Comments on: Rethinking the education of journalists

By: La reinvención de los diarios « CULTURAS TECNOLÓGICAS en la era de los transmedios

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 21:39:42 +0000

[...] (Profesora del College of Journalism and Communications at the University of Florida) en “Repensando la educación de los periodistas” (en inglés). El post y su blog (Teaching online journalism) son imperdibles y ella, de una [...]

By: Perfect Moment Project

Perfect Moment Project — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 08:26:23 +0000

you want a voice for the voiceless?

Check out the summer these students had… It’s Launch Day

This group from ASU went to South Africa and came back with these wonderful stories.

By: Blog Clippings » eCuaderno

Blog Clippings » eCuaderno — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 10:51:54 +0000

[...] Teaching Online Journalism: Rethinking the education of journalists [...]

By: Mindy

Mindy — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 19:58:51 +0000

Well said, Katie. I think many people would agree with you, and I would too. What I learned about how to BE a journalist was all learned in newsrooms.

By: Katie

Katie — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 15:57:31 +0000

It’s a good point that college (or University) teaches heads as well as hands- but as a Journalism graduate from the University of Lincoln (UK) I think the focus on teaching heads is sometimes too strong. We learnt about cultural diversity, we learnt about ethical issues in journalism and we even learnt about the history of journalism. But really learning how to be a journalist, how to gather news stories and how to interview people- I learnt that mostly from doing work experience outside of my course.

By: Dave Lee

Dave Lee — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 01:25:14 +0000

I’ve done both: I studied my journalism degree at a university, but taught journalism at a trade school.

I’ve written my thoughts here: http://www.dave-lee.org/jblog/?p=364

By: Dave Lee / jBlog » J-school debate: The best route to success?

Dave Lee / jBlog » J-school debate: The best route to success? — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 01:23:52 +0000

[...] What is the best way to train as a journalist? The debate is raging over on Mindy McAdams’ blog. [...]

By: The journalism education debate « LA Online

The journalism education debate « LA Online — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 04:58:29 +0000

[...] course or a polytech (a.k.a trades) course is a better approach to journalism education - here at Mindy McAdams blog and here at Pat [...]

By: Paul

Paul — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 22:32:04 +0000

Hi,

I am one Martin’s students at AUT. I think things may have changed since Jim taught here. As a graduate diploma student I probably fit Jim’s assessment, but many of the other students don’t. AUT’s current crop is diverse in age, ethnicity and experience. Sure, many of us are middle class white kids from the North Shore of Auckland, but many have travelled to AUT from various different centres around the country. Although a lot of us are in our early twenties, there are many mature students in both courses. Some students have already had incredible experiences of travelling and working abroad and some have worked in the industry prior to coming to AUT, including the BBC, Radio NZ or TVNZ. There are talented individuals here from every corner of the globe. AUT is certainly not as homogenous as Jim says. In fact as a middle class white male I am in the minority in both courses!

AUT may well have larger classes, but we still get quality time with the lecturers and tutors. The experience Jim describes is certainly not exclusive to Whitireia. Many of the staff go out of their way to help students and I’d be surprised if anyone felt neglected.

Being a graduate diploma student I agree it is beneficial to have already obtained a degree (particularly in NZ history and sociology!) before studying journalism. Journalism is about telling stories and informing the public so you cannot tell people what is happening now if you don’t know what has happened in the past, or why it happened.

However, some students have no interest in news reporting, so I can understand when they are turned off when the focus turns to politics, for example. Perhaps then the ideal model would have students undertake a degree in their field of interest, be it politics, fashion or whatever, and then complete a diploma in journalism, which has an emphasis on media issues, ethics and practical skills.

Cheers,

Paul Harper

By: Mindy

Mindy — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 14:42:06 +0000

@Jim Tucker - one point that resonates deeply for me is the notion that people from a lower socio-economic background have a better chance of getting into (and finishing) a trade-school type of journalism program. I believe it’s harmful to a society to have too few journalists from the lower and middle classes (I assume the reasons are obvious). If we could get more kids from poorer families to become journalists by opening up journalism trade schools, then I’m all for it.