Student media develop a broader perspective when non-journalism students get involved, according to Daily Kent Stater adviser Carl Schierhorn.

“We have more non-JMC students on the editorial page,” Schierhorn said. “And columnists have always been from all over. I think it’s good.”

Schierhorn said the non-journalism students who are the most successful in student media are those who get involved early and stick with it.

“The downside is they haven’t really been schooled in journalistic writing,” he said. “It’s a switch in mind-set. But the Stater is a campus publication – not a JMC publication, and (it) owes itself to be the best it can be.”

And he said if non-JMC students want to rise to the top of a student publication, they have to prove themselves as journalists.

Senior English major Dana Curcio accomplished that by copy editing and running the Popular Arts section of the Stater and working for The Burr in several capacities, including editor, before becoming editor of the Stater in Spring semester.

She said she has noticed a trend of English majors becoming involved in the more creative aspects of student media, such as the opinion and features areas, much like she did at the Stater.

“The jobs I pursued were ones I was naturally interested in,” she said. “And the people who don’t know I’m an English major can’t tell by my work (in student media).”