In recent years, journalism programs have taken steps to integrate
print, TV, radio and the Internet into every fiber of students’ training and assignments. They have intensified their partnerships with newspapers, TV and radio stations and other media to heighten their students’ real-world experience and gain exposure to various aspects of the industry. But a recent survey by the Poynter Institute shows doubts that journalism education is keeping pace with the changes in the industry.
Two thousand people responded to the survey, with respondents categorized as either educators, working media professionals or “other” professionals. About 19 percent of the educators, 11 percent of those working at media organizations and 14 percent of independent professionals said programs were keeping up “a great deal” or “completely.” The rest said “mostly,” “a little” or “not at all.”
While a couple of big journalism schools are opening new buildings this fall, throwing together classes and instructors to cover all the “platforms,” and some schools are creating new master’s degree programs, journalism programs across the country are increasingly under fire for being slow to react to the changes in the way people get their news. To keep pace with some of these industry changes, groups have sponsored studies and awarded grants enabling schools and the media to try new initiatives. Heavyweights in media and journalism education are urging their people to look beyond the layoffs and cutbacks in news outlets — especially severe among newspapers — and explore new opportunities.
Glenn Frankel, director of the journalism school at the University of Texas at Austin, says when it comes to journalism education, “nobody’s where they need to be,” and anyone who says they are is wrong.
“It’s a moving target,” says Frankel, who cites “the digital revolution.” “No one knows how this will turn out,” he adds.
The wave of the future
