Passionate about equipping students with foundational skills to succeed in journalism through her news writing and reporting courses, Florida A&M University School of Journalism & Graphic Communication (FAMU SJGC) is proud to spotlight Professor Arionne Nettles in honor of World Book Day.
As an author, Nettles has captured her commitment to excellence in journalism education in her newest book, “Journalism For Dummies,” which hit shelves earlier in the academic year.
The book offers insights on how aspiring journalists—or those seeking a refresher—can build skills in fact-checking, resourcefulness, interviewing, writing, and effectively using multimedia platforms.
It also helps readers understand the vital role journalism plays in society and emphasizes the importance of becoming a trustworthy storyteller, especially in today’s social and political climate. Learning to evaluate newsworthiness and understanding the principles of media law and ethics are also key features of the book.
“For me, journalism is a powerful tool—one that I feel more people should be able to wield,” Nettles said. “Journalism, as an industry, is better when more people are empowered to use their voices, talents and access resources. As someone who didn’t start out in journalism when I first graduated from FAMU, this book would have been just what I needed back then to learn more about the field and my role in it.”
Nettles’ work is part of the popular “For Dummies” series, which publishes instructional and reference guidebooks
“This book is a comprehensive and approachable entry point for anyone who wants to produce pieces with journalistic integrity,” notes Wiley, the series publisher.
Nettles, an award-winning culture reporter and audio storytelling expert, is the Garth C. Reeves Eminent Scholar Chair and Instructor of Digital Journalism at FAMU SJGC. She holds a master’s in journalism from Northwestern University, an MBA and bachelor’s in business administration from Florida A&M University’s combined five-year program, and is pursuing a Ph.D. in educational leadership at DePaul University.
