Campus media community creates opportunities for students to learn the ropes
Nicole Elsasser
What the University of Guelph lacks for in an official journalism program, it makes up for in the opportunities available to students in the campus media community. No matter a student’s journalistic medium of choice, there are opportunities for students to learn valuable real-world skills and padding their resumés during their time at university.
The first and most obvious way for a student to get involved in campus media is by volunteering at The Ontarion. As you are currently reading this particular publication, I will keep my mention of it brief. The Ontarion is a weekly independent student newspaper that operates, in large part, thanks to the contribution of its student volunteers. Volunteers help out with the paper by writing articles, taking photos, drawing graphics and comics, copyediting and helping with layout. The best way to become an Ontarion volunteer would be to go to their weekly volunteer meeting on Thursdays at 5:30pm.
Another way to contribute to the campus media community would be to get involved with CFRU 93.3 FM. CFRU is the non-profit campus and community radio station and they offer a wide-range of programming; there’s something for everyone. According to Christopher Currie, the volunteer coordinator for CFRU, the station is a great place to learn a variety of new skills related to radio as well as media more generally.
“We’re always looking for new programmers and for people to help out with promotions, design, postering, editing, other tech work, and maintaining our music library. No experience is required; we can provide all the training on-site,” he said. “You can develop skills in interviewing, public speaking, and organizing your own program. You’ll also get to meet an incredible group of people who are committed to producing radio that matters.”
Anyone interested in volunteering at CFRU can do so by simply dropping by their office on the second floor of the University Centre between the hours of nine and seven on weekdays or emailing volunteer@cfru.ca. Currie also explained that many students and community members get involved with the station by having their own show. There is a process that involved a proposal followed by some training but is an exciting opportunity for students looking for that experience.
Students also have thecannon.ca available to them. Although most students use this Central Student Association affiliated website for their classifieds, thecannon.ca does regularly report on news on the campus and in the community at large. They have volunteer opportunities for aspiring writers, photographers and videographers through their website.
The Peak is an on-campus alternative magazine that publishes monthly with each issue having a different theme or issue as the focus. The Peak is a collective in structure and is created by a team of volunteers all committed to showcasing voices and perspectives not typically represented in media.
“Many other forms of media are advertising driven,” said the Peak collectively. “Here at the Peak, we do what we do because we love it and know it needs to be done without bombarding the reader with ads from corporations. Contributions have the potential to manipulate our decisions.”
According to the Peak, they strive to be a welcoming and barrier free as possible at the magazine. There are opportunities for people of all experience levels to work on the magazine and that they provide training on any aspect of the magazine’s production. Anyone interested in volunteering for the Peak or even simply submitting content should visit their office on the second floor of the UC or email them at peak@uoguelph.ca.
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