[AEJMC Newspaper Division list] Beyond the name change
Steven Listopad
slistopa at jc.edu
Tue Jul 22 23:06:46 CDT 2008
Hi Division,
In case anyone decides to make a tally, I'm in favor of keeping it
the Newspaper Division. Granted we may not always use paper, but the
newspaper is more than a medium - it's a model.
Steve Listopad
Assistant Professor of Journalism and Mass Communication
Student Media Director
Jamestown College
6050 College Lane
Jamestown, ND 58405
W: (701) 252-3467 ext. 2455
F: (701) 253-4318
On Jul 22, 2008, at 9:59 PM, Scott, Faron wrote:
> Sorry, Ann, for the double post.
>
> Yes, I agree with much of what has been said in this thread,
> especially the comments regarding grabbing the online or new media
> label. These are delivery systems and, as such, are bound to be
> outdated as soon as we use them. It’s like calling ourselves
> convergence. Convergence is a given, one we barely need to teach
> anymore as students come in with converged media experience from
> their daily media use. As Jobs and Gates said in a recent NYT
> article, content is key—the delivery systems of the future are
> still unknown. Therefore, linking our future to either or all is a
> short-term solution. Yet, it’s not fair to lay claim to journalism
> or news—other divisions, other media, also do journalism and news.
> So, what to do? One thought I’ve liked is to remain the Newspaper
> division, which brings with it the history and gravitas of the
> profession. For example, you don’t see Theater departments
> changing their names wholesale to something like Multimedia
> Performance, even though that is what they, increasingly, do.
> I think I’m with the folks who say stay with Newspaper—but then, at
> the same time, we must do some educating so that people begin to
> think of Newspaper as including online, etc.
> My .02.
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: news-list-bounces at aejmc.net on behalf of Jean Ann Colbert
> Sent: Tue 7/22/2008 5:50 PM
> To: Members Newspaper Division; JOHN B ZIBLUK; Kathleen Wickham
> Subject: Re: [AEJMC Newspaper Division list] Beyond the name change
>
> Yes! We need to talk with other divisions. Wally's idea and Jack's
> comments below are sensible and thought-provoking. This issue
> affects many divisions and I'm not comfortable with the idea of
> just grabbing the online connection.
> Ann Colbert
>
> >>> "JOHN B ZIBLUK" <JZIBLUK at astate.edu> 7/22/2008 8:52 AM >>>
> Colleagues:
>
> Not only do Kathleen's associates in RTV face the same issues,
> folks in Viscomm and othe divisions face it too.
>
> I think it's important to be pro-active here rather than reactive.
> The name-change discussion is really just the first layer of the
> onion here. There are a lot of layers we need to peel back in order
> to get to the core..and as with an onion, there will be some tears
> along the way.
>
> I love wally's idea of putting together a study group or commission
> to come up with a plan of action. The name change would be part of
> a larger picture.
> We need to look at the direction of our scholarship and of our
> teaching. I have a master's in public admin and I co-authored the
> strategic plan for the National Press Photographers recently. I
> would love to really work on something for our group. The AEJMC
> strategic plan is coming out and we can integrate/articulate with
> that plan. Or do something deeper.
>
> I have done a lot of interdisciplinary work of late and I find a
> lot of other constituencies are doing media/news/communications
> work. But they hate journalism and journalists. As newspapers
> shrink, shed and morph, their role is being taken up by many forms
> of communications on-line and off including niche publications,
> webpages blogs, wikis and more stuff than I can name.
>
> In the face of these changes,niche scholarship broadens and
> atomizes. We study entertainment, social networks, religion,
> business and PR..all of which are straying further from newspapers
> and the traditional early 20th Century "objective" news paradigm.
> Are students are lookign for jobs? where are they? Wil they be
> information officers for niche organizations, pubnlications, non
> profits and businesses? independent entrepreneurs?
>
> How do we engage with the non-journalism journalists who need our
> help and expertise?
>
> I dunno.
>
> But what I do know is that we need to prepare our students for the
> new world; we need to focus our scholarship on understanding it.
>
> We don't need to re-trench within our old boxes......
>
> Let's take this on as a profession. A commission, study group or
> whatever is warranted and needed.
>
> jack
>
> --
> John B. (Jack) Zibluk, Ph.D.
> Associate professor,
> Arkansas State University
> Department of Journalism
> P.O. Box 1930
> State University, AR 72467
> (H) 870-931-1284
> (W) 870-972-3075
> (cell) 870-219-3328
> http://www.clt.astate.edu/jzibluk2
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: news-list-bounces at aejmc.net on behalf of Kathleen Wickham
> Sent: Mon 7/21/2008 12:49 PM
> To: Members Newspaper Division
> Subject: Re: [AEJMC Newspaper Division list] (no subject)
>
> Susan: Thank you for posting the name change issue on the list-serv.
> I've enjoyed reading the robust discussion.
> I am torn. As a former newspaper reporter (10 years in New
> Jersey) my
> heart is in the newsroom and in the term Newspaper Division. I know
> newspaper are facing stiff economic times. But I also know that the
> online version originates in that print newsroom. And I know that
> what
> we do: reporting, writing and editing contributes to the community
> and
> has an important role in a democracy. I am also aware that broadcast
> outlets also use the online world as part of its mission and
> connections with the community. Their goals mirror newspaper goals.
> And, of course then there are all those forms of what I call
> independent news sources that may or may to meet the same journalistic
> standards. Bloggers, citizen journalists, virtual worlds and other
> forms developed and still not even conceived.
> As a former Newspaper Division head (2006-2007) I
> recognize that
> problem Susan is trying to countered with the name change--decreased
> membership and decreased paper submissions. The issue is not just
> about
> recognizing our heritage but about positioning ourselves for the
> future. And certainly expanded editions in our paper calls and on our
> list-serv would help to educate researchers seeking a home.
> I also recognize the importance, value and wonderful
> diversity of
> AEJMC's many divisions and interest groups. It would be inappropriate
> to rename our division the Journalism Division for all members of
> AEJMC
> are committed to journalism.
> In fact, as I was preparing this post I had a conversation
> with an
> officer with RTVJ re: this very issue. Their list-serv has also been
> busy this week discussing our conversation. What they object to most,
> according to my friend, is that Newspaper would lay claim to
> Journalism
> as its title. That suggestion is viewed as arrogant and insulting.
> As I pondered this issue during a long drive this
> weekend, I came
> up with two titles for consideration: News Media Division or
> Newspaper/Online News Division. I prefer the latter as it recognizes
> that "newspaper" can be viewed as a generic definition of what we do
> (producing an independent source of news important in a democracy)
> yet
> encompasses online realities.
> I would reject some of the other suggestions as too banal:
> New media
> (its been around for over a decade so it is hardly new--I wrote a book
> on Online Journalism in 1997) and News-Editorial reads like a course
> sequence.
>
> Kathleen Wickham
>
>
> *******************
> Dr. Kathleen Woodruff Wickham
> Associate Professor
> Graduate program director
> P.O. Box 1848
> 131 Farley Hall
> The University of Mississippi
> University, Miss. 38677
> e-mail: kwickham at olemiss.edu
> phone: 662-915-5501
> fax: 662-915-7765
> _____
> Author of:
> Math Tools for Journalists
> Marion Street Press
> www.marionstreetpress.com
>
>
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Steve Listopad
Assistant Professor of Journalism and Mass Communication
Student Media Director
Jamestown College
6050 College Lane
Jamestown, ND 58405
W: (701) 252-3467 ext. 2455
F: (701) 253-4318
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