Description
JMC:2415, SMC:2415 (1 or 2 credits)
This course immerses students in the world of sports journalism by simulating the operations of a professional sports department. Students serve as staff members responsible for covering high school athletics in several Eastern Iowa communities, including Solon, Mt. Vernon, and Lisbon. Students work independently and in teams to produce professional-quality sports content, including text and photo stories for web, print, and social media platforms. This experience helps students build a strong portfolio and gain practical experience in the fast-paced world of sports media, with the ultimate goal of contributing to local and state news outlets.
"It's much harder when you're in a small town covering a football game and you're both the photographer and writer and have to keep your own score. You have to take accountability for your community because you face it every day and that means you need grit, critical thinking and creative solutions."
Student-Produced Work
Students work hard in this class and get published.
During the 2025-2026 academic year, more than 160 student-produced pieces—including news articles, game recaps, and featured photos—were published in The Cedar Rapids Gazette, Solon Economist, and Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun. Students support and assist local newspapers in their coverage of high school sports, giving students valuable real-world experience in sports writing, photography, and social media content creation.
Jonah Frey
Solon boys’ strong defensive showing not enough as they fall to Clear Creek Amana
Questions?
Wayne Drehs
wayne-drehs@uiowa.edu
E325 Adler Journalism Building
Gallery
