Comments on: J-school education in the digital era http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2008/j-school-education-in-the-digital-era/ Notes from the classroom and observations about professional practices for sharing the news on digital platforms. Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:54:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: Teaching Online Journalism » MVPs for February http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2008/j-school-education-in-the-digital-era/comment-page-1/#comment-9545 Teaching Online Journalism » MVPs for February Sun, 13 Apr 2008 17:55:29 +0000 http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2008/j-school-education-in-the-digital-era/#comment-9545 [...] J-school education in the digital era [...] [...] J-school education in the digital era [...]

]]> By: Eric Hamilton http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2008/j-school-education-in-the-digital-era/comment-page-1/#comment-8768 Eric Hamilton Tue, 04 Mar 2008 20:59:55 +0000 http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2008/j-school-education-in-the-digital-era/#comment-8768 Although the background and training I have are very much what's described, I wouldn't agree that HTML and CSS are necessary tools in every journalist's toolkit. Are they useful? Perhaps, but that shouldn't equate to necessary. Because technology moves the boundaries, what happens in an academic environment is that the teaching crystallizes around the New Hot Thing, and as time and technology march on, schools are still teaching the old thing in the old way--because that's how they operate. Students, on the other hand, are graduated from the institution with no current job skills. Although the background and training I have are very much what’s described, I wouldn’t agree that HTML and CSS are necessary tools in every journalist’s toolkit. Are they useful? Perhaps, but that shouldn’t equate to necessary. Because technology moves the boundaries, what happens in an academic environment is that the teaching crystallizes around the New Hot Thing, and as time and technology march on, schools are still teaching the old thing in the old way–because that’s how they operate. Students, on the other hand, are graduated from the institution with no current job skills.

]]> By: ScribbleSheet Blog http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2008/j-school-education-in-the-digital-era/comment-page-1/#comment-8398 ScribbleSheet Blog Sat, 23 Feb 2008 18:51:52 +0000 http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2008/j-school-education-in-the-digital-era/#comment-8398 [...] McAdams wrote a post about this a while back and Pat over at Journalism iconoclast has written a few things on this [...] [...] McAdams wrote a post about this a while back and Pat over at Journalism iconoclast has written a few things on this [...]

]]> By: Teaching Online Journalism » Journalists, HTML, and Dreamweaver http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2008/j-school-education-in-the-digital-era/comment-page-1/#comment-8063 Teaching Online Journalism » Journalists, HTML, and Dreamweaver Sat, 16 Feb 2008 03:08:30 +0000 http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2008/j-school-education-in-the-digital-era/#comment-8063 [...] wrote about this general idea two weeks ago, but I thought it would be worthwhile to link to these three [...] [...] wrote about this general idea two weeks ago, but I thought it would be worthwhile to link to these three [...]

]]> By: Kristen http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2008/j-school-education-in-the-digital-era/comment-page-1/#comment-7837 Kristen Fri, 08 Feb 2008 20:28:12 +0000 http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2008/j-school-education-in-the-digital-era/#comment-7837 A student seeking a successful career in New Media must learn the whole package. While most people find a focus based on one of their skills, each one is invaluable in the daily routine of digital news production. However, I still agree with Chris and Patrick that the ability to understand how to use the media as a means to an end is far more valuable than the tech skills. A student seeking a successful career in New Media must learn the whole package.

While most people find a focus based on one of their skills, each one is invaluable in the daily routine of digital news production.

However, I still agree with Chris and Patrick that the ability to understand how to use the media as a means to an end is far more valuable than the tech skills.

]]> By: J-school education in the digital era « John’s Rockin’ Weblog http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2008/j-school-education-in-the-digital-era/comment-page-1/#comment-7814 J-school education in the digital era « John’s Rockin’ Weblog Fri, 08 Feb 2008 02:30:08 +0000 http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2008/j-school-education-in-the-digital-era/#comment-7814 [...] February 8, 2008 by jwangst http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2008/j-school-education-in-the-digital-era/ [...] [...] February 8, 2008 by jwangst http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2008/j-school-education-in-the-digital-era/ [...]

