Journalism Education in the Digital Mediascapes

Session Submission Type: Panel

Abstract

The panel of the Polish Communication Association

Digital mediascapes, characterized by media convergence, participatory platforms, media activism and collaborative media-making are nowadays challenging the concepts related to journalism, including journalism education. Due to technological and social changes journalism training has become complex over the last years, requiring new type of knowledge and skills as well as shifts in traditional study programmes (curricula). The goal is to try to find a balance between novelty and tradition and to further ask what approaches would be more relevant in order to adapt to expectations of students and future employees in the digital era.

The aim of the panel, entitled “Journalism education in the digital mediascapes” is to combine theoretical approaches to journalism with opportunities, challenges and risks in the development of journalism education and training. In line with this, the session will go a long way to explaining the contributions of journalism education to professionalization, accountability and professional roles. Special emphasis will be put on different variables having an impact on the quality of journalism education in different social and cultural architectures. All of this when underlining comparative approach to journalism education as well as scenarios for future professional development.

What is the current state of discussions on journalism education? What kind of knowledge and experience do media professionals gain from training courses and classes offered by schools and universities? To what extend journalism education contribute to professionalization and media performance and the understanding of values and norms? What are the main challenges for education systems (journalism studies included) in the era of convergence, collaborative media-making and network practices? And last, but not least, what are the reasons responsible for the limits of the potential of journalism education?

Sub Unit

• Sponsored Sessions

Chair

• Iwona Hofman, Maria Curie-Skłodowska U

Individual Presentations

• Dimensions of Journalism Education - Wolfgang Donsbach, Technical U - Dresden

• Journalism and Mass Communication Education in the United States: Past, Present, and Future - David H. Weaver, Indiana U; Lars Willnat, Indiana U

• Comparing Different Species: Journalism Education in the US and Romania - Peter Gross, U of Tennessee

• Journalism Education and the Profession: Socialization, Traditions, and Change - Gunnar Nygren, Sodertorn U

• Limitations of Journalism Education: The Case of Poland - Boguslawa Dobek-Ostrowska, U of Wroclaw; Michal Glowacki, U of Warsaw

Respondent

• Barbie Zelizer, U of Pennsylvania