MEJO 121 - Class Reflection

By Ben Murphy

Last Updated: May 2025

Chapel Hill, NC -- This spring has not only been my first full semester as a member of the Hussman School of Journalism and Media at UNC-Chapel Hill, but also my first semester taking the Hussman School's official "MEJO" classes (as they're known around here at UNC).

One of these MEJO classes has been MEJO 121: Introduction to Digital Storytelling. The class, a core requirement of the Hussman School curriculum, meets in Carroll Hall every Monday and Wednesday from 8:00am-9:15am, and is taught by professor Art Eddy. 

The main focus of MEJO 121 is to help students gain both familiarity and firm foundational skills in the fields of digital filming, production, editing, and, most importantly - storytelling. For example, as a class, we've all worked extensively with editing softwares such as Adobe Premiere Pro and iMovie, as well as participated in interactive guest lectures from numerous well-respected media professionals about the various key aspects of modern media, individual and corporate branding, and what makes a compelling digital story. 

The class culminates in a large final project where students conduct their own independently filmed, produced, and edited interview, as well as create a personal website to showcase their interview and other desired individual work. Personally, this assignment has not only further inspired my vision for OPTOmist to become a multimedia platform, but better yet given me a tangible springboard for how to first build its foundation as a website.

Overall, the skills I've taken from class and applied the most to my final project (this website and interview with optometrist Dr. Elizabeth Gunst) include learning how to prepare for an interview with relevant and detailed personal questions, the importance of "showing and not telling," and the need to prioritize audio quality above all else.

Ultimately, MEJO 121 has offered me the chance to experiment with digital storytelling while simultaneously expressing my passion for optometry. I've learned a lot about not only how to produce a compelling online narrative, but also how to analyze the modern media industry, and I would definitely recommend the class, specifically with Professor Eddy, to other UNC students!

(Below I've linked Professor Eddy's YouTube Channel which includes his own personal bio alongside lots of his professional media/podcasting work)