]]> By: Read this post! « Design for Publications http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2008/j-school-education-in-the-digital-era/comment-page-1/#comment-7793 Read this post! « Design for Publications Thu, 07 Feb 2008 05:57:53 +0000 http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2008/j-school-education-in-the-digital-era/#comment-7793 [...] this post! This is from the teaching online journalism blog (out of UFlorida).    http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2008/j-school-education-in-the-digital-era/   I’d like you to post a response on your blog ( comment on her site if you like ). Do you [...] [...] this post! This is from the teaching online journalism blog (out of UFlorida).    http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2008/j-school-education-in-the-digital-era/   I’d like you to post a response on your blog ( comment on her site if you like ). Do you [...]

]]> By: Mindy http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2008/j-school-education-in-the-digital-era/comment-page-1/#comment-7781 Mindy Wed, 06 Feb 2008 22:50:09 +0000 http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2008/j-school-education-in-the-digital-era/#comment-7781 @Pia: Word! "College is the time to learn and discover new things." It's a dirty crying shame that some students don't view it this way and, rather than take interesting challenging courses to expand their world, seek out easy courses to inflate their GPA. So sad. @Pia: Word! “College is the time to learn and discover new things.” It’s a dirty crying shame that some students don’t view it this way and, rather than take interesting challenging courses to expand their world, seek out easy courses to inflate their GPA. So sad.

]]> By: Chuck Nelson http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2008/j-school-education-in-the-digital-era/comment-page-1/#comment-7779 Chuck Nelson Wed, 06 Feb 2008 20:58:17 +0000 http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2008/j-school-education-in-the-digital-era/#comment-7779 When I was in J school -- many, many years ago now -- you were required to take a copy editing course, you were required to take a photography class and you were required to learn something about newspaper design (in addition to all those reporting courses). I've found uses for all of those skills over 25 years in the business and was glad to have been taught at least the basics. I think we're looking at the same thing now, though the list of "basics" is growing rapidly. As in the past, a little background in various disciplines can pay big benefits for students. And those that end up wearing multiple hats at smaller publications will benefit the most. When I was in J school — many, many years ago now — you were required to take a copy editing course, you were required to take a photography class and you were required to learn something about newspaper design (in addition to all those reporting courses).

I’ve found uses for all of those skills over 25 years in the business and was glad to have been taught at least the basics. I think we’re looking at the same thing now, though the list of “basics” is growing rapidly.

As in the past, a little background in various disciplines can pay big benefits for students. And those that end up wearing multiple hats at smaller publications will benefit the most.

]]> By: Pia http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2008/j-school-education-in-the-digital-era/comment-page-1/#comment-7774 Pia Wed, 06 Feb 2008 18:07:30 +0000 http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2008/j-school-education-in-the-digital-era/#comment-7774 I think Mindy and everyone who has commented on this is on the money. In every CMS I have used, one needed at least some basic HTML knowledge to tweak the appearance of content or, as Nico pointed out, to clean up copy that comes from another system. Knowing the basics about HTML, CSS and Photoshop allows you to know what is possible and better enables you to work with the staff who does the scripting or makes decisions on how the content appears online. And finally, college is the time to learn and discover new things - students who never considered working as online producers might find that's a career path to explore. As the spouse of a journalism professor, I know it seems hard to fit this stuff into a curriculum but it's time to find a way. More knowledge and skills are always a good thing. I think Mindy and everyone who has commented on this is on the money.
In every CMS I have used, one needed at least some basic HTML knowledge to tweak the appearance of content or, as Nico pointed out, to clean up copy that comes from another system.
Knowing the basics about HTML, CSS and Photoshop allows you to know what is possible and better enables you to work with the staff who does the scripting or makes decisions on how the content appears online.
And finally, college is the time to learn and discover new things – students who never considered working as online producers might find that’s a career path to explore.
As the spouse of a journalism professor, I know it seems hard to fit this stuff into a curriculum but it’s time to find a way. More knowledge and skills are always a good thing.

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