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Whats & Hows - BROADCAST JOURNALISM
Whats & Hows - BROADCAST JOURNALISM
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For their part, academics need to be sure they’re connecting with the industry and
teaching what the professionals say they need. It’s very tempting these days to take
your students and experiment with the latest in social media, alternative delivery, and
more. In fact, colleges shouldbe experimenting and even inventing the future. But that
can’t take place in exchange for allconnections to the real world. Individual educators
enamored of the bright lights and unlimited promise of the changing media world need
to keep one hand firmly on the reality rail. Academic experimentation can’t entirely
replace practical journalism education.
The old ways were comfortable and, I would argue, actually hold the key to figure out
where we are headed now. Keep in mind that old focus on the rhythm and routine of
the news day. Things are not as static as they once were, but the old focus on regular
and reliable delivery is still as sharp now as it was then. Educators should build this
sense of reliability into their students. And professionals need to communicate with
educators just what students will be doing so that they can push them in the right
direction.
“What do we teach” and “How do we teach” should now be joined with a third question
of “Why do we teach” to fill out the equation. That missing element of why we train
students to do what they do—for what purpose will they work—is key to schools
remaining relevant and professionals finding who they need. Those three questions will
carry us through a lot of change ahead.
http://staceywoelfel.com/2010/06/30/the-whats-and-hows-of-teaching-broadcast-
journalism/