Journalism school

A journalism school is a school or department, usually part of an established university, where journalists are trained. An increasingly used term for a journalism department, school or college is 'J-School'. Many of the most famous and respected journalists of the past and present had no formal training in journalism, but learned their craft on the job, often starting out as copy boys/copy girls. Today, in many parts of the world it is usual for journalists to first complete university-level training which incorporates both technical skills such as research skills, interviewing technique and shorthand and academic studies in media theory, cultural studies and ethics.

Historically, in the United Kingdom entrants used first to complete a non media-studies related degree course, giving maximum educational breadth, prior to taking a specialist postgraduate pre-entry course. However, this has changed over the last ten years with journalism training and education moving to higher educational institutions. There are now over 60 universities in the UK offering BA honours degrees in journalism. Postgraduate courses are more well-established, some of which are either recognised by the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) or the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ).

History

The first program for journalism education was introduced by former Confederate General, Robert E. Lee^[1], during his presidency at Washington and Lee University, in Lexington, Virginia, in the 1860s.^[2] Both the Missouri School of Journalism at the University of Missouri founded by Walter Williams in 1908^[3] and the Ecole Superieure de Journalisme in Paris, France founded in 1899^[4] claim to be the worlds first journalism school. Although Paris's school opened its doors in 1899 after three years of internal debates, the question was discussed in Missouri since 1895. Since then the journalism school has become standard at most major universities.^{[citation needed]}

Top journalism schools

There have been various attempts to rank journalism schools, and the question of which are the "best" or "top" journalism schools is frequently raised on the internet by students. Many institutions claim to be leading schools of journalism, and there is inevitably debate about which are the most appropriate criteria with which to evaluate and judge journalism schools. Awards are obvious indicators of a quality J-school, as are the quality of school graduates.

Australia and New Zealand

In Australia, a ranking of all journalism schools in the country has been assembled based on graduating students' assessments of the quality of their courses: [1]. Top journalism schools in Australia include RMIT, Charles Sturt University, Jschool, University of the Sunshine Coast, and Edith Cowan University. The New Zealand Training Organisation has published a list of that country's journalism schools recognised by industry.[2]

Europe

The Centre de Formation des Journalistes ( CFJ^[5]) was founded in 1946 by two Resistance leaders. Located on the rue du Louvre in Paris, many of the leading journalists in France today graduated from this school and come back to help train today's students. Other main French journalisme schools are École supérieure de journalisme de Lille, created in 1924, Ecole de journalisme de Sciences Po and Institut Pratique du Journalisme, both in Paris.

Europe's most long-established postgraduate centre of journalism education is the highly-regarded School of Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies at Cardiff University which was founded in 1970 by Sir Tom Hopkinson. The course was also the UK's top-rated course by the National Council for the Training of Journalists for the academic year 2007/8 ^[6]. The London School of Journalism (LSJ) is an independent and highly acclaimed institution with well-recognized programs in Journalism and writing.

London's City University, Sheffield, University of Central Lancashire, Liverpool John Moores and Kingston University also have well-respected journalism departments, and Winchester Journalism at the University of Winchester is developing fully converged journalism courses without reference to separate production disciplines such as radio journalism, newspaper journalism or magazine journalism. Issues from a European perspective in evaluating journalism schools are discussed by the president of the European Journalism Training Association: [3].

In Russia, the MSU Faculty of Journalism is the leading journalism school. The majority of textbooks on journalism in Russian were written by MSU scientists.

In Minsk (Belarus) The Institute of Journalism of BSU is one of the leading scientific and educational centers in the sphere of Mass Media on the territory of the former soviet countries. It possesses a high scientific and pedagogical potential and it’s able to prepare high-qualified professionals of Mass Media ready to work in Belarus and abroad.

In Spain, the School of Communication of the University of Navarre is the most prestigious and many of the top journalists in Spain have studied in this School, founded in 1958.

Latin America

An evaluation of developments in journalism education in Latin America has been undertaken by Professor Rosental Calmon Alves[4].

JOURNALISM SCHOOLS IN COLOMBIA

In Colombia, the high court determined in 1998 that journalism was not a career. This High court said that journalism is a human right, not a profession.

Because of the ruling there are many schools of communications in Colombia where people study to work in mainly enterprises, but not in mass media

There are only two schools of journalism:

University of Antioquia, a public institution in Medellín, offers Journalism inside the Communications faculty.^[7] And University of Rosario in Bogotá, a private institution offers Public Opinion Journalism^[8]

North America

A listing (unranked) of Canadian journalism schools has been assembled by Canadian-Universities.net [5]. Journalism schools are listed and classified on the "J-Schools & Programs" page of The Canadian Journalism Project

In the United States the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC) [6] applies nine standards in evaluating university programs: mission, governance and administration; curriculum and instruction; diversity and inclusiveness; full-time and part-time faculty; scholarship: research, creative and professional activity; student services; resources, facilities and equipment; professional and public service; and assessment of learning outcomes. The ACEJMCC has awarded accreditation to 109 university and college programs of study in journalism and mass communications, but does not attempt to rank the courses or programs. It accredits colleges, schools, Departments or "Divisions. The listing of a unit as accredited indicates that the unit has been judged by ACEJMC to meet its standards. That judgment is rendered after a self-study prepared by the faculty and administration of the unit and an independent evaluation of the unit by educators and practitioners.The listing shows the bachelor's and professional master's degree programs that were examined during the unit's most recent accreditation review. Some units offer degrees in addition to those listed here. ACEJMC does not accredit programs leading to the Ph.D., which is considered a research (and not a professional) degree. The Council does not list sequences or specialties.

Editor & Publisher has presented an unranked list of leading journalism schools [7], while U.S. News & World Report produces annual lists of the top schools in advertising, print, and other categories based on responses to questionnaires sent to deans and faculty members. A list based on a variety of resources claims to identify the "ten most popular journalism schools in the United States"[8]. One critic has pointed to the anecdotal nature of much j-school ranking in the absence of effective tracking of journalism graduates' career paths[9].

Debate about the role of journalism schools

One of the most cited critiques of a journalism school was Michael Lewis's article in The New Republic (1993), "J-school ate my brain" ([10]), which was strongly criticized by University of Maryland College of Journalism dean Reese Cleghorn in American Journalism Review: [11]. Discussion of the issues raised by Lewis was evident a decade later in the Chronicle of Higher Education colloquy on journalism education, [12], Columbia Journalism Review's "Searching for the perfect j-school", [13], and "The j-school debate" in the Christian Science Monitor, [14]. Alternative approaches to journalism education were suggested in Jack Shafer's Slate article "Can J-school be saved? Professional advice for Columbia University" [15]. An article in The Australian discusses "What makes a good school of journalism".[16].

On the internet, a range of weblogs have been set up by journalism students to chronicle or to criticize their journalism colleges. Examples are: [17], [18], [19], [20]. An example of a weblog criticising university journalism education in Australia is [21]. One journalism school in the UK, at the University of Westminster, has established a clearing house where all students are expected to contribute to the development and content of their own education and training using blogs.

Various commentaries on journalism education are related to criticisms of contemporary news media standards and values. One example is a paper by Jan Schaffer, executive director of J-Lab: the Institute for Interactive Journalism[22]. A controversial paper to Australia's peak newspaper industry body PANPA (Pacific Area Newspaper Publishers Association) by Professor John Henningham ("Journalism sold short in media courses") blamed industry lack of interest and university cost-cutting for falling standards in journalism education[23]. In Canada, Mark Anderson of the Ottawa Citizen has argued the case for teaching business journalism in college rather than on the job[24]. Canadian journalism professor Rick MacLean has rejected criticism by Robert Fulford ("Just what is the point of j-school") that the best potential journalists will find their way into the media, while many existing j-school students show no interest in news or the media. MacLean argues that education in journalism helps empower members of the public to understand how media work.[25].

List of Journalism Schools and Programs

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

United States

• William Allen White School of Journalism, University of Kansas
• Emory University Journalism Program
• Ernie Pyle School of Journalism, Indiana University Bloomington
• Henry W. Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia
• The Department of Journalism, Roy H. Park School of Communications, Ithaca College
• The College of Communications Department of Journalism at the Pennsylvania State University
• The College of Communication and Information Sciences at The University of Alabama
• The Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute at New York University
• Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Southern California, and the University of Pennsylvania
• University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication
• School of Journalism and Mass Communications at University of South Carolina
• The Edward R. Murrow School of Communication at Washington State University
• Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland
• Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism
• Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Oklahoma
• University of South Carolina (of Journalism and Mass Communication) in Columbia, SC
• S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.
• E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University
• University of Texas School of Journalism
• Michigan State University School of Journalism
• Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University
• Missouri School of Journalism at University of Missouri
• University of Florida School of Journalism
• UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism
• University of Colorado School of Journalism and Mass Communication
• University of Wisconsin–Madison
• University of Iowa Adler School of Journalism
• Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University
• Boston University College of Communication
• School of Journalism and Mass Communication at University of Minnesota
• School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• School of Communication at American University
• The School of Journalism at the University of Arizona
• College of Communications at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
• The Washington Journalism Center in Washington, D.C.
• School of Media and Public Affairs at The George Washington University
• The P. I. Reed School of Journalism at West Virginia University
• School of Communication (formerly Dept. of Journalism & Mass Communication), Point Park University
• A.Q. Miller Sr. School of Journalism & Mass Communications, Kansas State University

Canada

• The Department of Journalism at Concordia University in Montreal, QC.
• University of Western Ontario
• School of Journalism at University of Regina
• School of Journalism and Communication at Carleton University
• Journalism at University of Guelph-Humber
• Journalism at Ryerson University
• Journalism at University of Toronto Scarborough, Scarborough Campus, Joint Program with Centennial College
• Journalism at University of Ottawa, Joint Program with either Algonquin College or La Cité Collégiale
• School of Journalism at the University of British Columbia
• Journalism at University of King's College

Latin America

• Communication School of Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• School of Communications and Arts of the University of São Paulo, Brazil
• Colombia: University of Antioquia Journalsim career. Rosario university Public Opinion Journalism
• Chile: Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile was the first Journalism School outside the US in being acredited by the ACEMJC.

Asia

• Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), New Delhi
• EDITWORKS School of Mass Communication, NOIDA, Delhi NCR
• Department of Mass Communication and Journalism, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh
• Department of Mass Communication, Assam University, Silchar, Assam, India
• Asian College of Journalism, Chennai
• A J K Mass Communication Research Centre, Jamia, New Delhi
• School of Journalism and Communication, Chinese University of Hong Kong
• Centre for Media and Communication Studies, International Islamic University Islamabad IIUI, Pakistan.
• Department of Mass Communication, Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad Pakistan.
• Department of Mass Communication, University of Karachi Pakistan.
• Department of Media Studies, Islamia University Bahawalpur Pakistan.
• Department of Mass Communication, National University of Modern Languages Pakistan.
• Department of Mass Communication, University of the Punjab Lahore Paistan.
• Department of Mass Communication, Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan Pakistan.
• Department of Journalism, Hong Kong Baptist University
• Institute for Journalism and Society, Hong Kong Baptist University
• Journalism and Media Studies Centre, University of Hong Kong
• R K Films & Media Academy, New Delhi
• Department of Media Studies, University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Arts and Letters, Manila, Philippines
• Department of Journalism at the College of Mass Communication, University of the Philippines Diliman
• Department of Journalism, College of Communication, Polytechnic University of the Philippines
• Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication
• Department of Journalism, Shih Hsin University, Taiwan
• Department of Journalism, National Chengchi University, Taiwan
• Department of Journalism & Communication Studies, Fu Jen Catholic University, Taiwan
• Faculty of Journalism and Mass Communication, Thammasat University, Thailand
• Faculty of Mass Communication, Chiang Mai University, Thailand
• Division of Journalism & Publishing at Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

Department of Communication and Journalism (University of Pune)

Australia and New Zealand

• Charles Sturt University – School of Communication
• Jschool: Journalism Education & Training
• RMIT – School of Media and Communication
• James Cook University
• Edith Cowan University – School of Communications and Arts
• University of the Sunshine Coast
• University of Technology, Sydney – Journalism Department
• AUT University, Auckland - School of Communication Studies

Europe

• Journalism at Winchester University
• School of Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies, Cardiff University – Cardiff, Wales
• London School of Journalism
• Nottingham Trent University Centre for Broadcasting and Journalism – Nottingham, England
• CELSA Paris – Sorbonne University, France
• Paris Institute of Political Science – Paris, France
• Ecole Supérieure de Journalisme de Paris - Paris, France
• [26] CFJ Paris-based Journalism School and Training center, Paris, France
• City University Journalism Department – London, England
• JMG, University of Gothenburg – Gothenburg, Sweden
• Leeds University – Institute of Communications Studies – Yorkshire, England
• London College of Communication – University of the Arts, London – London, England
• Moscow State University Faculty of Journalism – Moscow, Russia
• Westminster University Journalism Department – London, England
• Kingston University Journalism Department
• Deutsche Journalistenschule – Munich, Germany
• Lincoln School of Journalism University of Lincoln, Lincoln, England
• [27]Ecole Supérieure de Journalisme - Lille, France

Africa

• Ecole Supérieure de Journalisme et de Communication - Casablanca, Morocco

See also

Journalism portal

• Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication
• Journalism Education Association
• National Association of Hispanic Journalists
• Nieman Foundation for Journalism
• Religion Newswriters Association

References

External links

Wikiversity has learning materials about School of Journalism

• ACEJMC list of accredited programs
• Shorthand and the Journalist
• college.gov - U.S. Department of Education