Mindy McAdams Rhodes University June 2014

DIGITAL SKILLS IN U.S. J-SCHOOLS

¡  Years 1 and 2: Mostly general education requirements such as history, math, English, science, one foreign language

¡  Some journalism courses might be required in Year 2; depends on the school

¡  Years 3 and 4 will be mostly journalism — mix of required and elective courses

¡  Also a minor or “concentration” in another subject ¡  One “course” = 3 credit hours

§  3 hours lecture (actually 50 minutes x 3) §  6–9 hours outside work (varies widely)

¡  124 credit hours required for B.A. or B.S. degree (varies slightly among universities and majors)

¡  Students typically take 5 courses per semester (15 weeks)

U.S. FOUR-YEAR PROGRAMS

¡  Students must take a minimum of 72 semester credit hours outside of journalism and mass communication §  124 – 72 = 52 credit hours §  That’s about 17 (3-credit) courses in journalism and mass comm.

¡  Student-faculty classroom ratios in skills and laboratory sections, whether on-site or online, should not exceed 20-1

¡  The unit provides a balance among theoretical and conceptual courses, professional skills courses, and courses that integrate theory and skills to achieve the range of student competencies listed by the Accrediting Council

¡  Instruction, whether on-site or online, must be “demanding and current, and is responsive to professional expectations of digital, technological and multimedia competencies”

ACCREDITATION STANDARDS

ACEJMC

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MU LIN’S MAP CATEGORIES

¡  Fully integrated: All students must take dedicated courses in digital or multimedia journalism, and must take reporting and production courses for both print and broadcast platforms.

¡  Partly integrated: All students must take dedicated courses in digital/multimedia journalism, and choose a concentration in, or multiple courses that focus on, a specific print or broadcast platform.

¡  Silo: Students choose a concentration or track that is focused on digital/multimedia journalism. Separate tracks exist for other platforms such as broadcast or print.

¡  Electives only: Students may choose dedicated courses in digital/multimedia journalism, but they are not required. (This category is not plotted on the map)

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¡ What is a “dedicated course in digital or multimedia journalism”?

¡  Can “digital or multimedia” skills be integrated into existing courses?

¡ When they are (integrated), how much of the course is devoted to learning those skills and their applications?

¡  Are “dedicated courses” better than courses with integration? ¡ When students do not take “dedicated courses,” is the level of

competence reduced? ¡  How does each course build upon previous courses and

learning?

QUESTIONS

The Core (30 hours) — students also take 7 elective courses ¡  JOU 1001 Introduction to Journalism (1) ¡ MMC 2604 Mass Media and You (3) ¡  JOU 3220C Visual Journalism (3) ¡  JOU 2005 Writing Mechanics for Journalists (1) ¡  JOU 3109C Multimedia Writing (3) ¡  JOU 3101 Reporting (3) ¡  JOU 3346L Multimedia Reporting (1) ¡  JOU 3110 Applied Fact Finding (3) ¡  JOU 4201 News Editing (3) ¡  JOU 4700 Ethics of Journalism (3) ¡ MMC 4200 Law of Mass Communication (3) ¡  JOU 4––– Capstone course; various options (3)

UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA

Shortcomings ¡  Extreme silos: Broadcast journalism is a separate department

in the school §  Broadcast students don’t learn how to write (except scripts) §  Journalism students don’t learn how to report, produce for radio, TV

¡  No required course devoted to online and mobile media ¡  No required numeracy or data analysis course ¡  Lack of coherent pathway to proficiency in online/mobile or

digital journalism

UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA

Journal ism Study Interest Areas ¡  Ar ts and Cu l tu re Jou rna l i sm ¡  B us ine s s and Econom ics Jou rna l i s m ¡  C o nve rg e nc e P h oto jo u rna l i s m ¡  C o nve rg e nc e Rad io Re po r t ing and

P ro duc ing ¡  C o nve rg e nc e Te lev i s io n Re po r t ing ¡  De s ign ¡  Em e rg ing Me d ia ¡  Ent re p re ne ur ia l Jou rna l i s m ¡  I n te rna t iona l Jou rna l i s m ¡  I n te rna t iona l S t ra te g ic C om m unica t ion ¡  Magaz ine De s ign ¡  Magaz ine Ed i t ing ¡  Magaz ine Pub l i sh ing and Manage me nt ¡  Magaz ine Wr i t ing ¡  Mul t ime d ia P roduc ing ¡  Mul t ip la t fo rm De s ign ¡  News De s ign

