What is PRISM?
PRISM was founded because people of color are underrepresented in professional schools of journalism and mass communication in and media organizations.
PRISM wants to reverse this trend by encouraging students of color to enroll, remain in and graduate from the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, and the departments of communication studies, studies in cinema and media culture, American studies and others that involve mass media work.
PRISM began as the idea of several journalism students of color in the spring of 1998. These students believed that the lack of a visible multiethnic/multicultural presence in the School alienated students of color.
PRISM works to create an affirming and supportive academic environment for journalism and mass communication students of color. Members feel a greater sense of community within the School and empower and encourage each other to succeed. Such an environment eases retention of students of color in the School.
PRISM works to address underrepresentation of people of color in media schools and professional organizations. Members recruit prospective journalism majors of color in the relevant schools and departments and help them to find internships and start careers in media professions.
PRISM also works with the Twin Cities area community to encourage broader participation in Journalism, Mass Communication and related or component fields.
Membership
If you are concerned about multicultural issues and ethnic diversity in mass media or journalism, or both, we want to know you. If you are in American Studies, Communication Studies, Journalism, Mass Communications, Cinema and Media Culture or one of the many other disciplines that focus on communicating to or with the masses, then PRISM wants to know you. We want to support and guide your academic and eventual professional success.
“The SJMC has the only multicultural student association of journalists in the country,” says Sherrie Mazingo, Fellow in the SJMC and PRISM’s faculty co-advisor, along with Professor Jisu Huh. Mazingo stresses the fact that PRISM is not an organization for “students of color”: it’s a place where students of all races and backgrounds can and do get involved." from Murphy Reporter Summer 2006.
