JOURNALISM EDUCATION: A SURVEY O F

CITY EDITORS ' A T T I T U D E S

A P P R O V E D :

M a j o r P r o f e s s o r

/?. JyiUcJL^w M i n o r P r o f e s s o r

Chairmajn. of the J o u r n a l i s m D e p a r t m e n t

D e a i of t he G r a d u a t e Schoo l

/2.9k

M c A d a , J u d i t h C . , J o u r n a l i s m E d u c a t i o n : A S u r v e y of City-

E d i t o r s 1 A t t i t u d e s , M a s t e r of A r t s ( J o u r n a l i s m ) , A u g u s t , 1973,

102 pp . , 10 t a b l e s , b i b l i o g r a p h y , 45 t i t l e s .

T h i s s t u d y d e t e r m i n e d a t t i t u d e s he ld by m e t r o p o l i t a n c i ty

e d i t o r s in T e x a s t o w a r d c u r r e n t j o u r n a l i s m i n s t r u c t i o n in c o l l e g e s

a n d u n i v e r s i t i e s . An o p e n - e n d e d q u e s t i o n n a i r e w a s m a i l e d to c i ty

e d i t o r s of n e w s p a p e r s in T e x a s w i th c i r c u l a t i o n o v e r 50, 000. T w e n t y -

t h r e e of the t w e n t y - s i x e d i t o r s to w h o m q u e s t i o n n a i r e s w e r e s e n t

r e s p o n d e d .

T h e t h e s i s i s o r g a n i z e d into f i v e c h a p t e r s . C h a p t e r I i n t r o -

d u c e s the s t u d y by e x p l a i n i n g the p u r p o s e , n a t u r e , and p r o c e d u r e of

the p r o j e c t . C h a p t e r II g ives d e m o g r a p h i c da ta on the r e s p o n d e n t s

and t h e i r publ ica t ions , , C h a p t e r III is c o n c e r n e d wi th j o u r n a l i s m e d u -

c a t i o n in g e n e r a l . It i n c l u d e s a n a n a l y s i s of the e d i t o r s ' a t t i t u d e s

t o w a r d the v a l u e of n i n e j o u r n a l i s m c o u r s e s and e l e v e n a r e a s of s t udy

r e l a t e d to j o u r n a l i s m . It a l s o i n c l u d e s a n a n a l y s i s of the e d i t o r s *

op in ions on w h e n s t u d e n t s shou ld s p e c i a l i z e in a r e p o r t i n g f i e l d , and

w h a t f i e l d s a r e m o s t l ike ly to be a p a r t of r o u t i n e r e p o r t a g e in the

f u t u r e . C h a p t e r IV is c o n c e r n e d wi th n e w s - g a t h e r i n g and w r i t i n g

c o u r s e s . It i n c l u d e s an a n a l y s i s of the e d i t o r s 1 a s s e s s m e n t s of

r e c e n t j o u r n a l i s m g r a d u a t e s 1 a v e r a g e c o m p e t e n c y in s e v e n t e e n b a s i c

s k i l l s ^ a n d a c o m p a r i s o n of r e p o r t o r i a i a r e a s w h e r e e d i t o r s s a i d n e w

r e p o r t e r s a r e w e a k e s t , C h a p t e r V c o n t a i n s s o m e c o n c l u s i o n s a n d

r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s .

F i n d i n g s w h i c h e m e r g e d f r o m t h e s t u d y a r e a s f o l l o w s :

I* C i t y e d i t o r s a r e a b o u t e q u a l l y d i v i d e d on w h e t h e r j o b

a p p l i c a n t s s h o u l d b e r e q u i r e d t o h a v e d e g r e e s , b u t a m a j o r i t y s a i d

if a d e g r e e i s o b t a i n e d , i t i s n o t a p a r t i c u l a r a d v a n t a g e f o r i t t o b e in

j o u r n a l i s m . T h e e d i t o r s w e r e n o t i n f l u e n c e d b y w h e t h e r t h e y h e l d a

d e g r e e t h e m s e l v e s , o r b y w h e t h e r i t w a s in j o u r n a l i s m .

2* T h e e d i t o r s w e r e i n t e r e s t e d i n s e e i n g s t u d e n t s o b t a i n

a b r o a d l i b e r a l a r t s b a c k g r o u n d , a n d w e r e m o a t i n t e r e s t e d in s e e i n g

t h e m a c q u i r e k n o w l e d g e in t h e a r e a s of p o l i t i c a l s c i e n c e a n d e c o n o m i c s ,

3 . T h e e d i t o r s p l a c e a h i g h d e g r e e of e m p h a s i s on a p r a c t i -

c a l a p p r o a c h to j o u r n a l i s m i n s t r u c t i o n ; s p e c i f i c a l l y , t h e y a r e m o r e

i n t e r e s t e d i n n e w s - g a t h e r i n g a n d w r i t i n g c o u r s e s t h a n in c o u r s e s w h i c h

d e a l w i t h r e s e a r c h and. t h e o r y , T h e r e is n o s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e in

t h e j o u r n a l i s m c o u r s e s t h e e d i t o r s f e e l a r e m o s t v a l u a b l e a c c o r d i n g

t o t h e i r own d e g r e e s t a t u s .

4 . T h e e d i t o r s f i n d t h e s k i l l s of r e c e n t j o u r n a l i s m g r a d u a t e s

a d e q u a t e in m o s t c a s e s , b u t l e s s t h a n a d e q u a t e in s e v e r a l a r e a s .

P a r t i c u l a r w e a k n e s s e s a r e k n o w i n g how to go a b o u t f i n d i n g s o u r c e s ,

a w a r e n e s s of w h e n i d e n t i f i c a t i o n and a t t r i b u t i o n a r e n e e d e d , a b i l i t y to

r e c o g n i z e w h e n s t o r i e s n e e d f o l l o w - u p s , s p e l l i n g , and knowledge of

s t y l e r u l e s . T h e e d i t o r s f i nd new r e p o r t e r s l e a s t p r e p a r e d to

c o v e r c i t y c o u n c i l , coun ty o f f i c e s and a g e n c i e s , and c o u r t s ,

5 . T h e r e i s a s i g n i f i c a n t l y low d e g r e e of c o n t a c t b e t w e e n

c i ty e d i t o r s and e d u c a t o r s . F i f t y p e r c e n t of t h e r e s p o n d e n t s had

no t v i s i t e d a s c h o o l o r d e p a r t m e n t of j o u r n a l i s m in the l a s t y e a r ;

l e s s t han half v i s i t e d one a s f r e q u e n t l y a s once a y e a r , and l e s s t h a n

half had b e e n i nv i t ed t o v i s i t one in t h e l a s t y e a r . H o w e v e r , t h e r e

w a s a h igh d e g r e e of i n t e r e s t in m a k i n g c o n t a c t s , and i t is r e c o m -

m e n d e d t h a t a s tudy be u n d e r t a k e n to d e t e r m i n e the m o s t e f f e c t i v e

f o r m a t in w h i c h the c i t y e d i t o r s and e d u c a t o r s migh t e x c h a n g e i d e a s

a n d i n f o r m a t i o n .

J O U R N A L I S M E D U C A T I O N : A SURVEY O F

CITY E D I T O R S ' A T T I T U D E S

THESIS

P r e s e n t e d to the G r a d u a t e C o u n c i l of t h e

N o r t h T e x a s S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y in P a r t i a l

F u l f i l l m e n t of the R e q u i r e m e n t s

F o r the D e g r e e of

MASTER O F A R T S

B y «. _

J u d i t h C . M c A d a , B . A .

Den ton , T e x a s

A u g u s t , 1973

T A B L E OF CONTENTS

LIST OF TABLES

C h a p t e r I . INTRODUCTION

P a g e

S t a t e m e n t of the P r o b l e m P u r p o s e s of the Study-H y p o t h e s e s B a c k g r o u n d and S i g n i f i c a n c e of the Study-L i m i t a t i o n s B a s i c A s s u m p t i o n s I n s t r u m e n t s P r o c e d u r e s f o r Co l l ec t i on of Data P r o c e d u r e s f o r A n a l y s i s of Data

II . OVERVIEW 20

E x p e r i e n c e D e g r e e P r e f e r e n c e E d u c a t i o n a l B a c k g r o u n d s P a r t i c i p a t i o n in J o u r n a l i s m E d u c a t i o n

III. JOURNALISM EDUCATION IN G E N E R A L 35

R e c e n t and R e l a t e d S tud ies L i b e r a l A r t s B a c k g r o u n d v S p e c i a l i z a t i o n

IV. N E W S - G A T H E R I N G AND WRITING COURSES . . . 59

R e c e n t and. R e l a t e d S tud ie s Repor tor ia .1 A r e a s

i n

P a g e

V. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 78

S u m m a r y of the Hypotheses A r e a s f o r F u r t h e r Study

A P P E N D I X 90

BIBLIOGRAPHY 99

IV

LIST OF T A B L E S

T a b l e P a g e

I. Opin ions on W h e t h e r Job Appl i cant s Should Have D e g r e e s , C l a s s i f i e d by D e g r e e Status of R e s p o n d e n t s 26

II. Opin ions on W h e t h e r Job A p p l i c a n t s ' D e g r e e s Should B e in J o u r n a l i s m , C l a s s i f i e d by D e g r e e Status of R e s p o n d e n t s 27

III. I s o l a t i o n of E d i t o r s wi th a High D e g r e e of P a r t i c i p a -t i o n in J o u r n a l i s m Educat ion , by Y e a r s of E x p e r i e n c e in B u s i n e s s • 32

IV. Opin ions C o n c e r n i n g the N u m b e r of S e m e s t e r s N e e d e d in N ine J o u r n a l i s m C o u r s e s 36

V . Opin ions C o n c e r n i n g the N u m b e r of S e m e s t e r s N e e d e d in T h r e e A r e a s of J o u r n a l i s m , C l a s s i f i e d by D e g r e e Status of R e s p o n d e n t s . . . 39

VI. Opin ions on the D e g r e e of E m p h a s i s that Should Be Given to A r e a s of Study R e l a t e d t o J o u r n a l i s m . . 48

VII. Opin ions on the D e g r e e of E m p h a s i s that Should Be Given to A r e a s of Study R e l a t e d to J o u r n a l i s m , C l a s s i f i e d by D e g r e e Status of R e s p o n d e n t s . . . 50

%>

VIII . E d i t o r s ' A s s e s s m e n t s of R e c e n t J o u r n a l i s m G r a d u a t e s 1 A v e r a g e C o m p e t e n c y in B a s i c S k i l l s . 61

IX. O p i n i o n s C o n c e r n i n g t h e D e g r e e of E m p h a s i s T r a d i t i o n a l A r e a s of R e p o r t a g e S h o u l d Be G i v e n • . 72

X . O p i n i o n s on t h e D e g r e e of E m p h a s i s S ix A r e a s of R e p o r t a g e S h o u l d B e G i v e n , C l a s s i f i e d by D e g r e e P r e f e r e n c e of R e s p o n d e n t s 75

v

C H A P T E R I

I N T R O D U C T I O N

T h e a l l i a n c e b e t w e e n t h e w o r k i n g p r e s s a n d c o l l e g e a n d

u n i v e r s i t y p r o g r a m s f o r j o u r n a l i s m i n s t r u c t i o n h a s a l w a y s b e e n a n

u n e a s y o n e . T r a c i n g t h e h i s t o r y of j o u r n a l i s m e d u c a t i o n in t h e U n i t e d

