No abstract

No abstract

Arguments about journalism and mass communication education have droned on for years. Whether colleges, schools, and departments should even have "mass communication" as part of their titles is a relevant topic, given the segmentation of the mass media market and the specific tailoring of media to the individual user. That, too, is an age-old discussion. And even the question of whether drones are useful in journalism programs is debatable. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the Missouri School of Journalism (and perhaps other schools) are offering courses that use drones as newsgathering tools in journalism. A few colleagues are excited about the possibility of using unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) in our curriculum. But when I asked a group of students for their advice on drones, they said they did not regard drones as necessary. What they need, they said, is more video, more coding, and a media management course or module. I should point out that many of the students with whom I spoke were not solely journalism majors but were double majoring or minoring in journalism and political science or journalism and a language. Although these students may not know it, their preferences reflect the sort of preparation and attitudinal disposition that Thomas Friedman espoused in his New York Times column on January 29, "It's P.Q. and C.Q. as Much as I.Q" when he wrote that it will be necessary "to develop skills that are complementary to technology rather than ones that can be easily replaced by it." It is essential to have not only IQ but also PQ (passion quotient) and CQ (curiosity quotient), he wrote. People will need to leverage digital tools not just to find a job but to invent or reinvent one, and not just to learn but to relearn for a lifetime. As one of the latest newsgathering tools, drones are becoming a topic of conversation. The GEN (Global Editors Network) News Summer 2013: Hack the Newsroom! that will take place in Paris from June 19 to 21 will feature a session on drones. "Journalistic Experiments of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: Three Case Studies" promises to look at covering a demonstration from the air, and mapping a conflict or a catastrophe-hit area. "Reinventing Storytelling," "The Rise of the Data Movement: Visual Storytelling," "Design Is How It Works: Agile Systems and Responsive Design," and "Will Newsgaming Become Part of the Strategy of Media Groups?" are just some of the other interesting topics. Two other gatherings this summer are sure to include questions about the components and value of journalism and mass communication education in international contexts. Shortly after the GEN News Summit, from June 25 to 29, the conference of the International Association for Media and Communication Research will take place 486973J MC68210.

No abstract

Ireland's social, cultural, religious and political ethos has restricted the country's press freedom. This ethos, combined with a long history of colonialism, could mean that Irish journalists would have low levels of professionalism and of professional efficacy. This research attempted to determine how Irish journalists rated on professionalism and efficacy. Primary and secondary sources were used. A cross-sectional survey of a representative sample of Irish journalists found that they rate high on both levels of professionalism and nonprofessionalism. They also rate high on levels of professional efficacy. However, a halo effect may be manifest as the measures are not flawless.