EDUCATIONAL VALUE OF GRASSROOTS STUDENTS INITIATIVES ON SOCIAL MEDIA

For six years, students from Krakow have organized a yearly competition for young journalists. The competition is organized by the Circle of Young within the Krakow branch of the Association of Polish Journalists, the Association of Graduates of Journalism at the Pontifical University of John Paul II and Students Journalism Club. It means that among organizers are mostly very young persons. Prizes are awarded in three categories: Debut of the Year, Journalistic Initiative of the Year, Feature - after Debut, and Young Filmmaker.

Patron of the competition is died tragically in 2010 Bartholomew Zdunek, freshman of journalism and communication at the university, a man of uncommon ability and a big heart, a great friend and a great colleague, who was not destined for life to debut in the world of media and fulfill his great dream of journalism.

Students initiative gives an effect in popularizing journalism and promoting the university. But the most important effect is the educational value. Students as grassroots organizers of this event learn to use social media to a wider promotion of the idea of the contest.

Our paper presents a set of types of skills that students gain through their activity in creating the image of the media, marketing, logistics, organization and creation of multimedia.

The involvement of all student groups in undertaking media has become part of the curriculum of practical subjects at the university. Learning in the field, under real conditions, students gain knowledge faster than on the basis of readings and lectures. Additionally, they learn how to cooperate, communicate, distribute responsibilities, etc. Method of grassroots teaching in this part of university courses mixes team learning, project learning, peer-learning and collaborative learning, giving in effect quite new quality of practical learning.