S t a t e s , W i l l i a m S e x t o n (12 , p . 9) f o u n d t h e f i r s t a t t e m p t to e s t a b l i s h

a c o l l e g i a t e p r o g r a m f o r j o u r n a l i s t s c a m e t o n o t h i n g . In 1869 ,

G e n e r a l R o b e r t E . L e e , t h e n p r e s i d e n t of W a s h i n g t o n C o l l e g e , f a i l e d

t o g i v e a w a y a n y of f i f t y " p r e s s s c h o l a r s h i p s " f o r f r e e t u i t i o n in t h e

c l a s s i c s p l u s one h o u r of o n e - t h e - j o b t r a i n i n g . B u t h e d id s u c c e e d i n

s t i r r i n g c r i t i c i s m f r o m s e l f - m a d e n e w s m e n . E . L . G o d k i n of T h e

N e w Y o r k E v e n i n g P o s t c a l l e d t h e p l a n a n " a b s u r d i t y . "

T h e e d u c a t i o n a l c o m m u n i t y c o u l d b e e q u a l l y a d a m a n t a b o u t

g i v i n g j o u r n a l i s m a c a d e m i c a c c e p t a n c e . J o s e p h P u l i t z e r c a m p a i g n e d

m o r e t h a n a d e c a d e b e f o r e C o l u m b i a U n i v e r s i t y r e l u c t a n t l y a g r e e d to

a c c e p t $ 2 , 000 , 000 in 1903 e n d o w i n g t h e f i r s t s c h o o l of j o u r n a l i s m in

t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s . G e t t i n g i t o p e n t o o k a n o t h e r e i g h t y e a r s . By

t h e n i t w a s n o l o n g e r f i r s t , a n d i t s c r e a t o r w a s d e a d .

T h e p a s s a g e of t i m e h a s s t i l l not e r a s e d the p r o f e s s i o n a l

d i s d a i n w h i c h Lee d i s c o v e r e d , n o r the a c a d e m i c s u s p i c i o n v e n t e d on

P u l i t z e r , Sex ton s a y s . Only the a r g u m e n t s and i s s u e s have c h a n g e d .

T h e c a s t of c h a r a c t e r s h a s c h a n g e d in the e n s u i n g y e a r s , too ,

a s j o u r n a l i s m e d u c a t o r s e n t e r e d the con t inu ing c o n t r o v e r s y . T o d a y

t h e r e a r e m o r e t h a n 150 s c h o o l s and d e p a r t m e n t s of j o u r n a l i s m in the

Uni t ed S t a t e s (10, p# 10). In a d d i t i o n , t h e r e a r e s e v e r a l h u n d r e d

s e n i o r and j u n i o r c o l l e g e s w h i c h o f f e r j o u r n a l i s m c o u r s e s but not a

m a j o r . T h e r e i s , t h e n , a r a t h e r l a r g e n u m b e r of f a c u l t y m e m b e r s

t o s p e a k b e f o r e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n s on the w o r t h i n e s s of j o u r n a l i s m a s

a n a r e a of a c a d e m i c s t u d y .

If t h e y have not a l w a y s b e e n a s s u p p o r t i v e of t h e i r p r o g r a m s

a s t h e y s h o u l d b e , L inco ln U n i v e r s i t y j o u r n a l i s m i n s t r u c t o r Avon

W i l s o n s a y s (15, p . 740) it m a y b e b e c a u s e j o u r n a l i s m e d u c a t o r s

h a v e found t h e m s e l v e s h a r a s s e d on two f r o n t s .

On the one h a n d , p r o f e s s i o n a l s in the f i e l d s c o f f e d a t c l a s s r o o m i n s t r u c t i o n in news d e s k and r e p o r t i n g s k i l l s . On the o the r h a n d , c a m p u s c o l l e a g u e s b e l i t t l e d j o u r n a l i s m p r o f e s s o r s f o r t he i r , . pauc i ty of a c a d e m i c d e g r e e s .

J o u r n a l i s m p r o f e s s o r s who w e r e p r a c t i c a l enough to m a k e t h e i r p r o g r a m s a p p e a l to the a n t i - i n t e l l e c t u a l e d i t o r s and p u b l i s h e r s w e r e s c o r n e d f o r d o w n g r a d i n g the u n i v e r s i t y to t r a d e s c h o o l s t a t u s .

S o m e s c h o o l s of j o u r n a l i s m have t r i e d to a p p e a s e bo th

g r o u p s b y r e t a i n i n g a c o r e of s k i l l s and t e c h n i q u e s c o u r s e s , bu t a t the

s a m e t i m e e m p h a s i z i n g e m p l o y m e n t of m o r e f a c u l t y wi th d o c t o r a l

d e g r e e s . T h e t r e n d t o w a r d r e q u i r e m e n t of the P h . D. h a s b e e n

c a l l e d " p r o f o u n d l y des t ruc t ive ! 1 (14, p. 6) by one e d u c a t o r , who h a s

a l s o ga ined n a t i o n a l p r o m i n e n c e a s a n e w s m a n , and h a s b e e n c r i t i c i z e d

by m a n y e d i t o r s and p u b l i s h e r s who f e e l the r e q u i r e m e n t l e s s e n s the

l i ke l i hood i n s t r u c t o r s w i l l h a v e p r a c t i c a l e x p e r i e n c e . A c a d e m i c a l l y ,

s o m e j o u r n a l i s m e d u c a t o r s do not f e e l t he s t e p p e d - u p s c h o l a r s h i p

h a s i m p r o v e d t h e i r s t a n d i n g , e i t h e r . In 1967, D r . John M e r r i l l of

t he U n i v e r s i t y of M i s s o u r i o b s e r v e d ,

A f ew y e a r s b a c k , m a n y of us in j o u r n a l i s m e d u -c a t i o n though t t h a t when we got b e t t e r e d u c a t e d f a c u l t y m e m b e r s and b r o u g h t m o r e p r o f e s s i o n a l i s m and s c h o l a r -s h i p to our p r o g r a m s , t he l a s h i n g s w e r e c e i v e d p e r i o d i -c a l l y f r o m p r a c t i c i n g j o u r n a l i s t s and fe l low a c a d e m i -c i a n s wou ld d i m i n i s h . Now tha t we have m a d e g r e a t a d v a n c e s in t h e s e a r e a s , we f i n d t ha t c r i t i c i s m , r a t h e r t han d i s s i p a t i n g , h a s g r o w n , and t ha t m o s t of the new c r i t i c s a r e no b e t t e r i n f o r m e d abou t j o u r n a l i s m e d u c a -t i o n t h a n w e r e t h e i r p r e d e c e s s o r s (7, p . 10).

In s u r v e y i n g l i t e r a t u r e w r i t t e n by j o u r n a l i s m e d u c a t o r s in

r e c e n t y e a r s , one f i n d s s e v e r a l r e c u r r i n g r e s p o n s e s to c r i t i c i s m t h a t

j o u r n a l i s m p r o g r a m s , f o r one r e a s o n ^ o r a n o t h e r , a r e i n a d e q u a t e .

One r e s p o n s e is t ha t r e g a r d l e s s of the a p p r o a c h s c h o o l s of j o u r n a l i s m

t a k e , t h e y a r e s o m e w h a t t h w a r t e d in t h e i r e f f o r t s by the i n c r e a s i n g

n u m b e r of s t u d e n t s in j o u r n a l i s m p r o g r a m s . J o u r n a l i s m e n r o l l m e n t s

a t f o r t y - f o u r s c h o o l s r e s p o n d i n g to a s u r v e y in 1971 h a d i n c r e a s e d by

a n a v e r a g e of 78 p e r c e n t in the p r e v i o u s f i v e y e a r s . D u r i n g the

s a m e p e r i o d , t he f a c u l t y i n c r e a s e had b e e n only 2. 5 m e m b e r s on the

a v e r a g e . A t t he U n i v e r s i t y of T e x a s , w h e r e j o u r n a l i s m w a s the

m o s t r a p i d l y g r o w i n g p r o g r a m on c a m p u s , t h e r e w a s an i n c r e a s e of

432 u n d e r g r a d u a t e s s i n c e 1965, m a k i n g e n r o l l m e n t 1 , 7 6 0 in 1970

(11, p . 8) .

A n e q u a l l y s e r i o u s c o m p l a i n t is t h a t the p r o f e s s i o n f a i l s to

r e w a r d the d e g r e e of knowledge and c o m p e t e n c y r e q u i r e d . A d e p a r t -

m e n t c h a i r m a n a t a s t a t e u n i v e r s i t y r e c e n t l y w r o t e t h a t he found it

s o m e w h a t d i s c o u r a g i n g to p r e p a r e the b r i g h t e s t and b e s t s t u d e n t s f o r

a c a r e e r in j o u r n a l i s m , b e c a u s e " m o s t news a g e n c i e s r e m a i n unwi l l ing

o r unab le t o pay the s a l a r i e s t ha t s u c h young g r a d u a t e s m i g h t d e m a n d

(13, p . 12).

In t h e l a te 1 9 6 0 f s , a s u r v e y w a s m a d e of p e r s o n s who h a d

t e n y e a r s e a r l i e r b e e n s e l e c t e d a s b e s t - o f - t h e - y e a r g r a d u a t e s by

S i g m a D e l t a Ch i , a p r o f e s s i o n a l f r a t e r n i t y f o r j o u r n a l i s t s . Of the

t h i r t y - f i v e s e l e c t e d , only s e v e n w e r e s t i l l w o r k i n g on n e w s p a p e r s .

T h e m e d i a n s a l a r y of t he t h i r t y - f i v e w a s $ 1 2 , 6 0 0 ; the m e d i a n

s a l a r y of the s e v e n w a s $ 8, 164 (4, p. 14).

I t is h a r d l y s u r p r i s i n g tha t e d u c a t o r s and e d i t o r s do not

r e p r e s e n t a s o l i d i f i e d f o r c e f o r e d u c a t i o n in the p r o f e s s i o n . One n e e d

only look a t the d i f f e r e n c e s of opin ion t h a t e x i s t w i th in the r a n k s of

e a c h p r o f e s s i o n a l g r o u p . In a s u r v e y of m e m b e r s of t h e A s s o c i a t i o n

f o r E d u c a t i o n in J o u r n a l i s m , M a l c o l m M a c L e a n and h i s a s s o c i a t e s

d i s c o v e r e d (8, pp . 102-107) v a r y i n g a t t i t u d e s on j o u r n a l i s m e d u c a t i o n

i s s u e s s e p a r a t e d the i n s t r u c t o r s in to f i v e m a j o r opinion p r o f i l e s . The

p r o f i l e a n a l y s i s w a s b a s e d on S t e p h e n s o n ' s Q m e t h o d o l o g y .

