Shaping 21st Century Journalism

Journalism schools need to adopt an attitude of active experimentation such that journalism (and journalism education) can emerge successfully in this changing media landscape. For that reason we have sought out examples of innovation from all schools – big and small, well known and more obscure.

The report is divided into four parts and an appendix. The first section consists of a brief outline of the demography of journalism schools and a discussion of the role played by journalism programs and education in the history of the field. We then move on to a broader overview of the state of journalism education circa Spring 2011. Following this overview, we zero in on current examples of journalism programs becoming community information providers and the capabilities of other schools to follow those who have already made this transition. We also consider curriculum revisions, joint degree programs, and intra-university partnerships with other professional schools with an eye to how these partnerships can support schools becoming community information providers. Third, we consider the potential for journalism schools to serve as centers for communication research, including development of the actual platforms for communication. We also examine the role of journalism schools in encouraging increased media literacy in general. We conclude with some recommendations as to ways that journalism education can navigate the shifting news ecosystem.