Asks program administrators to determine the status of two aspects of journalism and mass communication education that have been widely debated: The relative weight of skills development and conceptual content; and the extent to which students study the liberal arts and sciences in their courses. Concludes the administrators think their programs…

Attempts to identify predictors of ability in the first week of an introductory journalism writing course. Finds that students with higher self-efficacy and students who spend more time reading newspapers seemed to be the best prepared on the first day of the introductory course. (SG)

Considers for what purposes public relations agencies are using the Internet for their clients and what tools they employ. Examines how public relations educators can prepare graduates for the demands of the profession. Suggests that educators need to teach students not just current uses, but potential uses, and to think critically and…

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)

Finds that journalism and mass communication programs appear to be entering another period of rapid enrollment growth, swept up by overall increases in enrollments at United States universities. Finds that only about four in ten of the journalism and mass communication programs report enrollments by race, suggesting many administrators are not…

Describes "The Southworth Project," an effort to bring together a small group of law students and journalism students to generate in-depth coverage of a Supreme Court case involving students, the University and the First Amendment. Examines the Southworth Project in detail and explains how the Project ideas developed. Notes the project's goals and…

Considers whether learning communities in journalism and mass communications programs make a difference in helping students make the transition from high school to college. Concludes that in practice, a learning community's holistic approach that integrates social and academic aspects of student life provides a support system necessary for many…

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,…

Describes a technique for using e-mail and the World Wide Web to teach an introductory media writing course online. Surveys students' attitudes toward the technique and evaluates the technique's effectiveness in helping students learn. Finds that participating students rated the course highly enjoyable and convenient, and substantial majorities…

Examines the accessibility of Web sites belonging to 80 colleges of communications and schools of journalism by examining the hypertext markup language (HTML) used to format the pages. Suggests ways to revise the markup of pages to make them more accessible to students with vision, hearing, and mobility problems. Lists resources of the latest…

Focuses on the courses devoted entirely to sensitizing or educating students about the media's relationship with groups that have experienced long-term discrimination and oppression: women; non-white racial groups; gays/lesbians; and the disabled. Examines the nature, strengths and weaknesses of the courses and assesses the extent to which…

Considers the dilemmas that college and university faculty members face when asked to write recommendation letters when the circumstances are sometimes difficult. Discusses five ways that inflated recommendations are harmful. Finds that journalism and mass communication faculty members perceive that recommendation letters written on behalf of…

Examines the motivations of Chinese journalism students to choose journalism as their major and discusses possible reasons for their choices. Finds that Chinese journalism students chose journalism for some professional motivations: for a chance to develop their potentials and for love of writing instead of being attracted by quick fame or high…

Investigates data reported in "Where Shall I Go to Study Advertising?" over the last five years and measures growth and decline of degrees granted, level of those degrees, and changes in enrollment and faculty. Finds that the number of advertising programs dropped 6.1% while public relations grew by only 5.1%, and joint programs increased 47.2%.…