T h e f i r s t of the f i v e g r o u p s w a s t h e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s g r o u p , o r

t h o s e who s t r o n g l y a g r e e d wi th s t a t e m e n t s f a v o r a b l e to m o r e r e s e a r c h

a n d t h e o r y . T h e g r o u p w a s a g a i n s t c o n f i n i n g c o u r s e o f f e r i n g s to

t e c h n i c a l t r a i n i n g a n d , m o r e t h a n the o t h e r s , w a s a g a i n s t t r a i n i n g

j o u r n a l i s t s b y the old, w e l l - t r i e d m e t h o d s un t i l c o m m u n i c a t i o n t h e o r y

i s d e v e l o p e d .

T h e s e c o n d g r o u p , t e r m e d d e f e n d e r s of j o u r n a l i s m s c h o o l s ,

w a s c h a r a c t e r i z e d by i t s s t r o n g d i s a g r e e m e n t wi th s t a t e m e n t s wh ich

a s s e r t e d t h a t s c h o o l s of j o u r n a l i s m h a v e l i t t l e i m p a c t on the m a s s

c o m m u n i c a t i o n s i n d u s t r y , and t ha t t r a i n i n g f o r a r e p o r t i n g c a r e e r

c o u l d j u s t a s e a s i l y b e ob ta ined in a l i b e r a l a r t s c o l l e g e . T h e t h i r d ,

o r b r o a d b a c k g r o u n d g r o u p , d idn ! t c a r e p a r t i c u l a r l y abou t b e h a v i o r a l

r e s e a r c h o r abou t t r a i n i n g in the s k i l l s of j o u r n a l i s m . T h e y w a n t e d

to i n s u r e b r o a d , h u m a n i s t i c l i b e r a l a r t s e d u c a t i o n f o r s t u d e n t s going

in to j o u r n a l i s m .

T h e f o u r t h g r o u p , the s k i l l s g r o u p , b e l i e v e d , l ike t h o s e in

t h e d e f e n s e g r o u p , t ha t the t r a n s m i s s i o n of the l o r e and s k i l l s of . the

6

n e w s r o o m does j u s t i f y the e x i s t e n c e of a j o u r n a l i s m s c h o o l in a n

i n s t i t u t i o n of h i g h e r l e a r n i n g . M e m b e r s of t h e s k i l l s g r o u p a g r e e d

q u i t e s t r o n g l y t h a t l l the b e s t e d i t o r s h a v e l i t e r a r y t a l e n t s , not

b e h a v i o r a l s c i e n c e i n s i g h t s . "

W h i l e the d e f e n s e g r o u p and the s k i l l s g r o u p h e l d s e r i o u s

r e s e r v a t i o n s c o n c e r n i n g the v a l u e of c o m m u n i c a t i o n r e s e a r c h and

t h e o r y in j o u r n a l i s m t r a i n i n g , the f i f t h , or r e s e a r c h e r - g o - h o m e g r o u p ,

s h o w e d c l e a r a n t a g o n i s m . T h e y f u l l y r e j e c t e d the i d e a s t h a t

c o m m u n i c a t i o n t h e o r y s h o u l d be the b a s i s f o r the t e a c h i n g of j o u r n a l -

i s m a n d t ha t the f u t u r e of j o u r n a l i s m e d u c a t i o n d e p e n d s upon the

s c i e n t i f i c s t u d y of the c o m m u n i c a t i o n p r o c e s s e s .

P r a c t i c i n g j o u r n a l i s t s a r e a t l e a s t a s d iv ided in t h e i r t h ink ing

a s a r e e d u c a t o r s . One w r i t e r c o n c l u d e d , "If you w a n t to s t i r up a

h o r n e t 1 s n e s t , j u s t a s k a g r o u p of n e w s p a p e r m e n w h a t t hey th ink abou t

t o d a y ! s j o u r n a l i s m s c h o o l g r a d u a t e s " (9, p . 32). He s u g g e s t e d

t h a t e v e n m o r e s i g n i f i c a n c e m i g h t be a t t a c h e d to the d i f f e r e n c e s of h i s

s u r v e y e e s when one c o n s i d e r s , t ha t t h e y w e r e e d i t o r s in the M i d w e s t , %

the heart land of many of the top j o u r n a l i s m s c h o o l s in the nation.

In 1961, Char l e s T . Duncan, dean of the Oregon School of

J o u r n a l i s m and then pres ident of the A s s o c i a t i o n for Education in

J o u r n a l i s m , spoke at the AEJ nat ional convent ion about what he fe l t

w a s the v e r y u n s a t i s f a c t o r y s t a t e of j o u r n a l i s m e d u c a t i o n . His

a d d r e s s w a s l a t e r r e p r o d u c e d in the J o u r n a l i s m Q u a r t e r l y .

D u n c a n s a i d ,

. . • no th ing cou ld b e m o r e e f f e c t i v e in the s t r e n g t h e n -ing and i m p r o v e m e n t of j o u r n a l i s m e d u c a t i o n than a m o u n t i n g c h o r u s of c o n c e r n and i n t e r e s t by o w n e r s h i p a n d m a n a g e m e n t in the s t r e n g t h and qua l i t y of the j o u r n a l -i s m o r c o m m u n i c a t i o n s p r o g r a m s of the nat ion*s c o l l e g e s a n d u n i v e r s i t i e s (3, p . 525) .

He w a s n o t , h o w e v e r , o p t i m i s t i c t ha t s u c h a c h o r u s wou ld

b e c o m e a r e a l i t y , n o r did he f e e l tha t n e w s m a n a g e r s would c o n v e y

t h e i r c o n c e r n to c o l l e g e and u n i v e r s i t y a d m i n i s t r a t o r s , f r o m w h o m

s u p p o r t m u s t c o m e .

In 1972 the s i t u a t i o n w a s not m u c h i m p r o v e d . H i l l i e r

K r i e g h b a u m of New Y o r k U n i v e r s i t y , in h i s A E J p r e s i d e n t i a l p a p e r ,

c o n c e r n e d h i m s e l f w i t h t h e s a m e poin t D u n c a n h a d dwel t on a d e c a d e

e a r l i e r . K r i e g h b a u m w r o t e ,

A t a t i m e w h e n the m a s s m e d i a a r e u n d e r c r i t i -c i s m and a t t a c k s a s h e a v y a s any in a g e n e r a t i o n , e d u -c a t o r s have a r e s p o n s i b i l i t y , I b e l i e v e , t o jo in the p r o -f e s s i o n a l p r a c t i t i o n e r s in s u p p o r t i n g w h a t i s good and t r y i n g to c o r r e c t w h a t i s w r o n g s P r o f e s s o r s and w o r k -ing n e w s m e n wi th p r i n t and b r o a d c a s t m a y a r g u e on j u s t w h i c h i t e m s b e l o n g in e a c h c a t e g o r y , but t hey shou ld no t d i s a g r e e , v e r y m u c h , t ha t e a c h p r o f e s s i o n a l g r o u p h a s a t r e m e n d o u s s t a k e in w o r k i n g t o g e t h e r t o w a r d a b e t t e r f u t u r e . Yet t h i s p a p e r w i l l d o c u m e n t wha t c o m e s c l o s e to a s h o c k i n g s e p a r a t i s m b e t w e e n t h o s e who t e a c h a n d t h o s e who p r a c t i c e j o u r n a l i s m in A m e r i c a today (5, p . 805) .

8

In h i s p a p e r , K r i e g h b a u n i e v a l u a t e d r e s u l t s of a q u e s t i o n -

n a i r e m a i l e d to s e n i o r n e w s e x e c u t i v e s in the h o m e towns and m e t r o -

p o l i t a n a r e a s l o c a t e d n e a r e s t to a s a m p l e of s i x t y a c c r e d i t e d s c h o o l s .

K r i e g h b a u m f o u n d w h a t he t e r m e d a v e r y r e a l c o m m u n i c a -

t i o n s gap b e t w e e n p r o f e s s o r s and p r a c t i t i o n e r s . One t h i r d , o r 34 p e r

c e n t , of t h e s e n i o r n e w s e x e c u t i v e s (101 out of 188 r e p l i e d ) had no t

v i s i t e d the j o u r n a l i s m s c h o o l o r d e p a r t m e n t in t h e i r own h o m e town

d u r i n g the p r e v i o u s y e a r , and 24 p e r c e n t h a d no t b e e n to any j o u r n a l -

i s m s c h o o l a t a l l d u r i n g t h a t p e r i o d .

In h i s a n a l y s i s of the c u r r e n t s t a t e of j o u r n a l i s m e d u c a t i o n ,

Sex ton l i s t e d {12, p . 10) a m o n g c u r r e n t t o p i c s of deba t e p r o f e s s i o n a l

t r a i n i n g v e r s u s c o m m u n i c a t i o n s r e s e a r c h , l i b e r a l e d u c a t i o n v e r s u s

s k i l l s a n d t e c h n i q u e s c o u r s e s , and t h o r o u g h g e n e r a l e d u c a t i o n v e r s u s

s p e c i a l i z a t i o n in a s p e c i f i c n e w s f i e l d .

T h i s s t u d y q u e s t i o n e d c i t y e d i t o r s abou t t h e a r e a s of c o n c e r n

s t r e s s e d by S e x t o n . T h e y a r e a r e a s w h i c h d e s e r v e e x a m i n a t i o n , bu t

t h e y a r e a l s o a r e a s w h e r e t h e r e i s m u c h d i s a g r e e m e n t of a p h i l o s o p h i -

c a l n a t u r e . C h a n g e s in the o v e r a l l a p p r o a c h of j o u r n a l i s m s c h o o l s '

p r o g r a m s , if t h e y c o m e , w i l l do so only a f t e r a g r e a t d e a l m o r e d i s -

c u s s i o n a n d s t u d y of t h e n e e d s and r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s of the m a s s m e d i a .

T h u s , in a d d i t i o n to g a t h e r i n g da ta u s e f u l f o r the l o n g - r a n g e

" p r o p o s i t i o n s of j o u r n a l i s m e d u c a t i o n , t h i s e x p l o r a t i o n a l s o g a t h e r e d

da ta u s e f u l f o r d e t e r m i n i n g the a t t i t u d e s of c i t y e d i t o r s t o w a r d m o r e

b a s i c m a t t e r s . A s a t l e a s t two s e m e s t e r s of r e p o r t i n g a r e r e q u i r e d

in m o s t j o u r n a l i s m s c h o o l s now, and th i s is no t a r e q u i r e m e n t t h a t i s

l i ke ly to c h a n g e in the i m m e d i a t e f u t u r e , q u e s t i o n s on the s t r e n g t h s

a n d w e a k n e s s e s of the t r a d i t i o n a l a s p e c t s of r e p o r t i n g i n s t r u c t i o n w e r e

i n c l u d e d .

W i l l i a m L i n d l e y , a n e w s m a n - t u r n e d - t e a c h e r , a d d r e s s i n g

h i m s e l f to the b a s i c s , s a y s ,

T h e haugh ty a t t i t u d e s of s o m e of the " p u r e " c o l l e g e s o r d e p a r t m e n t s of h i g h e r l e a r n i n g h a v e m a d e s o m e j o u r n a l -i s m p r o f e s s o r s a l m o s t a p o l o g e t i c abou t t e a c h i n g r e p o r t -ing , copy ed i t i ng and t y p o g r a p h y . A c t u a l l y , the t i m e to s t a r t a p o l o g i z i n g f o r the t e a c h i n g of j o u r n a l i s t i c t e c h -n i q u e s in c o l l e g e w i l l be when we h a v e a s u r p l u s of h igh ly s k i l l e d r e p o r t e r s , copy e d i t o r s and t y p o g r a p h e r s .

