The Media Project Supports Journalism Development In Lithuania
IUColnine.com journalists meet for dinner in Klaipeda, Lithuania. From left are Anna Audare, Latvia, Hanna Motorina, Ukraine, Mariia Lysikova, Ukraine, and Alina Kovyrialova, Lithuania, and Michael Ray Smith, United States. The staff includes students from up to 50 countries in Europe. All are volunteers who receive no course credit. The web site is the only English, students-produced web site by students of a faith-based university using a North American approach in all of Europe.
KLAIPEDA, LITHUANIA -- The Media Project is supporting a student-run international news site, considered one of a kind in Europe.
The Media Project recently donated two laptops and helped arrange an $8,000 grant for LCC International University to create a student-run web site, iuconline.com and to develop its journalism program. LCC International University is a partner of The Media Project and also to the NYC Semester in Journalism (NYCJ) program at The King’s College in NYC.
Michael Ray Smith, visiting distinguished professor of journalism, led the formation of the news site at LCC International University and he says it is unique: It's produced by students who typically speak English as a second language at a faith-based university that uses a North American-style of instruction.
"We have students from up to 50 countries working on a news site operated by students who receive no course credit, receive no stipends and are new to the free press--and are writing articles in English,” Smith said.
A student from Syria built the web site, http://www.iuconline.com. Because his country is involved in war, the webmaster's name is unidentified. The staff includes students from countries such as Ukraine, Lithuania, Georgia, Latvia, Russia and others nations. Their goal is to produce western journalism for the 600 students and others at the private LCC International University in Eastern Europe.
Mariia Lysikova, Ukraine, created the illustration below. "News is what I say it is" is one of Smith's favorite lines.
“LCC is a crossroads for smart and talented young people from Central Europe, the Middle East and beyond. We are delighted the school is expanding its journalism offerings and we hope to see some strong journalists emerge from their program and join the ranks of The Media Project in the future,” said Paul Glader, executive director of The Media Project, who visited LCC in 2018. Glader learned of the journalism program's need for funding and equipment and had ReligionUnplugged.com editor Meagan Clark deliver the equipment when she met Dr. Smith and other LCC faculty at a conference for journalists in Ukraine.
As LCC outlined other curriculum needs, The Media Project communicated with its partner, Fieldstead & Company, Inc. in Irvine, Calif., which agreed to sponsor an equipment grant of $8,000 to equip students in the journalism program at LCC with computers, cameras and other journalism equipment to use in their reporting and visual storytelling. The iuconline.com news site is a member of Evangelical Press Association and the students hope to participate in contests with EPA and College Media Advisers in NYC.
Dr. Michael Patrick, a veteran journalist with more than two decade's of experience, will be advising the site in the days ahead. Dr. Michael Finch, chair of LCC's Department of Contemporary Communication, will work with the site as well.
The Media Project is an international non-profit organization that empowers journalists to provide a more profound understanding of the role of religion in public life through accurate, thorough and intellectually honest reporting. Our organization educates journalists on the importance of religion at training programs worldwide. We welcome friends from all faiths to these events and discussions. TMP also operates the award-winning, non-profit news organization, ReligionUnplugged.com.
Established in 1991, LCC International University is a joint venture of Lithuanian, Canadian and American foundations. LCC provides Christian liberal arts education within a diverse learning community that transforms people for servant leadership. LCC is a collaborative partner with the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities.