Ugh. I'm headed to a undergraduate curriculum review meeting on Friday. Maybe I should wait and post after that.
Well, we're trying to devise a new set of core classes for all journalism students, one that includes a digital/online media introduction (probably very much along the lines of what this seminar will teach us old dogs...). Then, when we break into tracks of print, BJ, etc., that's where we get into trouble trying to move beyond the basic online skills and applying them to the specialties.
One faculty member suggested the other day to not call the BJ track "broadcast journalism." What else should we call it?! Not "digital media," because that's it's own track.
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Stephanie Blake
Assistant Professor
School of Communication
American University
More from AU ... As I understand, our undergraduate journalism majors currently are not required to take online classes -- which I find problematic. In fact, one of the elective online journalism classes had to be canceled this semester because too few students signed up for it. Yet the undergraduates complain mightily that they don't get enough online / multimedia instruction. "Well, why don't you sign up for the class?" I asked them. "I don't have enough room on my schedule." "Have to take required classes." "There was another elective that sounded more 'fun.' "
Which is why I think we have to require online classes to get a degree in journalism.
