Some tips on college club success
Want to learn outside of class and have extra fun, too?
Join a college club. You’ll like it!
Editor’s note: Although this article is from the perspective of a Knightly News Club member who is also a news reporter for the club (and organization), as you’ll notice when you read the article Eiljah Huhn’s advice can apply to any club; Elijah, as is the case with some Knightly News Club members, Elijah finished his program at Central Penn, but he remains active with The News. We love his enthusiasm, and we hope you do, too, and we hope you find his advice helpful.
By Elijah Huhn
Knightly News Reporter
The Knightly News Club @ Central Penn College, which has won six statewide student-journalism awards from the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association, is the school’s student news outlet.
The Knightly News’ success wouldn’t be possible without the remarkable talent of its members, including club co-advisers professors Paul Miller and Michael Lear-Olimpi, and all student members, past and present.
Some students may be interested in joining this club or another one. Even though I am finished my program at Central Penn, I remain a Knightly News member.
This article is about how I found a way to be successful in The Knightly News, but I believe the points I offer here apply to any club, so please, adapt these as you wish. Not everyone will follow all these points for any club and that’s okay.
Good reading, and good luck!
1. Be an all-around great person.
This can include being kind to others, helping people out if they need help, such as by providing advice for stories as well as story ideas, and showing respect for one another. It’s easy to do these things, and it makes other club members be respectful and kind toward you. Every club member and adviser at Central Penn and other schools appreciates good behavior.
2. Grow into the program.
Perhaps, at first, you won’t know how to write an article or how to take a dynamic photograph or to shoot a video or to provide commentary on a livestreamed sports match—or know how to do whatever the club to which you belong does. That’s okay. Your first article or initial activity in any club may seem mysterious to you, but the more you get used to producing news or representing another club you’re in, with the guidance of your advisers and club officers and members, the more confident and skilled you’ll become. You might become club president, thanks to your growth in the organization.
3. Do some research to find as many facts as possible.
Facts can come from a website or from a person, from a printed document or from a student reporter observing a place or an event. If you want to research online, find trustworthy sources to get facts. Look at news websites you check out to be sure are reliable, or type up what you are looking for to find pages that may be helpful in providing facts for your article. If the article involves a certain person like someone on campus, either email or arrange a meeting with that person—whom we call a source (of information) in journalism, so you can discuss your article’s topic. The same process applies to gathering information and reaching out to people for work in other clubs. In fact, advisers, officers and members of other clubs are often sources for Knightly News reporters’ articles.
4. Create a timeline to meet your deadline.
Having a timeline can keep you organized is a major way to glide smoothly toward your article deadline. Deadlines are crucial in journalism because news must be up-to-date, timely. Keep your story timely, which will allow you to inform your audience, and which will help you build time-management and other skills in your club.
5. For sports coverage, provide detailed game previews and recaps.
Sports articles have similar requirements as other articles, such as informative and interesting text or visual elements such as photos and graphs. However, they also require previews or recaps to provide readers with—yep—up-to-date information and context. Previews can apply to individual athletes, coaches or the team, while recaps include certain moments from the game, and perhaps a sidebar—a short article on a matter in the main article. Try reaching out to people related to the teams to arrange interviewing them for previews or recaps, as well as to analyze the team during games to gather information for your article. Same process for other clubs: Fill in the context of projects, along with ongoing efforts and results, when these details are of community interest.
6. Share ideas with the club before getting down to work.
One of the first steps to working on your article is to think of an idea about something of interest to your readership, and then to share the idea with the club to get feedback and approval to move ahead. Another benefit to sharing is that if you have no story ideas, your peers and adviser can offer possible story ideas. You get the idea: Same for activities in other clubs.
7. Be prepared for podcast dates.
Alongside articles, podcasts are a notable part of The Knightly News Club. They feature interviews with professors and other college employees, and with students, and sometimes, the podcasts feature someone reading the news. If you want to be featured on a podcast, know what you want to talk about and know about the topic.
8. Present well on podcasts.
Speak clearly when you’re talking so people can hear you well on the podcast. Use a tone and volume of your voice that isn’t too loud or too quiet. Ask your prepared and researched questions and answers or anything else you want to say—as long as it’s appropriate and relevant.
9. Donate for fundraising, if you can.
Not everyone can donate or help with club fundraisers, but donations are always appreciated. By donating, you are helping a club thrive.
10. Have fun!
Interact with your members, share your ideas, come to events, such as games and the Central Penn College Film Series, which The Knightly News sponsors, and overall, enjoy your experience with your club.
Want to join The Knightly News Media Club @ Central Penn College? Membership is open to enrolled students, alums and employees of Central Penn College.
Contact co-advisers Michael Lear-Olimpi at [email protected] or Paul Miller at [email protected].
To learn about other clubs, send an email to [email protected].
If you attend a college other than Central Penn, contact your school’s activities or engagement director, or it’s student services office, for information on clubs.
Edited by Professor Michael Lear-Olimpi.
