Staff Report
The Jefferson Jimplecute welcomed two new writers last week in a partnership with Tarleton State University.
For the next three months, the newspaper will feature stories written by college journalists.
“We are excited to partner with Tarleton,” publisher Hugh Lewis said. “And we look forward to working with these young journalists and introducing them to the Marion County community.”
The students will cover news and sports beats for fourth oldest newspaper in Texas in exchange for course credit in their senior capstone journalism class.
Jimplecute co-publisher Austin Lewter is also faculty leader of the journalism program at Tarleton. The Jimplecute is among three other publications across the state participating in the program.
Lewter said he is excited about the response the partnerships have received.
“We have six students covering news and sports at four Texas community newspapers,” Lewter said. “We believe this is an exceptional learning experience for our seniors and appreciate newspapers’ willingness to partner in this project.”
Other newspapers participating include the Wise County Messenger, the Gatesville Messenger and the Whitesboro News-Record.
At Jefferson, two students will cover community beats.
Blake Smith is a senior broadcast journalism major. She will be writing community and education stories.
Smith is native of Mexia, Texas. She has worked on Tarleton’s campus newspaper and graduates in May.
“I have had experience working in print publications but this is my first time working for a town-wide publication. Being a writer for the Jefferson Jimplecute has been so rewarding,” Smith said. “After my first story was published, I immediately received positive feedback from the owners of the business I wrote about. Hugh and the citizens of Jefferson have made the experience unforgettable.”
Her first story published last week it. It was a business feature about Port Jefferson Coffee Roasters.
“Blake a wonderful writer,” Lewter said. “I’ve enjoyed having her in class and am excited to see what the future has in store for her.”
Toby Rhoades will be covering sports in Jefferson this spring.
He is a senior sports communication major at Tarleton and an East Texas Native. He graduated from Henderson High School.
“Toby is a sports nut,” Lewter said. “A community newspaper is a great first job for a young sportswriter and I hope he enjoys this experience.”
Rhoades graduates from Tarleton next fall. He also works as a sports broadcast intern at Tarleton where helps produce ESPN broadcasts of Tarleton sports.
“I am thankful for the opportunity to be able to work with the Hugh and the Jefferson Jimplecute,” Rhoades said. “I am excited to have my work published in the industry and increase my knowledge of sportswriting.”
His first story published in last week’s edition of the Jimplecute.
The student writers are all enrolled in Comm 4309 Advanced Reporting course. Lewter teaches the class where he is the lead of the journalism program, adviser of the Texas News Service and the director of the Texas Center for Community Journalism.
“We are excited to introduce students to community journalists and editors,” Lewter said. “The feedback and mentoring they will receive this semester will be invaluable.”
Tarleton State University is a Division I Research Institution located in Stephenville, Texas.
Housed in the College of Liberal and Fine Arts, Tarleton’s Department of Communication Studies offers undergraduate degrees in Journalism and Broadcasting; Public Relations and Event Management; Professional and Relational Communication; Sports Communication; and Travel, Event and Activity Management.
Tarleton also offers Master’s Degrees in Communication Studies.
For information about journalism at Tarleton or the Texas Center for Community Journalism, contact Lewter at alewter@tarleton.edu.