¡  News Ed i t ing ¡  News Re por t ing ¡  P h oto jo u rna l i s m ¡  Rad io -Te lev i s ion P roduc ing ¡  Rad io -Te lev i s ion Re por t ing and Anc hor ing ¡  Rad io -Te lev i s ion S por t s Jou rna l i s m ¡  Rad io -Te lev i s ion Wat c hdog Jou rna l i s m ¡  S c ie nce and H e a l t h Jou rna l i s m ¡  S por t s Jou rna l i s m ¡  St ra te g ic C om m unica t ion : Account

Manage me nt ¡  St ra te g ic C om m unica t ion : A r t D i re c t ion ¡  St ra te g ic C om m unica t ion : C opy wr i t ing ¡  St ra te g ic C om m unica t ion : I n te rac t i ve ¡  St ra te g ic C om m unica t ion : Me d ia P lann ing ¡  St ra te g ic C om m unica t ion : P ub l i c Re la t ions ¡  St ra te g ic C om m unica t ion : Re s e arc h ¡  V is ua l Ed i t ing and Manag e m e nt ¡  Wat c h dog Jou rna l i s m ¡  S pe c ia l O f fe r ing : I nd i v idua l l y De s ig ne d

In te re s t A re a

UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI

All convergence journalism interest areas teach multimedia storytelling by having students take 3 core convergence classes: ¡  JOURN 4804 Convergence Reporting (3) ¡  JOURN 4806 Convergence Editing and Producing (3) ¡  JOURN 4992 Reporting, Editing and Marketing of Converged

Media (capstone; 3) Students also choose to specialize in another area by taking at least 2 courses in that area.

UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI

Some of the elective courses: ¡  JOURN 4430 Computer-Assisted Reporting (3) ¡  JOURN 4502 Multimedia Planning and Design (3) ¡  JOURN 4508 Information Graphics (3) ¡  JOURN 4554 Visual Editing for Multimedia (3) ¡  JOURN 4700 Participatory Journalism (3) ¡  JOURN 4720 Internet Law (3) ¡  JOURN 4810 Advanced Global Converged News (3) ¡  JOURN 4812 Online Audience Development (3) ¡  JOURN 4974 Advanced Internet Applications for Radio/TV

News (3)

UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI

Required Core Values Courses (credits, year) ¡  JMC 110 Principles and History of Journalism (3, Y1) ¡  JMC 366 Journalism Ethics and Diversity (3, Y2) ¡  JMC 402 Mass Communication Law (3, Y3) ¡  JMC 473 Business and Future of Journalism -OR-

JMC 436 PR Research (3, Y3/4)

Required Basic Skills Courses (credits, year) ¡  JMC 101 Grammar for Journalists (1, Y1) ¡  JMC 201 News Reporting and Writing (3, Y1) ¡  JMC 305 Online Media (3, Y2) ¡  JMC 301 Intermediate Reporting and Writing (Print/PR) -OR-

JMC 315 Intermediate Reporting and Writing (Broadcast) (3, Y2) ¡  JMC 313 Editing -OR-

JMC 345 Videography (3, Y2)

ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY

Core courses (required), 28 credits ¡  JOURN 101 Media and American Society (3) ¡  NEWS 105 Journal ist ic Storytel l ing: Introduction (2) ¡  NEWS 108 Foundations of Journal ism: Great Stories and Storytel lers (1) ¡  NEWS 109 Foundations of Journal ism: Ethical and Legal Principles (1) ¡  NEWS 120 Newsgathering: Research (1) ¡  NEWS 121 Newsgathering: Interviewing (1) ¡  NEWS 122 Journal ist ic Storytel l ing: Covering Events (1) ¡  NEWS 130 Mult imedia: Design (1) ¡  NEWS 131 Mult imedia: St i l ls (1) ¡  NEWS 132 Mult imedia: Audio (1) ¡  NEWS 133 Mult imedia: Video (1) ¡  NEWS 240 Current Issues and News Experience (1) ¡  NEWS 340 Current Issues and Newsroom Leadership (1) ¡  NEWS 397 Immersion: Special Topics (3) ¡  NEWS 221 Journal ist ic Storytel l ing: Covering Issues (3) ¡  NEWS 409 Foundations of Journal ism: Ethical and Legal Issues (2) ¡  NEWS 210 Professional Development (1) ¡  NEWS 497 Immersion: Student Media (3)

