Summer 2012 spelling and grammar test dates

Journalism majors are required to make 70 percent or better on the school’s spelling and grammar test prior to graduation. Journalism minors are not required to pass the test.

Students must sign up by 4 p.m. the day prior to test date in Carroll 154, the lobby of the Student Records and Registration suite. Seats are limited to 20 per test so sign up early.

Cancellations: Please notify Marla Barnes by 4 p.m. the day before the test.

Contact Marla Barnes at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with any questions.

MAY, SSI

Friday, 5/25, 2 p.m., Carroll 142 (Sign-up begins at 8 a.m. on Friday, 5/18, in Carroll 154.)

JULY, SSII

Friday, 7/13, 10 a.m., Carroll 60 (Sign-up begins at 8 a.m. on Friday, 7/06, in Carroll 154.)

Buy J-school gear from Student Stores to support Relay for Life

UNC Student Stores is now selling t-shirts and hoodies featuring the School of Journalism and Mass Communication and benefiting Relay for Life with each purchase. Visit www.store.unc.edu/journalism to purchase. The shirts and hoodies can be mailed directly to your home or picked up in the store. For every t-shirt purchased before graduation, $3 will be given to Relay for Life, while $5 for every sweatshirt purchased before graduation will go to Relay for Life. Relay for Life is an annual event sponsored by the American Cancer Society to raise money for cancer research and support.

The Class of 2012 has set a goal for 48 percent of the senior class to make a gift to UNC-Chapel Hill by the end of the year. You are able to give any amount to any designation on campus, including the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Any donation amount will go toward our goal, but we encourage a donation of $20.12. With a gift of at least $20.12, you will receive a Tar Heel lapel pin to wear on your graduation gown as well as a window decal. If you choose to make a gift of less than $20.12, you will only receive a window decal. Please make a gift online at giving.unc.edu/index.htm and click "give now." If we reach 48 percent participation, John Moore '88 will give $20,000 to UNC and our class stone by the bell tower will have a footprint on it. When making your gift, please mention that you were directed to the website from the JOMC weekly email by clicking "I would like to share a story about why I made this gift."

Calling all summer interns: Blog about your internship for CAFME

The Carolina Association of Future Magazine Editors (CAFME) is looking for student contributors to write for its intern diaries blog. Share your experience and tips for making it in the industry while getting writing samples in the process. Contact CAFME co-president Alyssa Bailey at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you're interested. Please include where you're interning. And be sure to keep an eye on the blog this summer for posts.

Sign up for Chinese immersion program

The UNC Summer School and Department of Asian Studies are offering a Chinese immersion program for introductory Chinese students. Chinese immersion provides an opportunity for students to understand Chinese language and culture in light of China's global economic and political strength and relationship with the United States. Chinese studies can broaden professional opportunities for students in any major. Students will earn four language credits and three culture credits. The program will last from May 15 to June 19 (Summer Session I). Students can access the application form and additional information at unc.edu/languageimmersion/index.html. All applications should be turned into the Summer School by May 10.

Help with UNC chapter of Building Tomorrow with video

The UNC chapter of Building Tomorrow is looking for someone to help create a promotional video for the fall 2012 Bike to Uganda. If you are looking to build your resume and help out with a great organization please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it by May 25.

Intern with NC STATE magazine

The editors of NC STATE, the award-winning alumni magazine at NC State University, are seeking interns for the summer and fall. This internship is unpaid but can be done for academic credit. Interns are expected to work about 10 hours per week, and those from UNC-Chapel Hill should plan to come into the office once per week. Remaining hours can be done off site. Previous NC STATE interns have gone on to positions at national magazines and newspapers and to full-time editing and writing jobs. You can learn more about NC STATE at alumni.ncsu.edu. Some content from past issues is accessible on that site. You can also find magazine-related content at alumniblog.ncsu.edu/tag/nc-state-magazine.

Our interns will spend much of their time researching and/or writing articles for the magazine and helping with our organization’s blog, redandwhiteforlife.com, and other social media tools. We want this work experience to help our interns meet their career goals and will make every effort to give assignments based on interest. The ideal candidate is detail-oriented and familiar with Associated Press style, has a love of language and experience working at a university newspaper or other publication. We will consider candidates without publications experience if they have strong samples from their writing courses.

For more information, contact associate editor Chris Saunders at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

JOMC News is published weekly during the fall and spring semesters by the UNC School of Journalism and Mass Communication. If you have an item to submit to JOMC News, send it to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Submissions should be received no later than noon on Thursdays.