For the first time in its 39 years, the University of Regina’s School of Journalism has launched a 100-level introductory class.

The School of Journalism, founded in 1980, is a two-year intensive program. To earn a degree, students complete two years of pre-journalism and two years in the School of Journalism following a competitive application process. Once in the school, students learn everything from magazine production to documentary filmmaking, but many “J-School” students don’t have prior journalism experience.

Journalism instructor Mark Taylor, who teaches the first-year class called “Introduction to Journalism and Democracy,” has taught at the J-School since 2009. He believes the course will set the record straight on the real world of journalism.

“Journalism is kind of under attack right now,” said Taylor. “We just decided it was time to offer this class because we thought there was some demand for it, and turns out there is.”

The class is structured around the foundation of journalism. It explores print, photojournalism, podcasts and beyond. The lectures will utilize guest speakers — working journalists who speak about their experiences in the field.

“It struck me that a lot of people, a lot of non-journalists, may go through life never meeting a journalist,” said Taylor. “That’s part of understanding journalism and the media is that these are human beings doing honest work.”

Taylor says most of the students are “green” to journalism so bringing in working journalists helps paint a picture of the field. He says the guest speakers also encourage more discussion in the classroom and provide students the opportunity to ask questions.

“Hopefully they’ll understand a bit more the workings of a newsroom,” said Taylor. “Why journalists cover what they cover, why they decide not to cover something, or maybe why something isn’t being covered.”

Kayleen Sawatzky, a current School of Journalism student, completed her pre-journalism years at the University of Regina before the introductory course was offered. Sawatzky says learning about the field from working journalists would have helped her prepare for the intensive J-School.

“If they’re bringing in people who are actually telling their experiences, I would have gotten a much broader view of what it was actually going to be like and what I was actually getting myself into,” said Sawatzky.

Sawatzky’s love of writing and storytelling drew her to the school, but she only had limited journalism experience before applying. Since being in the school, she thinks many underestimate what really goes into being a journalist.

“It’s fine to be like, ‘I love the news,’ but it’s a completely other thing to have to go out and get it,” said Sawatzky.

Sawatzky believes the class will help the school produce more working journalists as opposed to public relations or communications employees.

“I think that once people know what they’re getting into, the school will be churning a lot more actual practicing journalists,” said Sawaktsky.

However, she thinks the class could be even more beneficial if students were required to go out and gather stories.

“Add in some assignments maybe that would make them just go out and have a little taste of what it’s going to be like just being in the program,” said Sawatzky.

Taylor says it might be unfair to ask 100-level students to produce stories.

“Because it’s an open elective, we can’t expect the students to have all the gear that J-School students have, so the assignments are less involved,” said Taylor.

Taylor says the class will still provide a leg-up for future School of Journalism students.

“If we get students from this class, they’re a bit ahead,” said Taylor. “They know a bit more coming into this school than they otherwise would have if this class wasn’t offered.”

The class is set to be continued in future semesters.

“As long as the [enrolment] numbers are there, we’ll keep doing it,” said Taylor.