T h e p u r i s t s w a v e a w a y s u c h s t a t e m e n t s wi th the r e m a r k t h a t nA good m a n c a n p i ck up a l l he n e e d s to know abou t j o u r n a l i s m in a c i ty r o o m in a few m o n t h s . n

And t h a t f a v o r i t e r e p l y shows in i t s e l f a l a c k of a p p r e -c i a t i o n of the d i f f e r e n c e b e t w e e n du l l , s t e n o g r a p h i c p r o s e

* and c a r e f u l l y c r a f t e d s t o r i e s . It a l s o p r e s u m e s tha t c i ty s t a f f m e n , p a r t i c u l a r l y c i t y e d i t o r s : (a) a r e j u s t n a t u r -a l l y good t e a c h e r s ; (b) h a v e a l l the t i m e in the w o r l d t o h e l p c o n f u s e d young w r i t e r s , and (c) a r e j u s t dy ing t o s p e n d t i m e t e a c h i n g c o n f u s e d young w r i t e r s . But good c i t y e d i t o r s a r e u s u a l l y too . r u s h e d to t e a c h anybody a n d e x p e c t t h e i r young r e p o r t e r s to know qu i t e a b i t abou t news p a p e r i n g , p a r t i c u l a r l y w r i t i n g t e c h n i q u e s . T h e young m a n who i s n ! t w e l l g r o u n d e d in t e c h n i q u e s i s l i a b l e to b e c o m e d i s c o u r a g e d , o r f i r e d , or bo th (6, p . 8).

T h e c r i t i c i s m s m a d e by a l l m e d i a m e m b e r s in a l l a r e a s

s h o u l d be g iven c o n s i d e r a t i o n , a t l e a s t to the ex t en t of c a t e g o r i z i n g

10

t h e m s o t h a t t h e m o r e f r e q u e n t a n d s e r i o u s c h a r g e s e m e r g e a s s u c h .

T h e c r i t i c i s m s m a d e b y n e w s p a p e r m e n a b o u t b e g i n n i n g r e p o r t e r s

d e m a n d p a r t i c u l a r a t t e n t i o n b e c a u s e of the n u m b e r of j o u r n a l i s m

g r a d u a t e s e n t e r i n g t h a t m e d i u m . T h e N e w s p a p e r F u n d , I n c . (2)

r e p o r t s t h a t a p p r o x i m a t e l y 62 . 1 p e r c e n t of t h e j o u r n a l i s m g r a d u a t e s

of 1972 f o u n d e m p l o y m e n t in t he m a s s m e d i a . T h e l a r g e s t s h a r e , 22 . 9

p e r c e n t , w a s h i r e d b y d a i l y n e w s p a p e r s . T e l e v i s i o n h i r e d on ly 4 p e r

c e n t , r a d i o 3 . 2 p e r c e n t .

C i t y e d i t o r s 1 a t t i t u d e s w e r e a n a l y z e d b e c a u s e the c i t y e d i t o r

r e p r e s e n t s t h e l e v e l of n e w s p a p e r m a n a g e m e n t m o s t l i k e l y to b e in

c o n t i n u o u s c o n t a c t w i t h r e c e n t j o u r n a l i s m g r a d u a t e s a s t h e y b e g i n t h e i r

c a r e e r s . It i s t h e c i t y e d i t o r w h o t a k e s p l e a s u r e in gu id ing w e l l -

p r e p a r e d j o u r n a l i s t s o r b e a r s t h e d a i l y f r u s t r a t i o n s of t r a i n i n g t h o s e

w h o h a v e no t a c c o m p l i s h e d b a s i c s k i l l s b e f o r e e n t e r i n g the b u s i n e s s .

T h e c i t y e d i t o r is m o s t l i k e l y , t o o , to s e e a r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s a m p l e of

f o r m e r j o u r n a l i s m s t u d e n t s , s i n c e t he c i t y d e s k t r a d i t i o n a l l y s u p e r -

v i s e s t h e l a r g e s t n u m b e r of e m p l o y e e s i n a n e d i t o r i a l d e p a r t m e n t .

S t a t e m e n t of the P r o b l e m

T h i s s tudy w a s d e s i g n e d to d e t e r m i n e at t i tudes he ld hy

m e t r o p o l i t a n c i ty e d i t o r s in T e x a s toward c u r r e n t j o u r n a l i s m i n s t r u c -

t ion in c o l l e g e s and u n i v e r s i t i e s .

11

P u r p o s e s of the S tudy

T h e p u r p o s e s of t h i s s t u d y w e r e (1) to e x a m i n e c i ty e d i t o r s '

a t t i t u d e s t o w a r d j o u r n a l i s m e d u c a t i o n in g e n e r a l , (2) to e x a m i n e

s p e c i f i c a l l y c i t y e d i t o r s ' a t t i t u d e s t o w a r d the f u n c t i o n s of r e p o r t i n g

c o u r s e s , (3) to e l i c i t s u g g e s t i o n s and r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s f o r i m p r o v -

ing j o u r n a l i s m e d u c a t i o n , and (4) to e x p l o r e w a y s in w h i c h e d i t o r s

c a n m a k e a c o n t r i b u t i o n t o e d u c a t i o n in j o u r n a l i s m .

H y p o t h e s e s

T o c a r r y out the p u r p o s e s of t h i s s t u d y , the fo l lowing h y p o -

t h e s e s w e r e f o r m u l a t e d :

1. T h e c i t y e d i t o r s w i l l no t be c o n c e r n e d about w h e t h e r job

a p p l i c a n t s h a v e d e g r e e s .

2 T h e c i t y e d i t o r s ' p r e f e r e n c e s on d e g r e e s w i l l not be

d e t e r m i n e d b y w h e t h e r t h e y hold a d e g r e e t h e m s e l v e s .

3 . T h e c i t y e d i t o r s w i l l not b e c o n c e r n e d abou t w h e t h e r

a p p l i c a n t s ' d e g r e e s a r e e a r n e d in j o u r n a l i s m .

4 . T h e c i t y e d i t o r s ' p r e f e r e n c e s on j o u r n a l i s m d e g r e e s

w i l l not be d e t e r m i n e d by w h e t h e r t hey hold a j o u r n a l i s m d e g r e e t h e m -

s e l v e s .

5 . T h e c i t y e d i t o r s w i l l p r e f e r t h a t job a p p l i c a n t s have a

b r o a d l i b e r a l a r t s b a c k g r o u n d .

12

6 . T h e c i t y e d i t o r s w i l l p l a c e a h i g h d e g r e e of e m p h a s i s on

a p r a c t i c a l a p p r o a c h t o j o u r n a l i s m c o u r s e s ; s p e c i f i c a l l y , t h e y w i l l b e

m o r e i n t e r e s t e d in s k i l l s a n d t e c h n i q u e c o u r s e s t h a n in c o u r s e s w h i c h

d e a l w i t h r e s e a r c h a n d t h e o r y .

7 . T h e r e w i l l b e no s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e in t h e v a l u e p l a c e d

on j o u r n a l i s m c o u r s e s a c c o r d i n g t o t h e e d i t o r s 1 own d e g r e e s t a t u s .

8 . T h e r e w i l l b e n o s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e in t h e v a l u e p l a c e d

on c o m m u n i c a t i o n s r e s e a r c h a c c o r d i n g t o the n u m b e r of y e a r s of

e x p e r i e n c e t h e e d i t o r s h a v e , o r t h e i r f a m i l i a r i t y w i t h c u r r e n t p r o -

g r a m s of j o u r n a l i s m e d u c a t i o n .

9. T h e c i t y e d i t o r s w i l l r a t e t h e o v e r a l l s k i l l s of r e c e n t

j o u r n a l i s m g r a d u a t e s a d e q u a t e , b u t w i l l c i t e s o m e i n s t a n c e s w h e r e

t h e y a r e l e s s t h a n a d e q u a t e .

10. T h e r e w i l l b e a low d e g r e e of c o n t a c t b e t w e e n t h e c i t y

e d i t o r s a n d j o u r n a l i s m d e p a r t m e n t s , b u t a h i g h d e g r e e of i n t e r e s t in

m a k i n g m o r e c o n t a c t s .

B a c k g r o u n d a n d S i g n i f i c a n c e of S t u d y

J o u r n a l i s m A b s t r a c t s i n d i c a t e s a r e l a t i v e l y s m a l l a m o u n t of

s e r i o u s s t u d y h a s b e e n u n d e r t a k e n to d e t e r m i n e t h e r e a s o n s f o r t h e

c o n t i n u i n g c o n t r o v e r s y b e t w e e n e d i t o r s a n d e d u c a t o r s .

13

The two r e c e n t l i s t ings which would r e l a t e mos t c lo se ly to

th is s tudy a r e "Educa t ion f o r N e w s p a p e r m e n : The P r e f e r e n c e s of

W e s t Coas t Managing E d i t o r s , n a m a s t e r ' s t he s i s w r i t t e n by Susan

Tebbe in 1966 a t Oregon Un ive r s i t y , and nA Survey of O n - t h e - j o b

T r a i n i n g of J o u r n a l i s t s in the A m e r i c a n N e w s r o o m , " a m a s t e r ' s t he s i s

w r i t t e n by G r a n t Woodruff Heath a t the Un ive r s i ty of Utah in 1965. The

f o r m e r dea l s with w h e t h e r managing e d i t o r s p r e f e r that n e w s m e n

have d e g r e e s , and the l a t t e r s u r v e y s 170 n e w s p a p e r s on t h e i r t r a in ing

p r o g r a m s . Ne i the r dea l s d i r e c t l y with the ci ty ed i to r .

A l a r g e n u m b e r of a r t i c l e s u se fu l in r e s e a r c h i n g th is t he s i s

top ic a p p e a r e d in J o u r n a l i s m Q u a r t e r l y , Qui l l , and N i e m a n R e p o r t s

ove r the l a s t decade , r each ing a peak in 1969 when a to ta l of e leven

a r t i c l e s on j o u r n a l i s m educat ion (in a b r o a d s e n s e of the t e r m )

a p p e a r e d in the t h r e e pub l i ca t ions . The to ta l n u m b e r dropped to t h r e e

the fol lowing y e a r , and had r i s e n again to seven in 1972, indica t ing

a s o m e w h a t s p o r a d i c c o n c e r n .

T h e a r t i c l e s f a l l into the g e n e r a l c a t e g o r i e s of (1) ove ra l l

c r i t i c i s m of s c h o o l s of j o u r n a l i s m a s t r a i n i n g c e n t e r s f o r n e w s m e n ,

(2) c r i t i c i s m of c o u r s e o f f e r i n g s and m e t h o d s of t e a c h i n g , (3) the

r o l e of j o u r n a l i s m s c h o o l s and i n s t r u c t o r s a s c r i t i c s of the w o r k i n g

p r e s s , (4) the f e a s i b i l i t y of a d v i s o r y c o m m i t t e e s c o m p r i s e d of

1 4

e d i t o r s and e d u c a t o r s , and (5) con t inu ing e d u c a t i o n f o r p r a c t i c i n g

j o u r n a l i s t s .

