Argus Abroad

The final issue of The News Argus has been completed, but five of Argus staffers will continue to work and study on

another media project in Urbino, Italy with ieiMedia.

They will be in Urbino June 9-July 7 working as multimedia interns and producing a magazine.

This is the first time Mass Communications majors will study abroad for credit.

Andrew Ciofalo, president of ieiMedia -- Institute for Education in International Media -- said that the word he would

use to describe the internship is "unique."

He said that it is hard to find similar programs where students do not just sit in a classroom but work on an

international project.

The WSSU students will join about 45 other students participating in the internship, 22 working on the magazine and 28

in the multimedia program. The students will also study the Italian language and learn about the culture and history of

Urbino.

Magazine production students will be taught the fundamentals of magazine journalism by producing "Urbino Now," a

digital English-language magazine and international reporting and writing.

In the multimedia courses, the students work with media professionals to create a webzine.

"Students get a nice weight to add to their resume," Ciofalo said.

Ciofalo said the students will be engaged into the program full-time, but their weekends can be used for touring the

city.

"If the work is going well, we can schedule things."

Multimedia students will help media professionals create a webzine. Students will also study the Italian language and

learn about the culture and history of Urbino.

A Pulitzer-Prize-winning staff in writing, photojournalism and online video will be the coaches for the internship.

Students will earn three-hour credit for internship and three-hour credit for a mass communications study abroad

course.

Bianca Pender, a senior from Manson, N.C., said that she is very grateful for the opportunity.

"I'm glad that I will be able to go back to my hometown and talk about my experience studying abroad," Pender said.

Jordan Holloway, a senior from Durham, said that when the opportunity presented itself, he jumped at it.

"You never know when you are going to get the opportunity to go overseas," Holloway said. He is the sports editor for

the Argus.

"I hope to learn how to further expand my writing styles and to further culture myself."

Jordan Howse, a senior from Raleigh, said that at first she did not think she would be able to go because she received a

job, but she spoke with her supervisor and he is allowing her to participate in this rare opportunity. Howse is the editor

in chief of the Argus.

"I'm really excited about producing a magazine," Howse said. "It will be a new and different experience from producing

newspapers."

The students will also publish a "survival guide" to circulate on campus upon their return.

"I am glad Winston-Salem State students are coming and I am looking forward to them coming," Ciofalo said.

They will live in a University of Urbino dormitory, and share a room and private bathroom with one other student.

"I'm glad that students are going to get a chance to expand their world view by spending some time in a country

outside of America," said Philip Jeter, chair of the Mass Communications Department.

Lona Cobb, adviser of the Argus, said that she hopes to involve mass communications students with ieiMedia every

summer.

"The global job market is becoming more competitive and it is important for mass comm. majors to take advantage of

the benefits of a study abroad program like ieiMedia."