BALL STATE UNIVERSITY

News specialization — required courses ¡  NEWS 233 Multimedia: Reporting (3) ¡  NEWS 270 Audiences: Communities (1) ¡  NEWS 315 News Editing (2) ¡  NEWS 370 Audiences: Operations (1) ¡  NEWS 371 Audiences: Interactivity (1) ¡  ECON 247 Economics and Statistics in Media (3) ¡  SOC 100 Principles of Sociology (3) ¡  Internship (2)

Ball State offers 4 specializations: News, Graphics, Magazine, Photography

BALL STATE UNIVERSITY

Core ¡  Reporting and Writing (Y1) ¡ Multimedia Storytelling (Y1) ¡  Introduction to 21st Century

Media (Y1) ¡  Enterprise Reporting in

Diverse Communities (Y2) ¡ Media Presentation (Y2):

News/Online, Magazine, -or- Broadcast/Web

¡  Storytelling (Y3): Interactive News, Magazine, -or- Video

¡ Media Law and Ethics (Y3) ¡  Journalism Residency (Y3)

Electives ¡  Audio Documentary ¡  Business Reporting ¡  Environmental Reporting ¡  Health and Science

Reporting ¡  International Journalism ¡  Investigative Journalism ¡  Journalism of Empathy ¡  Legal Reporting ¡  Literary Journalism ¡ Media Design ¡  Photojournalism ¡  Video Documentary

NORTHWESTERN/MEDILL

Re qu i re d ¡  J3 01 F Fundam e nt a l I s s ue s in Jou rna l i s m ¡  J3 0 2 F D ig i t a l S to r y te l l i ng B as i cs ¡  J310 F Re por t ing : Words ¡  J31 1 F Re por t ing : Im ag e s ¡  One cour s e in pub l i c a f fa i r s re por t ing

( va r ious c ho ice s )

E le c t i ve s ( s e le c te d ) ¡  J3 3 0 F Te lev i s ion Re por t ing and P roduc ing ¡  J3 31 F En t re p re ne ur ia l Jou rna l i s m ¡  J3 3 2 F News Ed i t ing fo r On l ine and P r in t ¡  J3 3 2 G Ex p lanato r y Jou rna l i s m : S to r y te l l i ng

in a D ig i t a l A g e ¡  J3 3 3 F Dat a -Dr i ve n Re por t ing ¡  J3 3 3 G Advance d V i s ua l Jou rna l i s m , P hoto ¡  J3 3 4 F Ora l H i s to r y as Jou rna l i s m ¡  J3 3 5 F Mag az ine Wr i t ing and P roduc t ion ¡  J3 3 5 G Advance d Te lev i s ion Re por t ing

P ro duc ing ¡  J3 3 6 F S oc ia l Me d ia Jou rna l i s m ¡  J3 3 6 G P roduc ing S oc ia l Docum e nt a r ie s fo r

T V News ¡  J3 3 8 F Advance d V i s ua l De s ig n ¡  J3 3 9 F Inve s t ig a t i ve Re por t ing ¡  J3 3 9 T We b De s ig n fo r Jou rna l i s m

UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS

¡  An early required course to orient students to the changing media environment (emphasis on broad range of digital media)

¡  A required course (or courses) that ensures basic familiarity with Web applications of digital media tools such as audio, video, photojournalism as well as basics of blogs, linking, tagging, and managing social media

¡  A course about online and mobile audiences (data analysis) ¡  A well-defined track to proficiency for those who choose it ¡  But what kind of proficiency? Web design and code? So-called

multimedia? Data journalism? ¡ What is an appropriate minimum for all journalism students?

CURRICULUM CHALLENGES

¡  Integrated approach vs. dedicated courses ¡  Exposure for all students ¡ Mastery or proficiency for some students

§  Discuss: Year 4 New Media at Rhodes

¡  Best time to introduce digital work patterns (of which students are unaware, in many cases), e.g. mobile reporting, “digital first” (risk of waiting: we reproduce our biases in our students)

¡  Breaking down perceptions that digital is an afterthought, a stepchild, of print and broadcast

CURRICULUM CHALLENGES

Mindy McAdams Rhodes University June 2014

DIGITAL SKILLS IN U.S. J-SCHOOLS