One of the biggest principles that the MU School of Journalism upholds is the “Missouri Method,” which boils down to learning by doing. The general manager of Mizzou’s student television station, MUTV, is not a faculty member but a student. Jacob Jones, junior, is a broadcast journalism and political science double major and serves as the GM for MUTV. We talked to him about his experiences with MUTV and the J-School.
Her Campus Mizzou: How did you begin working for MUTV as a staff member?
Jacob Jones: Originally, I came to Mizzou to become a newspaper columnist. However, during the 2012 presidential election my senior year of high school, I realized my main source of news and information was actually broadcast news, not print or even online news. So, when I got to MU, I wanted to try everything and see what was my favorite. I think the second or third week into my freshman year, I set up a meeting and studio tour with the Jenn Croft, the MUTV news director at the time. The minute I saw MUTV’s studio, I was hooked. I took full advantage of the opportunities MUTV offered me and tried to learn everything I could. I spent a semester reporting, then hosted a political debate segment in the spring and really focused on learning to anchor and use the recording studio. It was clear to me early on that MUTV was an organization that I could really benefit from and maybe even do some good for in return.
HCM: What do you miss about being a staff member now that you are the general manager of MUTV?
JJ: It’s hard to pick one single thing, because I’ve enjoyed so much of what I’ve done at MUTV. But I’d have to say hosting “Spitfire,” the political debate segment I modeled after CNN’s “Crossfire,” was the most enjoyable mainly because that would be my dream job.
HCM: What is the greatest challenge that you have faced while working for MUTV?
JJ: Each stage has its difficulties, but as an exec, I really struggled balancing my time. Anyone who knows me can tell you I’m the world’s worst procrastinator. I was having trouble keeping up with my classwork towards the end of my sophomore year. Thankfully, Mark Johnson acts not only as the faculty coordinator for KCOU and MUTV but also as an advisor to the station GM’s. He helped me manage my time successfully and taught me many of the leadership and management skills I now use daily. He has been an incredible influence on me, and I can honestly say I couldn’t do this job without him.
HCM: How has being a part of MUTV improved your experience at MU?
JJ: MUTV has, in a way, defined my college experience. The hands-on experience you get is unparalleled — you honestly can’t learn how to be a journalist until you’ve gotten your hands dirty. It’s one of those things you can’t learn to do from reading or studying. Having two years of experience before I started the broadcast sequence allowed me to hit the ground running when I got to KOMU. Aside from the academic benefit, I’ve met so many incredible people working at MUTV. It’s pushed me to grow as a student, a leader and a journalist.
HCM: What else are you involved with?
JJ: Now that I’ve completed the broadcast classes, I work at KOMU as a live reporter Tuesday evenings.
HCM: What advice do you have for other journalism majors?JJ: JOIN MUTV! But really, join a student media organization. Get involved! Start practicing now while the stress level is relatively low. Understanding how the system works before you get to your upper-level journalism classes will save you a lot of hassle and hair-pulling.