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Poynter News U Memo

Date: November 5, 2017

To: Dr. Mia L. Anderson

From: Libi Jacobs
Student at University of South Alabama
205.834.7662
lhj1421@jagmail.southalabama.edu

Subject: Course Synopsis of Poynter News U: Covering Immigration from the Border to the
Heartland

The purpose of this memo is to summarize the key components of the course Covering
Immigration from the Border to the Heartland within Poynter News U. This course taught me how
to find data and statistics, to engage with local communities and to discover tips on reporting
immigration with sensitivity and tact.

The instructor, Ziti Arocha, is a bilingual journalist and senior lecturer in the UTEP Department of
Communication since 2004. She is the director of borderzine.com, a multi-media web magazine to
prepare Hispanic college journalists for jobs in 21st century newsrooms. For over 20 years, she has
worked as a reporter for The Washington Post, The Miami Herald and was executive director of the
National Association of Hispanic Journalists from 1993-1997. She earned a masters degree in
English and comparative literature from the University of South Florida. Arocha is currently
pursuing a MFA in bilingual creative writing at UTEP as well as working on memoir, Leaving Cuba.

The course consists of a one-hour webinar with Arocha instructing students on journalistic tips for
reporting on immigration. New information includes reporting tips for acquiring information on
immigration status, governmental decisions on immigration policies and building relationships with
local immigrant communities. Additional information includes polling questions with students,
specific immigration issues in 2014 and learning how to obtain demographics of immigrant
communities.
These valuable skills will help writers, reporters, bloggers, visual journalists and anyone who wants
to cover immigration and immigration reform issues. This course has prepared me to be more aware
of international issues and political decisions in the United States. I also learned the importance of
listening and establishing trust with your focus group.
I believe I should take additional training in researching political decisions. I am familiar with current
events, however, Im unware with certain government actions on immigration.
Thank you for reading this message.
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