Overview

Manual’s Journalism & Communication magnet is one of the nation’s top award-winning media programs for high school students. It prepares aspiring students for careers in journalism, broadcasting, public relations, advertising, multimedia, graphic design, and photography—and learning leadership, writing, and media skills applicable to virtually any career.

The nationally-awarded J&C faculty brings real-world media experience to the classroom from organizations such as The Courier-Journal, WHAS 11, and Insider Louisville. J&C publications regularly earn top honors at state and national competitions, such as Columbia University’s revered Gold Crown award and national student writing, photography, design, and video contests. Many students graduate with packed college resumes that list awards, internships, and leadership opportunities they have had as a J&C student.

The magnet has evolved to reflect the trend toward converging media. Our students are mobile media multitaskers, trained in the latest technology and trends. The world is our classroom, with students covering everything from the Male/Manual football game to the Kentucky Derby Festival to political elections. With these real-world experiences, students are pushed to excel academically and socially, as demonstrated by national research: as a whole, journalism students earn higher GPAs, score better on portions of the ACT, and are more involved in their school and community.

The freshmen begin the curriculum with a college-level media textbook in Journalism I. “It was the hardest class I had freshman year,” said Kaitlin Peterson, the sports editor for the yearbook. “It was my first real experience trying to apply critical thinking skills. I learned a lot about the world and finally had something to talk to my dad about.”

As they progress, the 200 students in the program—a comparatively small magnet—become close with their J&C teachers and peers. “Much of the closeness in J&C comes from the fact that it requires dedication,” said Jackie Veling, Crimson managing editor. “I’m in that part of the building so much that the rooms are like my home and the people are like my family. It’s one of the best parts of the program.”

Graduates of the program find themselves leading the way in college. “I was already very familiar with the subject matter,” said Amy Bishop, a J&C graduate and journalism major. “I already knew how to use all the equipment, the computers and the software. Unlike some others in my classes, I started working right away.”

Eric Burse, Crimson editor-in-chief, appreciated the interactive aspects of the magnet. “We are the ones interviewing, we are the ones taking video, we are the ones shooting pictures,” he said. “It helped me make a place for myself at the school.”

Parents remark upon their child’s enthusiasm for school and the program’s impact on their social growth and maturity. “I think the experience is so valuable because of the amazing dedication of the teachers,” said Dr. Cate Fosl, a J&C parent and university professor. “The result of that is outstanding mentoring, a broad set of skills, and an increasingly professional environment as the kids advance from ninth through twelfth grade.”