Indiana University School of Journalism

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Photo by Brian Buckey

Ralph Winslow Visiting Professor Jim Bright was one of four journalism faculty who taught sessions as IU’s Mini University last week.

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Last week, four School of Journalism instructors found themselves addressing an entirely different group of students from those they work with during the school year.

As part of IU’s Mini University 2008, professors Jim Bright, Tony Fargo, Lesa Hatley Major and Peter Jacobi each led a class session during the six-day event geared toward adult learners.

Although Mini University is attended mostly by IU alumni, it is open to anyone who wishes to attend. Faculty members from all different disciplines lead nearly 100 sessions for the participants.

“It’s a wonderful program and it’s a very good idea to help connect with the community,” Hatley Major said. “I consider it to be an honor to be able to participate in the program.”

Each teacher had an hour and 15 minutes to cover his or her material, which proved to be a bit of a challenge.

“It’s really interesting taking what you may teach over the course of a year and adapting it for another audience,” Fargo said. “The audience is very attentive and really keys in on what you’re saying.”

Fargo led a session entitled “Shielding Reporters from Subpoenas.”

“I think it’s a pretty timely topic,” he said. “There haven’t been a ton of new cases with the subject, but with Congress considering providing measures for protecting anonymous sources, there definitely is some interest.”

For Bright, who is an IU alumnus, Mini University offered a unique chance to connect with other alumni.

“It’s interesting because you are looking out there at a lot of faces who not too long ago were the same age as our students now,” Bright said. “I think they were just as enthusiastic and attentive as our current students.”

Bright, who was worked in public relations in Japan for Ford and Mazda led a session entitled “Japan: A Rare and Special Treat.”

Photo by Brian Buckey

The 2008 session of IU’s Mini University sold out this year, the second year a  row that alumni and others flocked to Bloomington to take classes.

“About half of the people in attendance had been to Japan,” Bright said. “It made for kind of a different experience because they were able to share some of their experience and ask different questions than my students would have.”

Jacobi teaches lifetime learning courses in opera and classical music appreciation for the IU Bloomington Continuing Studies. His session for Mini University was called “Profiles in Music.” Hatley Major’s lecture was entitled “The Framing of News Coverage: A Question of Responsibility.”

The professors said they appreciated the opportunity to represent the School of Journalism.

“It’s a great opportunity for the school to show off what we have to offer,” Fargo said. “To have four faculty members is really good for us, especially for a relatively small school.”

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