Donation puts college on cutting edge

By STARLA POINTER

Of the News-Register

Students at Linfield College are using a dozen multimedia kits - each featuring digital cameras and audio recorders, with digital video cams to come - to turn out professional-quality work as they acquire cutting-edge journalism skills.

The kits, a gift of the Bladine family, the News-Register and OnlineNW in memory of longtime News-Register owner Phil Bladine, also feature microphones, headphones, software and carrying cases.

The donation, commemorated with a plaque on the door of the college's Renshaw Hall media lab, is "transformative" for Linfield's Mass Communications Department, according to Chair Brad Thompson.

Thompson is teaching an intensive photojournalism course this month, Linfield's four-week "Jan Term," in which a dozen students are using the equipment out in the field on a daily basis.

Prior to the class, individual students had already begun checking out the equipment on an individual basis for class projects. The campus library is overseeing the checkout system.

That will continue. In addition, other classes will be using the equipment on a group basis during this year's second semester and semesters to come.

"This gets us going in the direction we want to go," Thompson said, citing journalism's sharp turn in a multi-media direction in recent years. He said it equips students for information gathering in an electronic age.

In a presentation ceremony held Wednesday, News-Register Publisher Jeb Bladine said it's natural for his family to help Linfield acquire up-to-date technology in the field.

The Bladines always have been leaders in newspaper technology, partnering in one of the first-ever photo offset presses in the 1950s, becoming one of the first to bring computers into the newsroom and creating an award-winning website, he said. Technology has "made us a better communication system," he said.

The News-Register has a history of working closely with Linfield communications department.

Many students have had a chance to do internships at the paper over the decades, and four more will be following suit during the coming semester. In addition, Managing Editor Steve Bagwell has taught on the side at Linfield during recent years.

The Bladines have a long and deep association with Linfield.

Phil and Jeb Bladine both started their college careers at Linfield before transferring to the University of Oregon's School of Journalism. Both donated time and effort to Linfield's annual Partners-in-Progress campaigns over the years.

Meg Bladine, Phil's wife and Jeb's mother, is a former Linfield trustee. And Chelsey Nichol, Jeb's daughter, is a 2001 Linfield graduate.

Thompson said the new digital equipment gives students real-world experience that is vital and immediate. Students can go out into the field to photograph a story and/or record an interview, come back to the school media lab to edit the material and have a finished piece the same afternoon.

This month, they've been tackling everything from making photos that show patterns or contrast to covering news and sports events. The News-Register has been able to publish some of their work.

Sometimes, the students have had a particular subject to pursue, such as the local impact of the presidential inauguration. Other times, they've been after a certain type of image.

It's been a good experience - not only because they've been using digital equipment, but also because they've had a chance to assume a reporting role, Thompson said.

"I'm so much more comfortable talking to people now," said freshman Joanna Peterson.

Fellow freshman Casee Clark agreed.

She has become much more comfortable using a camera, as well. She is discovering how focus and other techniques can be used to create a more compelling image.

Both students are mass communication majors taking the class to meet department requirements. "Linfield wants students to be well-rounded, so you learn technology, photography and writing," said Peterson, who is interested in a career in newspapers.

Clark, who is thinking of going into public relations, said she appreciates the push to learn a variety of skills. "I hope to be fluent in every part of journalism," she said.

This week, Clark, Peterson and other photojournalism students completed one of their most public projects. They interviewed a variety of people for a snapshot of McMinnville on inauguration day.

The result, a 4 1/2 minute audio slideshow called "McMinnville Talks," can be found on the News-Register website at http://www.newsregister.com/article/24643-mcminnville-talks-views-inauguration.

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