Argues that many of the agents of transmission of persuasive communication to the classroom (i.e., public relations and advertising educators) are not as well prepared for the task as might be thought. Considers how curricular integration in advertising and public relations makes good economic sense, but to also make good educational sense it…

Assesses the effectiveness of the trauma training program for recent journalism graduates. Finds that all graduates see trauma training as a worthwhile exercise for journalism students in order to address trauma victims appropriately. Indicates that the majority of journalism graduates in this study have been exposed to traumatic incidents in…

Surveys 28 programs that offer doctoral degrees in mass communication or journalism. Finds that 4 programs place significant emphasis on teaching as a form of scholarship in their focus of domains of knowledge related directly to teaching and learning, with 2 of the 4 further including disciplinarity as an important foundation of understanding for…

Examines the distance education experience of the University of Oregon's School of Journalism and Communication during 1995. Describes the practical side of the process, and also discusses the political, economic, bureaucratic, and pedagogical implications of adopting and using a new educational technology. (SR)

Provides fundamental information on learning disabilities relevant to programs preparing students for print media careers. Discusses learning disabilities specific to written expression. Examines legal issues and offers an overview of the types of appropriate accommodations that may be made in the classroom, including assistive technology and…

Examines from three perspectives (that of students, clients, and professors) the strengths and weaknesses of using actual clients in student projects for undergraduate public relations campaigns courses. Finds: students appreciated using actual clients; teachers felt the extra effort was worthwhile; and clients valued their experiences working…

Examines journalism students' responses to a news story containing multiple sources where one side is presented in direct quotation form and the other side is presented in paraphrased form. Shows that advanced journalism students evaluated the story as significantly less balanced and significantly less fair than did beginning journalism students.…

Finds that a large majority of high school social science teachers in two of the nation's largest school districts believe that: students should be taught how to be informed media consumers; the social science curriculum is the appropriate place for that instruction; and while they feel qualified to teach about the media, they have received little…

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)

Surveys media professionals as to how major marketplace changes are affecting the way media planning courses should be taught. Offers recommendations to teach students to: think conceptually, critically, and creatively; use numbers to determine and support their media decisions; contend with audience fragmentation and advertising clutter;…

Suggests strategies for computer-assisted reporting which students and professionals can apply to a database that they want to analyze. Identifies 13 such strategies, giving an example of each, pointing out some keys to selecting each strategy, and suggesting software most appropriate for carrying out each strategy. (SR)

Considers some challenges of teaching public journalism. Discusses how journalism educators can help students prepare for a career in the service of public life by teaching them how to actively involve citizens in the journalistic processes of gathering information, writing stories, and evaluating performance. Offers teaching applications and…

Shows how a reasonably thorough understanding of risk reporting can be taught in a basic environmental reporting course by applying S. Klaidman's (1990) "Reasonable Reader" approach. Discusses what risk reporting is and what its biases are. Outlines the environmental course, the teaching of risk reporting, and the "Reasonable Reader" model.…

Surveys print and broadcast journalism educators and professionals. Finds a gap, though not a particularly wide one, between the professional journalists and journalism educators concerning courses journalism programs should emphasize, important competencies for journalism students, mid-level professional training, the importance of various…

Presents key findings of the annual survey of journalism and mass communication enrollments. Finds faculty hiring and faculty size have stabilized; half of those hired have a doctorate; one in four hired come directly from graduate school; and administrators anticipate hiring faculty in print and broadcast journalism. Notes continued decline in…