T h e v i e w p o i n t of t h e a r t i c l e s v a r i e s p r i m a r i l y wi th the

a u t h o r ' s a f f i l i a t i o n wi th e i t h e r the w o r k i n g p r e s s o r the e d u c a t i o n a l

c o m m u n i t y , and wi th w h e t h e r the r e s e a r c h p r e c e d i n g the w r i t i n g w a s

of a f o r m a l o r an i n f o r m a l n a t u r e .

T h e one a r t i c l e w h i c h w a s c o n c e r n e d s p e c i f i c a l l y wi th c i ty

e d i t o r s (1, pp . 99-1021) w a s a c o m p a r a t i v e s t udy of the e v a l u a t i o n s

m a d e by the e d i t o r s and e d u c a t o r s of a s a m p l e of s t u d e n t w r i t i n g .

T h e a u t h o r s s t a t e i t wais a r a t h e r l i m i t e d and unsc i en t i f i c s t u d y .

L i m i t a t i o n s

T h e s t u d y w a s l i m i t e d to c i t y e d i t o r s on T e x a s n e w s p a p e r s

w i th c i r c u l a t i o n s o v e r 5 0 , 0 0 0 b e c a u s e t h e s e a r e the p a p e r s e m p l o y i n g

t h e l a r g e s t n u m b e r s of s t u d e n t s c o m i n g f r o m s c h o o l s of j o u r n a l i s m .

I t , w a s in the i n t e r e s t of c o n s i s t e n c y to s e t the l i m i t a t t ha t f i g u r e , t oo ,

s i n c e w h a t would b e a c i ty e d i t o r ' s r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s a r e f r e q u e n t l y

c a r r i e d out by a m a n a g i n g e d i t o r o r s o m e o n e wi th a n o t h e r t i t l e on a

s m a l l e r p a p e r . In s o m e i n s t a n c e s , the d e c i s i o n to inc lude a c i t y w a s

b a s e d on the c o m b i n e d c i r c u l a t i o n of m o r n i n g and even ing p a p e r s w h i c h

a r e e d i t o r i a l l y s e p a r a t e bu t c o r p o r a t e l y owned .

15

B a s i c A s s u m p t i o n s

I t i s a s s u m e d t h e s u b j e c t s r e s p o n d e d h o n e s t l y to t h e c l o s e

e n d e d q u e s t i o n s in t h e q u e s t i o n n a i r e a n d f e l t f r e e t o c o m m e n t on t h e i r

p a r t i c u l a r c r i t i c i s m s a n d e x p e c t a t i o n s w h e r e i n s u c h c o m m e n t s w e r e

s o l i c i t e d .

I n s t r u m e n t s

A n o p e n - e n d e d q u e s t i o n n a i r e ( s e e A p p e n d i x B) d e s i g n e d t o

e x t r a c t n e c e s s a r y i n f o r m a t i o n f r o m c i t y e d i t o r s w a s u s e d t o p a r t i a l l y

f u l f i l l t h e s t a t e d p u r p o s e s of t h i s s t u d y . T h e q u e s t i o n n a i r e a s k e d

f o r d e m o g r a p h i c d a t a on t h e e d i t o r s a n d t h e i r n e w s p a p e r , t h e i r d e g r e e

p r e f e r e n c e s , t h e i r e s t i m a t i o n of t h e a v e r a g e c o m p e t e n c y i n b a s i c

s k i l l s of t h e i r e m p l o y e e s w h o w e r e r e c e n t g r a d u a t e s of a s c h o o l of

j o u r n a l i s m , a n d t h e i r e s t i m a t i o n of t h e d e g r e e of e m p h a s i s t h a t s h o u l d

b e p l a c e d on t r a d i t i o n a l a r e a s of r e p o r t a g e . A l s o , i t a s k e d f o r t h e i r

e s t i m a t i o n of t h e d e g r e e of e m p h a s i s t h a t s h o u l d b e p l a c e d on a r e a s

of s t u d y r e l a t e d t o j o u r n a l i s m a n d on j o u r n a l i s m c o u r s e s . T h e q u e s -

t i o n n a i r e c o n c l u d e d w i t h q u e s t i o n s d e s i g n e d t o d e t e r m i n e t h e a m o u n t

of p a r t i c i p a t i o n t h e e d i t o r s h a d in c o l l e g e a n d u n i v e r s i t y j o u r n a l i s m

p r o g r a m s .

16

P r o c e d u r e s f o r C o l l e c t i o n of Data

T h e q u e s t i o n n a i r e s w e r e m a i l e d , a l ong wi th a c o v e r l e t t e r

( s e e A p p e n d i x A) , t o t w e n t y - s i x c i ty e d i t o r s w h o s e n e w s p a p e r s m e t

the c i r c u l a t i o n r e q u i r e m e n t s s e t f o r t h . The 1972 E d i t o r and P u b l i s h e r

Y e a r b o o k w a s u s e d a s a gu ide f o r c o m p i l i n g the m a i l i n g l i s t

(Appendix C) . T e l e p h o n e c o n t a c t s w e r e m a d e b e f o r e the q u e s t i o n -

n a i r e s w e r e m a i l e d to e n c o u r a g e t h e i r r e t u r n . P o s t c a r d s w e r e s e n t

a s r e m i n d e r s to t h o s e no t r e s p o n d i n g w i th in a w e e k , and a s e c o n d

p o s t c a r d w a s s e n t to t h o s e not r e s p o n d i n g w i th in two w e e k s .

P r o c e d u r e s f o r A n a l y s i s of Da ta

T h e da ta c o l l e c t e d w e r e a n a l y z e d in the fo l lowing m a n n e r :

1. Q u e s t i o n 6 , d e s i g n e d to a s c e r t a i n a t t i t u d e s t o w a r d p r e -

p a r a t i o n in b a s i c r e p o r t i n g s k i l l s , w a s a n a l y z e d in t e r m s of the e d i t o r s

r e s p o n d i n g in e a c h of f o u r p o s s i b l e w a y s . T h e s k i l l s l i s t e d w e r e t hen

c o m p a r e d w i t h e a c h o t h e r . W h e n a p p r o p r i a t e , s o m e of the s k i l l s

w e r e c o l l a p s e d .

2 . Q u e s t i o n 7, d e s i g n e d to d e t e r m i n e a t t i t u d e s t o w a r d w h i c h

s p e c i f i c a r e a s of r e p o r t i n g shou ld be e m p h a s i z e d , w a s a n a l y z e d in

t e r m s of t h e e d i t o r s r e s p o n d i n g in e a c h of f o u r p o s s i b l e w a y s . T h e

a r e a s l i s t e d w e r e t hen c o m p a r e d wi th e a c h o t h e r . When a p p r o p r i a t e ,

s o m e of the a r e a s w e r e c o l l a p s e d .

17

3. Q u e s t i o n 8, d e s i g n e d to d e t e r m i n e a t t i t u d e s t o w a r d

w h i c h c o u r s e s of s t u d y r e l a t e d to j o u r n a l i s m shou ld b e e m p h a s i z e d ,

w a s a n a l y z e d in t e r m s of the e d i t o r s r e s p o n d i n g in e a c h of f o u r p o s s i -

b l e w a y s . T h e c o u r s e s w e r e t hen c o m p a r e d wi th e a c h o t h e r . W h e n

a p p r o p r i a t e , s o m e of the c o u r s e s w e r e c o l l a p s e d ,

4 . Q u e s t i o n 9, d e s i g n e d to d e t e r m i n e wh ich j o u r n a l i s m

c o u r s e s the r e s p o n d e n t s f e l t w e r e m o s t i m p o r t a n t f o r the r e p o r t e r ,

w a s a n a l y z e d in t e r m s of w h i c h c o u r s e s r e c e i v e d the h i g h e s t and low-

e s t r a t i n g s of s e m e s t e r h o u r s .

Q u e s t i o n s d e s i g n e d to e l i c i t d e m o g r a p h i c da t a w e r e u s e d to

c o m p i l e g r o u p s of e d i t o r s . T h e g r o u p s , t h e n , w e r e u s e d to c o m p a r e

v a r y i n g r e s p o n s e s to Q u e s t i o n s 6 - 9 . Q u e s t i o n s d e s i g n e d to d e t e r m i n e

t h e e d i t o r s 1 d e g r e e of p a r t i c i p a t i o n in j o u r n a l i s m e d u c a t i o n w e r e u s e d

a d d i t i o n a l l y to m a k e s o m e c o n c l u s i o n s abou t how the e d i t o r - e d u c a t o r

c o n t r o v e r s y m i g h t be r e s o l v e d .

T h e u n s t r u c t u r e d p o r t i o n s of the q u e s t i o n n a i r e , w h e r e

r e s p o n d e n t s m a d e c o m m e n t s , w e r e a n a l y z e d f o r a t t i t u d e s and op in ions

%

t h a t w e r e not r e v e a l e d in , o r a d d e d to , i n f o r m a t i o n ga ined in the

s t r u c t u r e d p o r t i o n s . A d d i t i o n a l l y , r e p l i e s to the q u e s t i o n n a i r e w e r e

c o m p a r e d wi th wha t h a s b e e n w r i t t e n by e d u c a t o r s and e d i t o r s in the

l i t e r a t u r e r e v i e w e d .

C H A P T E R B I B L I O G R A P H Y

1. B a r t o n , P a u l a n d B . J . L a e u f e r , " T h e E d i t o r a n d t h e P r o f e s s o r R a t e S t u d e n t W r i t i n g , " J o u r n a l i s m Q u a r t e r l y , 4 1 ( W i n t e r , 1964) , 9 9 - 1 0 2 .

2 . T h e D a l l a s M o r n i n g N e w s , A p r i l 9, 1973 , S e c . A , p . 7 .

3 . D u n c a n , C h a r l e s T . , ' S o m e B a s i c R e a l i t i e s in J o u r n a l i s m E d u c a -t i o n , " J o u r n a l i s m Q u a r t e r l y , 38 ( A u t u m n , 1961) , 5 2 0 - 5 2 6 .

4 . G a l b r a i t h , W i l l i a m , J r . , p . 14, c i t e d in W i l l i a m P . S t e v e n , " T h e S o c i a l R e s p o n s i b i l i t y of t h e P r e s s , " N i e m a n R e p o r t s , X X I ( J u n e , 1967) , 1 2 - 1 8 .

5 . K r i e g h b a u m , H i l l i e r , ' T h e A E J P r e s i d e n t i a l P a p e r , " J o u r n a l i s m Q u a r t e r l y , 4 9 ( W i n t e r , 1972) , 8 0 5 - 8 0 8 .

6 . L i n d l e y , W i l l i a m , " M a k i n g J o u r n a l i s m I n t e r e s t i n g , " N i e m a n R e p o r t s , XV ( A p r i l , 1961) , 6 - 8 .

7 . M e r r i l l , J o h n , p . 10, c i t e d in W i l l i a m S e x t o n , " E d u c a t i o n f o r J o u r n a l i s m , T h e S e c o n d C e n t u r y , " Q u i l l , 57 ( F e b r u a r y , 1969) , 8 - 2 5 .

