On the job or in the classroom?

We discussed the opportunities (or relative lack thereof) for thorough training in the T&T media last class. I encouraged the class to take advantage of the practice and exposure this course offers, and to pay attention to the mechanical framework the programme provides.

NPR recently ran a story highlighting some of the journalism education issues I brought up near the end of our session. "What's the Point of Journalism School Anyway?" questions the wisdom of pursuing (often costly) tertiary qualifications for an industry which, as the writer points out, doesn't even require a degree. The story also notes the concerns of students regarding the industry-wide shift away from traditional media to new media like the internet.

Take a read. It's relevant to your interests.

Wilson argues that good citizenship and a vibrant press are inextricably linked.

"If you look around the world, whether it's a developed country or a developing country ... if that country has a free and independent press it's much more likely they're going to be a democracy," he says. "And I think those of us in [the] journalism education field have an obligation to help train people to provide information in the public interest."

"Journalism's first obligation is to the truth..."

Welcome to the course.

The next four months will broaden your perspective on how information is delivered to you, and hopefully pique your interest in an often overlooked profession.

As we discussed today, defining journalism is more about saying what it does than what it is. The debate will only deepen as the internet continues to democratize journalism, and growing niches like citizen journalism and advocacy journalism will continue to shift our perception of news.

We'll be diving straight into the fundamentals of newswriting next week. I invite you to check out Jim Hall's excellent Beginning Reporting website for a primer on upcoming topics. Keep an eye on this spot for other helpful links.

Every few weeks I'll make some of my lecture material, such as scripts and PowerPoints, directly available for download here. I'll also regularly post story examples and well-written practice assignments from within the class. If I pick up troubling trends while correcting assignments, I'll address them here initially.

Feel free to comment under each post or e-mail me your questions and suggestions.

Until next week, keep reading.