CULTIVATING IMAGINATION Mckenzie Palmer
Cora Hall
Encouraging students to explore beyond their comfort zone, Ed Madison teaches journalism to the next generation.
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t’s October 1, the first day of class for Journalism 100 students at the University of Oregon’s School of Journalism and Communication (J-School). Professor Ed Madison stands confidently with a soft, genuine smile dancing upon his lips. Madison instructs his students to write down their name, contact information, and what their interests are on a piece of paper. They then must locate people with similar interests and introduce themselves. Students hesitantly stand, wary about completing the second portion of their task. Slowly, they begin to move about the room, nervously speaking with their classmates. The room remains quiet. Most are reluctant to open up to complete strangers. Suddenly, a strong voice fills the void: “if this feels awkward or uncomfortable, great. You’re in the right place,” says Madison. Between moments of speaking, Madison laughs with his whole face, his smile wide and eyes gleaming with joy, creating an aura that makes even the most timid and anxious students feel calm and unafraid. Most people have at least one teacher or professor that they greatly admire or that inspires them to pursue their dreams and accomplish something great. For many J-School students, Madison creates a space where they are molded into skilled, confident, and successful people. He takes his classes beyond a mundane routine, encouraging them to go out of their comfort zones and build relationships along the way. For instance, in an effort to provide students with an opportunity to challenge themselves, Madison takes them
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on powerful journeys to foreign countries. Lisa Heyamoto, another professor at the J-School, accompanied Madison on a trip to New Zealand in December of 2019 to learn how the country’s indigenous population, the Māori, tackles current issues. She says that their group of 17 students went to “tell stories about a Māori community that, like the rest of us, are experiencing certain things, global problems, but [the Māori] are coming up with really interesting local solutions.” These trips led by Heyamoto and Madison give students a chance to apply their skills and branch away from the typical classroom setting, bringing meaning and practicality to their studies. Madison loves how these expeditions allow you to “challenge your skills in an unpredictable setting.” He boasts that “students come back with really life-changing experiences, but also win lots of awards, and when they go to interview for jobs, they stand out because they’ve had these rich experiences.” Madison takes journalistic learning to a new level, encouraging students to break out of their shell and enhance their skills. The number one thing that he tells his students is to talk to strangers. He says, “sometimes it’s challenging for undergraduate students to even make a phone call,” so he encourages students to reach out to the community and move past their fears. “The biggest obstacle one can have is just their own fears about what’s possible,” he says. “I think as long as you keep testing those fears, you discover that more is possible than you could have ever imagined, just by trying it out, seeing what your imagination will allow you to do.”
