The column by Erik Johns (Dec. 30), “Journalism needs new home”, articulates the point of view that the study of the academic field of journalism is reducible to news writing. This is one point of view about the field, but it is one with which I must respectfully disagree.
Journalism provides a means for citizens to be informed about the important issues of the day. The best journalists work hard to provide a comprehensive picture of reality on which citizens can act. The great scientific, medical, economic and other advances of our time become known to adults who no longer attend school primarily through the news media.
Writing skillfully is one aspect of journalism. Providing perspective on events and issues requires tremendous skill and in-depth knowledge about not just journalism, but the political, social, economic and other systems that affect everyday life. In other words, one has to know a lot to be a truly great journalist.
One of the things that would be useful to know about is social science. This is a comprehensive system for understanding the world in a systematic way. At our university, and at a number of other- but not all – great universities where journalism is taught, journalism is approached as an applied social science subject. Journalists should have basic competencies in data analysis, survey research and many other techniques in order to do their work effectively, understand their audiences’ interests and needs and make decisions regarding future business opportunities. Some of the most important career opportunities available to young journalists involve these particular competencies.
Journalists in today’s world also need to know about media organizations and how they function. It is important to know about how media audiences use the news and what people learn as a result of their use. How media contribute to our collective notions of community and help build social capital is another important issue. These topics and more are what mass communication research is all about. It is highly relevant to the study and practice of journalism.
The journalism program is correctly positioned in the school and in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. The current plan for changing the name of the school will not change these facts. The job of the journalist is not just about writing.
Gerald KosickiAssociate ProfessorSchool of Journalism and Communication
