The CUNY Baccalaureate Blog

Media Studies/Political Science, B.S., January 2006

• Dean’s Certificate for Academic Excellence
• Dean’s List

After completing his first year of college at University of Oregon and uncertain of the field he wanted to pursue, Adam Stiles moved to London where he worked for six months at odd jobs and traveled throughout Europe. His desire to find meaningful work, combined with his exposure to various art forms and political contexts during this time, led him to an interest in media as a vehicle to address social issues. Stiles returned to the U.S. to study film and video production at Columbia College in Chicago. Ultimately he left Columbia, both because he found the curriculum too “uncritical” and because financial aid did not meet the costs of studying and living, even while working. He spent the following year in Paris as an au pair where he became fluent in French and continued to study communications and politics.

Ready to expand his practical knowledge after returning to Chicago, he chose to spend a small part of his would-be tuition costs on video equipment and began teaching himself to edit with help from friends. Shortly after, he became involved with Street-Level Youth Media, a non-profit community media organization. From volunteering in the afterschool program, he eventually became the organization’s In-School Program Coordinator, implementing a program of art and technology integration in Chicago public schools. He says “Working in the public school system during a time of increased youth militarization and defunding of social services had a profound effect on my development as a media producer and educator, as well as my commitment to social activism.”

When Stiles left that work, he knew he needed to develop his theoretical understanding of the issues he was encountering. He found the CUNY Baccalaureate Program an ideal solution–both to continue his studies and to earn credit for the unconventional but deeply educational path he had taken to get there. (As part of his degree, Stiles earned 15 life experience credits for his prior work in digital media, media literacy, classroom teaching, and youth development.)

Stiles designed his areas of concentration with Hunter College Professors Kenneth Sherrill (Political Science) and Tami Gold (Film and Media). This included three internships (HC MEDI 498): two with Chicago-based magazines Lumpen and Stop Smiling, and the third with Refuser Solidarity Network (RSN), a Middle East peace organization. Through Lumpen and Stop Smiling, Adam gained insight into two different publishing models in which writers and editors (rather than corporate sponsors) determine content, allowing alternative viewpoints to reach wide audiences. His internship at Stop Smiling has evolved into a regular position as a copy editor and he continues to assist RSN in a freelance capacity as a Web and graphic designer. Since graduating in January, he has been hired as a copy editor for two magazines published by Scholastic: Parent & Child and Early Childhood Today. He plans to eventually launch a magazine in collaboration with friends in the media/activism community.