Prep Sports Report

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.

"I can't say enough great things about the Prep Sports Report course and how great an opportunity it was not only for me, but for anyone who has taken it. I truly appreciate Wayne's commitment to creating opportunities for students to gain real-world experiences in an age where most entry-level jobs are asking for a couple of years of experience and a portfolio from college graduates. This class has greatly strengthened my writing skills as well as my reporting skills because of how entrepreneurial you need to be to get quality interviews."

Lance Peterson, Journalism and Mass Communication and Sociology major

Published Work

Students in this class work hard and get published.

Students 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. 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.