8 . M a c L e a n , M a l c o l m S . , T h o m a s D a n b u r y , a n d J o h n T . M c N e l l y , " A E J M e m b e r s a n d T h e i r A t t i t u d e s on J o u r n a l i s m E d u c a t i o n I s s u e s , " J o u r n a l i s m Q u a r t e r l y , 42 ( W i n t e r , 1965) , 9 8 -1 0 7 .

9 . O d e n d a h l , E r i c , " W h a t Do E d i t o r ' s T h i n k of T o d a y ' s J o u r n a l i s m G r a d u a t e s ? " Q u i l l , 3 ( J u n e , 1965) , 3 2 - 3 3 .

10. S a a l b e r g , H a r v e y , " J - S c h o o l s S e a r c h f o r W a y s t o A l l e v i a t e O v e r -c r o w d i n g , " E d i t o r a n d P u b l i s h e r , CVI ( J a n u a r y 2 7 , 1973) , 1 0 - 1 4 .

18

19

11. S c h l a v e r , C l a r e n c e O. , " T o o Many B o d i e s , T o o L i t t l e M o n e y - -J - D e a n s W o r r y bu t C a r r y on, 11 Q u i l l , 59 ( J a n u a r y , 1971), 8 - 1 2 .

12. S e x t o n , W i l l i a m C. , ' E d u c a t i o n f o r J o u r n a l i s m , The Second C e n t u r y , " Q u i l l , 57 ( F e b r u a r y , 1969), 8 - 2 5 .

13. S t r e n t z , H e r b e r t , " C o m p e t e n t J o u r n a l i s m , S o m e T h o u g h t s on t h e C l a s s r o o m , the N e w s r o o m and the ' R e a l W o r l d , 1 " Q u i l l , 58 ( S e p t e m b e r , 1970), 12 -14 .

14. T e b b e l , J o h n , " J o u r n a l i s m E d u c a t i o n : Myth and R e a l i t y , " Q u i l l , 54 ( J a n u a r y , 1966), 6 - 7 .

15. W i l s o n , Avon , " C h a n g i n g P r e s s u r e s f o r G r a p h i c A r t s in J o u r n a l i s m E d u c a t i o n , " J o u r n a l i s m Q u a r t e r l y , 45 ( W i n t e r , 1968), 7 3 8 - 7 4 1 .

C H A P T E R II

OVERVIEW

T w e n t y - t h r e e (88 p e r cen t ) of the t w e n t y - s i x c i ty e d i t o r s

to w h o m m a t e r i a l s w e r e m a i l e d r e s p o n d e d . T w e n t y - t w o (85 p e r

cen t ) of the q u e s t i o n n a i r e s w e r e r e t u r n e d ; one e d i t o r w r o t e a l e t t e r .

S ix e d i t o r s r e s p o n d e d wi th in one w e e k of the i n i t i a l m a i l i n g .

F o l l o w i n g the m a i l i n g of p o s t c a r d s a s r e m i n d e r s , t h i r t e e n m o r e

r e p l i e d . T h u s , two w e e k s a f t e r the q u e s t i o n n a i r e s had gone out ,

n i n e t e e n r e p l i e s w e r e r e c e i v e d . At t h i s t i m e , a s e c o n d p o s t c a r d

w a s s e n t to t h o s e who had no t ye t r e s p o n d e d . One m o r e r e p l y w a s

r e c e i v e d d u r i n g the n e x t t e n d a y s . T h r e e q u e s t i o n n a i r e s w e r e r e t u r n e d

a f t e r t h i s t i m e , too l a t e t o be u s e d f o r s t a t i s t i c a l a n a l y s i s of the da ta

c o n t a i n e d on t h e m .

T h e n i n e t e e n e d i t o r s r e t u r n i n g q u e s t i o n n a i r e s s u p e r v i s e an

a v e r a g e 18 .2 e m p l o y e e s e a c h . T h e r e , w e r e s i x e d i t o r s h a v i n g m o r e

t h a n t w e n t y e m p l o y e e s u n d e r t h e i r s u p e r v i s i o n . In e igh t c a s e s , c i t y

e d i t o r s s h a r e d s u p e r v i s i o n of s o m e e m p l o y e e s b e c a u s e they have s o m e

who w o r k f o r bo th a m o r n i n g and even ing ed i t ion of the s a m e p a p e r .

20

21

S e v e n t y - n i n e p e r c e n t of the n i n e t e e n e d i t o r s p a r t i c i p a t e in the f i n a l

d e c i s i o n of w h e t h e r to h i r e j ob a p p l i c a n t s .

T h e e d i t o r s f r e q u e n t l y u s e d the u n s t r u c t u r e d p o r t i o n s of the

q u e s t i o n n a i r e to add c o m m e n t s , s e v e r a l of w h i c h w e r e abou t the

s t u d y i t s e l f . l ! T h e s e a r e t o p i c s we h a v e d i s c u s s e d h e r e o f t e n , " one

e d i t o r w r o t e a s a c o n c l u s i o n to h i s q u e s t i o n n a i r e . "I t r i e d to a n s w e r

the q u e s t i o n s r e a l i s t i c a l l y , s i n c e t h i s h a s b e e n the g r e a t e s t f a u l t of

m o s t J - g r a d s w e ' v e h a d h e r e ; t h e y have b e e n u n r e a l i s t i c . M

One e d i t o r s a i d it wou ld b e p o s s i b l e to s u r v e y h e r s t a f f , t oo ,

if t h a t would be h e l p f u l . A n o t h e r e d i t o r s a i d he would w e l c o m e a

p e r s o n a l v i s i t if a n y d e e p e r or m o r e e x t e n s i v e v i e w s of h i s f e e l i n g s

w e r e n e e d e d . T w o w r o t e l e t t e r s to a c c o m p a n y t h e i r q u e s t i o n n a i r e s .

" F o r s o m e t i m e , I ' v e b e e n c o n c e r n e d abou t the l a ck of p r o f e s s i o n a l -

i s m in ou r f i e l d , 11 one e d i t o r c o m m e n t e d in h i s l e t t e r . " O b v i o u s l y ,

the only w a y we c a n c o m e to g r i p s wi th the p r o b l e m is to b e g i n on the

J - s c h o o l l e v e l , " he c o n c l u d e d . He a s k e d to be a p p r i s e d of the

r e s u l t s of t h e s u r v e y , and s u g g e s t e d the s t u d y m i g h t b e u s e f u l to the

T e x a s D a i l y N e w s p a p e r A s s o c i a t i o n .

T h e o t h e r e d i t o r who w r o t e an a c c o m p a n y i n g l e t t e r b e g a n

b y c o m m e n t i n g t h a t s o m e of h is op in ions m i g h t f a l l ou t s ide the i n t en t

and s c o p e of the s u r v e y . " B u t , u n f o r t u n a t e l y , i t is a r a r e o c c a s i o n

w h e n the c i ty e d i t o r of a da i ly n e w s p a p e r is o f f e r e d an oppo r tun i t y to

22

c o m m u n i c a t e d i r e c t l y wi th a j o u r n a l i s m e d u c a t o r , 1 1 he e x p l a i n e d .

He o f f e r e d t h e s e o b s e r v a t i o n s abou t young j o u r n a l i s m g r a d u a t e s :

(1) M o s t of t h e m c o m e to the p r o f e s s i o n wi th a s t a r r y - e y e d c o n c e p t of how th ings ought to be r a t h e r t h a n how th ings r e a l l y a r e . T h e y a r e i n i t i a l l y unab le to a d a p t to the v a r i a b l e s and u n c e r t a i n t i e s tha t p l ague a l l d a i l y n e w s p a p e r s . T h e y s e e m to f o r g e t tha t w h a t ' s h a p p e n i n g on the s t r e e t h a s l i t t l e o r no r e l a t i o n to the s h e l t e r e d a c a d e m i c c o m m u n i t y . M u r d e r s a r e not s c h e -d u l e d , N e i t h e r a r e o b i t u a r i e s n o r r a p e s . . . t he c o m -m u n i t y a t l a r g e is not the s a m e o r d e r e d e n v i r o n m e n t one e n c o u n t e r s in t h e u n i v e r s i t y .

(2) T h e " p r i m a donna11 s y n d r o m e , I f e e l , is a d i r e c t r e s u l t of young j o u r n a l i s m g r a d u a t e s not r e a l i z -ing the i m p o r t a n c e of the t o t a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y of the n e w s -p a p e r to the c o m m u n i t y it s e r v e s , . # . T h e y c a n ! t s e e m to c o m p r e h e n d tha t the p a p e r i s a r e c o r d - - a n h i s -t o r i c a l r e c o r d of t he c o m m u n i t y f r o m the w o m b to the t o m b ,

(3) Y o u ' v e got to c r a w l b e f o r e you w a l k . . . bu t t he young j o u r n a l i s t f r e s h out of co l l ege who h a s s p e n t two or t h r e e y e a r s a s a s t a f f e r on the s c h o o l n e w s -p a p e r f e e l s h e ha s c r a w l e d f a r enough . He th inks he is W a l t e r C r o n k i t e o r D a m o n Eunyon the f i r s t day on the j ob . If you t r y to e x p l a i n to h i m t h a t h i s s t o r y ha s to b e b a c k e d by f a c t s r a t h e r than opin ion , he a c c u s e s t h e e d i t o r s and the p a p e r of b e i n g n m a r r i e d n t o the s o - c a l l e d ^ e s t a b l i s h m e n t 1 ' and w a l k s a w a y in a huf f .

T h i s p a r t i c u l a r e d i t o r w a s one of two who a p p a r e n t l y f e l t i t

wou ld b e u s e f u l to i n c l u d e i n f o r m a t i o n abou t t h e m s e l v e s . ' 'Be fo re you

t a k e m e a s a c r u s t y , h a r d - c o r e old f u d d y - d u d d y , 11 t h i s one a d d e d , n I

a m only 30 y e a r s old m y s e l f . And it h a s b e e n only a v e r y few y e a r s

s i n c e I s t u m b l e d out of c o l l e g e and in to the j o u r n a l i s m p r o f e s s i o n , 11

23

T h e o t h e r e d i t o r who o f f e r e d i n f o r m a t i o n abou t h i m s e l f w r o t e :

Desp i t e i m p r e s s i o n s g iven , I a m only 25, qu i t e l i b e r a l p o l i t i c a l l y a n d s o c i a l l y , have s p e n t s ix y e a r s e d i t i n g h igh s c h o o l t h r o u g h u n i v e r s i t y p u b l i c a t i o n s and have s p e n t t he p a s t f i v e y e a r s a s w i r e e d i t o r w o r k i n g s i d e - b y -s i d e wi th c i t y e d i t o r s or a s a c i t y e d i t o r . I have b e e n a t t e n d i n g c o l l e g e p a r t - t i m e f o r the p a s t f o u r y e a r s and a m n e a r i n g a j o u r n a l i s m d e g r e e , a n d , h o p e f u l l y , a g o v e r n -m e n t d e g r e e . I s y m p a t h i z e wi th j o u r n a l i s m p r o f e s s o r s , bu t r e c e n t e x p e r i e n c e h a s c o n v i n c e d m e t h e o r y m u s t not o v e r s h a d o w m e c h a n i c s and c l a s s r o o m a t m o s p h e r e c a n ' t b e e x p e c t e d on the job .

