This essay suggests that because anyone and everyone can now be a "journalist," the standards of the field of journalism have been greatly diminished. To regain respect for the profession and retain stature in the academy, journalism education should offer an assurance of the legitimacy of journalism program graduates by recognizing only…

The authors argue that journalism's uncertain identity in academia has made it vulnerable to unreflective instrumentalism in the digital era. They show how instrumentalism intertwined with the digital sublime constitutes a rhetorically resonate rationale for closing a journalism school. Evidence comes from documents and testimony associated with…

Includes thoughts of seven educators on the place of digital communication in journalism and mass communication education. Discusses communication scholars and the professional field's readiness for the digital age. Notes educators' attitudes towards technology and technology's applications in education. (PM)

Concentrates primarily on race because it illustrates best the issues educators have been facing and dodging for the past decade in journalism and mass communication education. Discusses nine problems concerning diversity at the university level. Presents five educators' ideas and experiences on diversity in the university. (SG)

Considers if the very principles of freedom of expression and the First Amendment that underlie much of the scholarship in journalism and mass communication education is placed at risk by federal regulations that require prior approval of research designs. Presents four senior scholars' deliberations on the rationale, contradictions, ethics, and…

Provides an overview of the history and politics of gender equity to make problematic the phrase "gender equity," to introduce the gender equity in education literature, and to outline some issues relevant to mass communication. Suggests that equal access represents a sex-blind approach dependent on a male standard. (SG)

Considers how the globalization of journalism education is a major challenge for a "new curriculum." Suggests that globalizing journalism education will help educators to rethink the paradigm, focus on critical self-reflection and improve the understanding of changes in society. (SG)

Proposes abandoning the traditional auto mechanic metaphor for teaching news writing (which establishes the teacher's expertise at the expense of the student's learning) in favor of a dialogic method. Argues that dialogic learning that is double looped creates learning advantages for students, and models the social inquiry process of journalism.…

Attempts to locate the changes and challenges to the traditional understanding of what journalism is, to describe ways of dealing with them up to this point, and to formulate a number of arenas to explore initiatives to educate the new journalists of today and tomorrow. Notes that the argument is based on recent developments in journalism…

Discusses the author's experiences and developments as editor of this journal for 13 years. Considers his successes and his "failures"--business left undone. Points out directions for the future at the time of his resignation as editor. (SG)

Presents nine responses of professors and communication professionals to the ethical, economic, and enduring issues of journalism and mass communication education. Considers their responses to the state of journalism and mass communication education and reevaluates educational assumptions and practices. (SG)

Notes that teachers, whether new or senior faculty, cannot succeed--with or without new technology--unless they keep in mind the dimensions of good teaching that allow them to connect with students in the first place. Focuses on creating a learning community around five dimensions associated with effective teaching: enthusiasm, command of subject,…

Discusses the potentially dysfunctional impact that has resulted from an over-reliance on student evaluations as a measure of good teaching. Argues that the long-term impact of the whole student evaluation process (and the student mentality of entitlement that supports it) should be examined. (SR)

Relates how the documentary entitled "What's News?" (used to introduce visitors to "The Freedom Forum's Newseum") inspired both the author and his journalism students to consider the contingency and personal nature of news selection. Argues that introductory reporting textbooks and classes should do more to emphasize the role these factors play in…

Raises questions about the validity and reliability of doing research online via the proliferation of academic databases. Finds different versions of the Lexis-Nexis database have differing search capabilities. Argues that dependence on database research findings means dependence on decisions made by a few people who design search engines and…