A Day in the Life of a WJI Student

March 13, 2025

By Timothy Saunders 

"I knew the gifts God had given to me, but I needed to find a place that would help me faithfully cultivate those gifts for the Glory of God. WJI was the place God choose to use."  

As the alarm clock rings out, Titus Bronner, a sophomore Journalism major at Cedarville University, leaps out of bed at six a.m. to prepare for another day at World Journalism Institute’s 2024 summer program. 

Before Bronner’s day begins, he enjoys spending time with the Lord as he overlooks the beautiful Iowa prairie. 

At 8:00 a.m., Bronner takes a short walk to the Dordt University cafeteria where he enjoys breakfast with his new friends.

After Breakfast, Bronner walks to his first Practice Press Conference and Debrief where he learns how to efficiently and accurately record information from press conference speakers. Students will also be able to practice asking meaningful questions that will help them get the material they need for their article. Students will learn what tools they need to have on-hand to help make their information-collection successful. 

At 10:00 a.m., Bronner walks to his first lecture, Thinking About Stories and Journalistic Writing Style, taught by former WORLD journalist, Dr. Jake Walker. In this course, Bronner learns how to best prepare for conducting journalistic interviews and how to best conduct them. 

“I saw how journalistic story-telling was like painting a canvas,” Bronner said. “You diligently gather useful content, and then you pull a single theme out of the pile of information that will help propel the story line and tie it all together.”

Dr. Jake Walker helps his students learn what it takes to ask thought provoking interview questions that will help draw out deep and meaningful content for a journalistic article.  

In this lecture, students will learn how to take meaningful content from interviews and skillfully craft it into a moving story. Dr. Walker will help Bronner learn how to combine accuracy, creativity, and heart to move the reader to action. 

At 10:00 a.m., Bronner and his friends walk together to Dordt University’s cafeteria to eat lunch while they listen to a guest speaker. 

After Lunch, the second lecture of the day is Worldview Journalism and Biblical Objectivity, taught by current WORLD journalist, Dr. Ben Mann. Through this lecture, Bronner will learn how to write journalistic content from a Biblical Worldview. In a world full of misinformation and hateful content, students will learn how to love both God and their neighbor while reporting only the truth. 

Next, Bronner gets more hands-on experience. Students gather for a writing workshop where they will learn editing techniques. Students will practice editing real work and develop an eye for detail. This will help Bronner grow as a writer but it will also help equip him to edit other peoples work in the field of journalism. 

After another workshop focusing on revising Obits, the last event of the day students get to enjoy dinner together and then an evening fun activity!

While every day is different and full of exciting, adventurous, and challenging assignments, the friendships that Bronner will build throughout his two weeks at WJI’s summer program may last a life-time.  

"This program has been an answer to my prayers," Bronner said. "I knew the gifts God had given to me, but I needed to find a place that would help me faithfully cultivate those gifts for the Glory of God. WJI was the place God choose to use."

About the Author: Timothy Saunders is a full-time writer for the WJI blog as well as a recent graduate of the WJI Program. He enjoys hiking, rock-climbing, and teaching students excited about journalism.