I n t h e p r o f i l e g r o u p s to b e d i s c u s s e d in th i s c h a p t e r , bo th of

the a b o v e e d i t o r s w e r e in the g r o u p of e d i t o r s h a v i n g f i v e o r f e w e r

y e a r s of e x p e r i e n c e in the n e w s p a p e r b u s i n e s s . Both w e r e in the

g r o u p w h i c h f e l t a d e g r e e w a s not n e c e s s a r i l y n e e d e d , n o r tha t it

n e c e s s a r i l y n e e d e d to be in j o u r n a l i s m if o b t a i n e d . The one who he ld

a d e g r e e h a d e a r n e d i t in E n g l i s h . The l a t t e r e d i t o r c i t e d q u a l i f i e d

f o r the g r o up c o n s i d e r e d to h a v e a high d e g r e e of p a r t i c i p a t i o n in the

e d u c a t i o n a l p r o c e s s of co l l ege and u n i v e r s i t y j o u r n a l i s m s t u d e n t s .

T h e f i r s t q u a l i f i e d only on one po in t , t h a t he would be i n t e r e s t e d in

m e e t i n g wifch e d u c a t o r s t o d i s c u s s j o u r n a l i s m i n s t r u c t i o n .

T o e v a l u a t e t h o r o u g h l y the r e s u l t s of t h e q u e s t i o n n a i r e ,

g r o u p s of e d i t o r s w e r e e s t a b l i s h e d in f o u r a r e a s . T h e g r o u p s w e r e

c o n c e r n e d w i t h the n u m b e r of y e a r s of e x p e r i e n c e e d i t o r s h a d , t h e i r

p r e f e r e n c e s on d e g r e e s , t h e i r own e d u c a t i o n a l b a c k g r o u n d s , and how

a c t i v e they* w e r e in the j o u r n a l i s m p r o g r a m s of c o l l e g e s and

24

u n i v e r s i t i e s . In the c a s e of e x p e r i e n c e , e d i t o r s w e r e b r o k e n down

i n t o g r o u p s of t h o s e who had f e w e r than f i ve y e a r s , t h o s e who had

s i x to f i f t een y e a r s , a n d t h o s e who had m o r e t han f i f teen y e a r s . W h e r e

p r e f e r e n c e on d e g r e e s w a s c o n c e r n e d , e d i t o r s w e r e g r o u p e d a c c o r d i n g

t o w h e t h e r t h e y c o n s i d e r e d a d e g r e e a n e c e s s i t y and a c c o r d i n g to

w h e t h e r t h e y b e l i e v e d i t shou ld b e e a r n e d in j o u r n a l i s m o r a n o t h e r a r e a .

T h e i r own e d u c a t i o n a l b a c k g r o u n d s d e t e r m i n e d w h e t h e r t h e y wou ld b e

p l a c e d in t h e g r o u p of j o u r n a l i s m g r a d u a t e s , n o n - j o u r n a l i s m g r a d u a t e s ,

or n o n - g r a d u a t e s . One g r o u p w a s f o r m e d f r o m i n f o r m a t i o n on how

a c t i v e t he e d i t o r s w e r e in j o u r n a l i s m p r o g r a m s , t h i s b e i n g the g r o u p

c o n s i d e r e d to have a h igh d e g r e e of i n v o l v e m e n t in j o u r n a l i s m e d u c a -

t i o n .

E x p e r i e n c e

N i n e t e e n e d i t o r s r e s p o n d e d to t he q u e s t i o n on e x p e r i e n c e .

T h e a v e r a g e n u m b e r of y e a r s w a s 16. 9. T h r e e e d i t o r s h a d f i v e o r

f e w e r y e a r s of e x p e r i e n c e ; s ix h a d s i x to f i f t e e n y e a r s ; t e n had m o r e

t h a n f i f t e e n y e a r s . ^

T h e a v e r a g e n u m b e r of y e a r s a s a c i t y e d i t o r or a n a s s i s t a n t

c i t y e d i t o r w a s s i x .

W i t h the e x c e p t i o n of the 2 . 5 y e a r s one e d i t o r had w o r k e d

o u t s i d e T e x a s , the c u m u l a t i v e t o t a l of 321 y e a r s of e x p e r i e n c e

25 .

r e p r e s e n t e d in t h i s s t udy w a s ga ined in T e x a s . T a k i n g in to c o n -

s i d e r a t i o n , a l s o , t h a t only t h r e e e d i t o r s h e l d d e g r e e s f r o m s c h o o l s

o u t s i d e T e x a s , i t can b e c o n c l u d e d t h a t the s u b j e c t s of t h i s s t udy a r e a

r a t h e r i n b r e d g r o u p .

D e g r e e P r e f e r e n c e

The r e s p o n d e n t s w e r e abou t e q u a l l y d iv ided on w h e t h e r job

a p p l i c a n t s s h o u l d h a v e c o l l e g e d e g r e e s . Of t w e n t y r e p l y i n g , 55 p e r

cen t s a i d a p p l i c a n t s g e n e r a l l y shou ld h a v e d e g r e e s ; 45 p e r c e n t s a i d a

d e g r e e w a s not n e c e s s a r i l y a r e q u i r e m e n t by t h e i r s t a n d a r d s . One

r e s p o n d e n t to the q u e s t i o n on d e g r e e p r e f e r e n c e did not o f f e r any i n f o r -

m a t i o n on h i s own e d u c a t i o n a l b a c k g r o u n d .

H y p o t h e s i s One , w h i c h s t a t e d t ha t e d i t o r s would not b e c o n -

c e r n e d wi th w h e t h e r a p p l i c a n t s h a v e a d e g r e e is n e i t h e r p r o v e n nor d i s -

p r o v e n s i n c e t h e r e is only a 10 p e r cen t d e g r e e d i f f e r e n c e in op in ion .

H y p o t h e s i s T w o , w h i c h s t a t e d e d i t o r s 1 d e g r e e p r e f e r e n c e s wou ld not be

d e t e r m i n e d b y t h e i r own d e g r e e s t a t u s is p r o v e n b y the l ack of a s i g n i -

f i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e in op in ion , a s c a n be. s e e n in T a b l e I.

S e v e n t y - f i v e p e r c e n t of the e d i t o r s i n d i c a t e d tha t w h e n a n

a p p l i c a n t has a d e g r e e , i t is not of p a r t i c u l a r i m p o r t a n c e t ha t the

d e g r e e b e in j o u r n a l i s m . T w e n t y - f i v e p e r cen t s a i d the d e g r e e

g e n e r a l l y s h o u l d be in j o u r n a l i s m .

26

TABLE I

OPINIONS ON WHETHER JOB APPLICANTS SHOULD HAVE DEGREES, CLASSIFIED B y DEGREE STATUS OF

RESPONDENTS

R espon dents Opinions

R espon dents Applicant Should

Have D e g r e e Applicant Need not

Have Degree

T h o s e Who Hold D e g r e e s 8 6

T h o s e Who Do not Hold 3 2 D e g r e e s

Hypothes is T h r e e , which stated that edi tors would not be con-

c e r n e d about the area in which an applicant had earned his degree is

proven s i n c e 50 per cent more did not care whether the degree was in

j o u r n a l i s m than did. Hypothesis Four , which stated ed i tors ' p r e f e r -

e n c e s on j o u r n a l i s m d e g r e e s would not be determined by whether they

had a j o u r n a l i s m degree is proven by the lack of a s igni f icant d i f ference

in opinion, as can be s e e n in Table II.

T w o of the e d i t o r s who f e l t a d e g r e e in j o u r n a l i s m w a s not an

a d v a n t a g e e x p r e s s e d s t r o n g e r f e e l i n g s about i t t han did the o t h e r s in

t ha t g r o u p . T h e s e two w e r e e d i t o r s of s e p a r a t e m o r n i n g and

even ing ed i t i ons of the s a m e p a p e r . One of t h e m c o m m e n t e d , "We

h a v e had b e t t e r e x p e r i e n c e wi th p e r s o n s with b r o a d educa t ion . n He

27

he ld a b a c h e l o r of s c i e n c e d e g r e e in e d u c a t i o n wi th a m a j o r in E n g l i s h

a n d a m i n o r in p o l i t i c a l s c i e n c e . He a l s o he ld a n a s s o c i a t e d e g r e e

in n u r s i n g . He a d d e d t h a t h i s m a n a g i n g e d i t o r had a d e g r e e in

c h e m i s t r y and a g r o n o m y , and the w i r e e d i t o r had a d e g r e e in p h y s i c s

and w a s p u r s u i n g a n o t h e r in a r t .

T A B L E II

OPINIONS ON WHETHER JOB APPLICANTS' DEGREE SHOULD BE IN JOURNALISM, CLASSIFIED B y DEGREE STATUS OF

RESPONDENTS

R e s p o n d e n t s Op in ions

R e s p o n d e n t s D e g r e e Should Be

in J o u r n a l i s m D e g r e e N e e d not Be

in J o u r n a l i s m

Hold J o u r n a l i s m D e g r e e 4 6

Hold D e g r e e in A n o t h e r A r e a

0 4

Hold No D e g r e e 1 4

S e v e r a l e d i t o r s q u a l i f i e d their- r e p l i e s t h a t j o u r n a l i s m d e g r e e s

w e r e not n e c e s s a r y . One s a i d a l m o s t any m a j o r w a s a c c e p t a b l e , bu t

t h e a p p l i c a n t s h o u l d h a v e a t l e a s t a s t r o n g m i n o r in j o u r n a l i s m .

A n o t h e r s a i d the p r o s p e c t " s h o u l d t a k e b a s i c s , s u c h . a s r e p o r t i n g ,

f e a t u r e w r i t i n g , t y p o g r a p h y and law of t h e p r e s s . "

28

T w o c i ty e d i t o r s of n e w s p a p e r s in the s a m e c i ty w i th o v e r

2 0 0 , 000 c i r c u l a t i o n w e r e a m o n g the m i n o r i t y who b e l i e v e d d e g r e e s

in j o u r n a l i s m w e r e p r e f e r a b l e . "J c o u r s e s a l o n e a r e i n a d e q u a t e , "

one s a i d , b u t e x p l a i n e d , "We d o n ' t have t i m e to t r a i n t h e m in r u d i -

m e n t s of j o u r n a l i s m . " T h e o t h e r s a i d a p p l i c a n t s s h o u l d h a v e d e g r e e s

b e c a u s e " i t t a k e s m o r e p e r s o n a l m o t i v a t i o n f o r t h o s e who d o n ' t , p lus

a g r e a t d e a l of n a t u r a l t a l e n t . " T h e d e g r e e shou ld b e in j o u r n a l i s m ,

h e s a i d , b e c a u s e " t h o s e r e c e i v i n g a d e g r e e in j o u r n a l i s m s e e m to

s e n s e a n e e d f o r a b r o a d e r i n t e r e s t r a n g e and go a f t e r i t . "

O n e r e s p o n d e n t o f f e r e d t h e s e c o m m e n t s :

I h a v e a m i x e d b a g h e r e , s o to s p e a k . T h e b e s t of t h e lot is a 2 5 - y e a r - o l d Ivy L e a g u e g r a d u a t e , not a j o u r n a l i s m g r a d . A n o t h e r , 23 , a t t e n d e d c o l l e g e two y e a r s , no j o u r n a l i s m c o u r s e s . H e ' s d e v e l o p e d in to a f i n e r e p o r t e r and a c a p a b l e w r i t e r w i th a f l a i r f o r c l a r i t y a n d s t o r y o r g a n i z a t i o n .

