Coming to the Missouri School of Journalism after graduating with our bachelor's degrees from other universities, the three of us have realized how valuable a master's degree from the School will be. We have now seen for ourselves why the School is the best in the world.

This edition of the J-School Magazine shows how Missouri students and graduates lead in innovation.

From the beginning, journalism students have the ability to be immersed in their course of study with Freshman Interest Groups. Learn how these FIGs encourage journalism students to get involved when they move to campus.

Opportunities to learn through internships and work on professional projects are available around the world. Read about the guest lectures from well-known journalists and insider perspectives at the Supreme Court, Embassy Row and other key sites available through the Washington Program. Four students share their summer internship experiences at the PMK*BNC agency, NBC Nightly News, The Root and Sports Illustrated.

You can read about how recent alumni are making the transition to the real world and how the Missouri Method helped them in their first six months. For a longer view, take a look at three of our under-age-35 master's alumni who are leading some of the nation's top city magazines. Two alumni share their lives as freelancers.

Other alumni are helping fill the decrease in state government reporting through NPR's StateImpact project. Five are featured in a new book that celebrates long-form writing. Alumni everywhere are using social media to stay in touch.

Three online master's alumni and students share their experience of what it is like to earn a graduate degree through the School. Alumni share tips for creating a stand-out portfolio, one that is available on a variety of platforms.

Test your knowledge with our J-School Quiz on the international reach of the Missouri School of Journalism.

Students in the Public Relations Writing course researched, interviewed and wrote these articles during the fall 2012 semester. We enjoyed helping the students develop and edit these articles. Please enjoy the issue and share your future story ideas with us at journalism@missouri.edu.

Celia Darrough, Gwen Girsdansky and Chantel O'Neal
Master's Students