T h r e e o t h e r s , a l l J - s c h o o l g r a d s , s o f a r a r e t r y -ing . T h e y show i n t e l l i g e n c e , and w e ' r e t r y i n g to t r a i n t h e m .

W e ' v e h a d two J - g r a d s h e r e w i th m a s t e r ' s d e g r e e s and w e ' v e le t t h e m go. T h e y l a c k e d c u r i o s i t y , love f o r the w r i t t e n w o r d and the m o s t p r e c i o u s q u a l i t y of a l l , t h e a b i l i t y to w r i t e a s i m p l e d e c l a r a t i v e s e n t e n c e t h a t s a y s e x a c t l y w h a t the w r i t e r i n t e n d s to s a y .

T h e e d i t o r s m e n t i o n e d a wide v a r i e t y of m a j o r s o t h e r t h a n

j o u r n a l i s m t h e y wou ld c o n s i d e r w h e n s e l e c t i n g e m p l o y e e s . E n g l i s h

w a s the m o s t f r e q u e n t l y l i s t e d (12 t i m e s ) , f o l l o w e d by p o l i t i c a l

s c i e n c e (9) , h i s t o r y (8), b u s i n e s s a n d / o r e c o n o m i c s (6), and

2 9

g o v e r n m e n t (4). M e n t i o n e d tw ice e a c h w e r e s o c i o l o g y and p h y s i c a l

s c i e n c e . M e n t i o n e d once e a c h w e r e s o c i a l s c i e n c e , p s y c h o l o g y ,

e d u c a t i o n , l aw , a g r i c u l t u r e , and o c e a n o g r a p h y .

E d u c a t i o n a l B a c k g r o u n d s

F o u r t e e n of the n i n e t e e n c i ty e d i t o r s r e p l y i n g to the q u e s t i o n

on e d u c a t i o n a l b a c k g r o u n d h e l d d e g r e e s . Only two he ld m a s t e r ' s

d e g r e e s , one in j o u r n a l i s m f r o m the U n i v e r s i t y of T e x a s and the

o t h e r in p o l i t i c a l s c i e n c e f r o m C o l u m b i a .

T h e r e w a s no d e m o n s t r a b l e d i f f e r e n c e in the w a y t h o s e who

h a d m a s t e r ' s d e g r e e s and t h o s e who had b a c h e l o r ' s d e g r e e s or no

d e g r e e a n s w e r e d q u e s t i o n s . On d e g r e e p r e f e r e n c e , one who h e l d a

m a s t e r ' s d e g r e e s a i d he though t a d e g r e e w a s not a n e c e s s i t y . T h e

o t h e r h o l d e r of a m a s t e r ' s d e g r e e s a i d he though t a d e g r e e g e n e r a l l y

s h o u l d b e a r e q u i r e m e n t . N e i t h e r though t it w a s a p a r t i c u l a r a d v a n -

t a g e t o ob ta in i t in j o u r n a l i s m .

F i v e of t h e b a c h e l o r ' s d e g r e e s w e r e in j o u r n a l i s m , f o u r

w e r e in E n g l i s h , and two w e r e a c o m b i n a t i o n of j o u r n a l i s m and E n g -

l i s h . One w a s a c o m b i n a t i o n of j o u r n a l i s m and e c o n o m i c s . One

w a s in h i s t o r y a n d one w a s in e d u c a t i o n .

T h r e e of the f o u r t e e n e d i t o r s h a d e a r n e d d e g r e e s a t s c h o o l s

o u t s i d e of T e x a s . One m a n h a d done h i s u n d e r g r a d u a t e w o r k a t the

30

U n i v e r s i t y of M i s s o u r i and h i s g r a d u a t e w o r k a t C o l u m b i a . One

e d i t o r had done u n d e r g r a d u a t e w o r k a t H a r v a r d , a n o t h e r a t N o t r e

D a m e .

M o r e r e s p o n d e n t s had a t t e n d e d N o r t h T e x a s S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y

( fou r ) and the U n i v e r s i t y of T e x a s a t A u s t i n ( t h r e e ) t h a n any o t h e r

s c h o o l s . T w o had a t t e n d e d M i d w e s t e r n U n i v e r s i t y . L i s t e d once

e a c h w e r e T e x a s C h r i s t i a n U n i v e r s i t y , T e x a s T e c h U n i v e r s i t y , the

U n i v e r s i t y of T e x a s a t A r l i n g t o n , the U n i v e r s i t y of T e x a s a t E l P a s o ,

T e x a s A & I U n i v e r s i t y , W e s t T e x a s S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y , S t . E d w a r d T s

U n i v e r s i t y , A n g e l o S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y , L a m a r S ta t e C o l l e g e , O d e s s a

J u n i o r C o l l e g e , G e o r g e W a s h i n g t o n U n i v e r s i t y , and Iowa W e s l e y a n .

P a r t i c i p a t i o n in J o u r n a l i s m E d u c a t i o n

C i ty e d i t o r s w e r e a s k e d s e v e r a l q u e s t i o n s to d e t e r m i n e

t h e i r d e g r e e of p a r t i c i p a t i o n in c o l l e g e and u n i v e r s i t y p r o g r a m s of

j o u r n a l i s m e d u c a t i o n . T h e y w e r e a s k e d to s p e c i f y w h e n they l a s t

v i s i t e d a s c h o o l of j o u r n a l i s m , w h e t h e r they v i s i t e d f r e q u e n t l y , and

w h a t the purposes of t h e i r v i s i t s w e r e . v T h e y w e r e a l s o a s k e d to s p e -

c i f y w h e n they l a s t w e r e i nv i t ed to v i s i t a s c h o o l of j o u r n a l i s m and

w h e t h e r t h e y would l i k e to m e e t wi th o t h e r p r a c t i c i n g j o u r n a l i s t s and

j o u r n a l i s m i n s t r u c t o r s to d i s c u s s j o u r n a l i s m e d u c a t i o n . T h i s s e r i e s

31

of q u e s t i o n s r e c e i v e d the l e a s t r e s p o n s e of any on the q u e s t i o n -

n a i r e .

L a s t v i s i t s t o a s c h o o l of j o u r n a l i s m r a n g e d f r o m "a few d a y s

a g o " t o " f i v e o r s i x y e a r s a g o . " One m a n s a i d he c o u l d n ' t r e m e m b e r

w h e n he m a d e h i s l a s t v i s i t ; one s a i d he had n e v e r v i s i t e d . E i g h t of

s i x t e e n r e p l y i n g to the q u e s t i o n h a d v i s i t e d a s c h o o l of j o u r n a l i s m

w i t h i n the l a s t y e a r ; f i v e (of the s a m e e igh t ) s a i d they v i s i t e d one a t

l e a s t once a y e a r . T o t h e q u e s t i o n of f r e q u e n c y of v i s i t s , one e d i t o r

r e p l i e d , " B y c h o i c e , r a r e l y if e v e r . " T h i s e d i t o r , i n c i d e n t a l l y , h e l d

a m a s t e r ' s d e g r e e in j o u r n a l i s m . M o s t v i s i t s w e r e m a d e f o r the p u r -

p o s e of s p e a k i n g to c l a s s e s . Only one s a i d he v i s i t e d p r i m a r i l y to

r e c r u i t .

F i f t e e n e d i t o r s r e p l i e d to the q u e s t i o n w h i c h a s k e d when t h e y

h a d l a s t r e c e i v e d a n i n v i t a t i o n to v i s i t a s c h o o l of j o u r n a l i s m . Only

s e v e n h a d r e c e i v e d a n i n v i t a t i o n w i th in the l a s t y e a r , a n d t h e s e w e r e

e s s e n t i a l l y the s a m e e d i t o r s who s a i d t hey had m a d e a v i s i t t o a s c h o o l

w i t h i n the l a s t y e a r a n d v i s i t e d one f r e q u e n t l y . T h r e e e d i t o r s s a i d

t h e y h a d n e v e r r e c e i v e d i n v i t a t i o n s . E i g h t e e n r e p l i e d to a q u e s t i o n

t h a t a s k e d w h e t h e r t h e i r p a p e r a l l o w e d t h e m t i m e a w a y f r o m t h e i r

j o b s t o a c c e p t i n v i t a t i o n s . F i f t e e n s a i d y e s , two no , and one " r a r e l y "

( s e e T a b l e III).

T A B L E i n

ISOLATION O F EDITORS WITH HIGH D E G R E E O F P A R T I C I P A T I O N IN J O U R N A L I S M EDUCATION,

BY YEARS O F E X P E R I E N C E IN BUSINESS

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C o l u m n r e p r e s e n t s i nd iv idua l e d i t o r s by t h e i r y e a r s of e x p e r i e n c e .

x , a f f i r m a t i v e a n s w e r ; so l i d row i n d i c a t e s h igh d e g r e e of p a r t i c i p a -t i o n .

• • • T h e e d i t o r who had not r e c e i v e d a n i nv i t a t i on , but had v i s i t e d , had done so to r e c r u i t .

33

N i n e t e e n a n s w e r e d the q u e s t i o n on w h e t h e r they wou ld be

i n t e r e s t e d in m e e t i n g wi th other n e w s m e n and i n s t r u c t o r s . F o u r t e e n

m a d e a p o s i t i v e r e p l y to the q u e s t i o n , f i v e a n e g a t i v e . Of the f i v e ,

t h r e e w e r e d e f i n i t e l y not i n t e r e s t e d . One ed i tor s a i d s h e would have

t o d e c l i n e inv i ta t ions to m e e t wi th i n s t r u c t o r s b e c a u s e she had "no

t i m e , " and another ed i tor s a i d he w a s "not n e c e s s a r i l y " i n t e r e s t e d

in s u c h d i s c u s s i o n s . The t h r e e who had no i n t e r e s t at a l l s a i d t h e i r

p a p e r s wou ld "probably" a l low t h e m t i m e away f r o m the ir jobs f o r

s u c h m e e t i n g s . The ed i tor who r e p l i e d she had "no t i m e " a l s o

ind ica ted h e r paper would make no a l l o w a n c e s f o r this p u r p o s e . The

e d i t o r who s a i d he w a s "not n e c e s s a r i l y " i n t e r e s t e d a n s w e r e d

"probably not" to the q u e s t i o n of c o m p a n y t i m e .

A s k e d how of ten a m e e t i n g of n e w s m e n and i n s t r u c t o r s should

take p l a c e , s i x s a i d once a y e a r , four s a i d m o r e than once a y e a r , and

t w o s a i d e v e r y two y e a r s .

F o u r q u e s t i o n s w e r e i s o l a t e d f r o m the s e r i e s to d e v e l o p a

g r o u p of e d i t o r s c o n s i d e r e d to have a high d e g r e e of par t i c ipa t ion in

c o l l e g e a n d u n i v e r s i t y p r o g r a m s of j o u r n a l i s m i n s t r u c t i o n . T h o s e

w h o s e r e p l i e s w e r e a f f i r m a t i v e on a l l f o u r p o i n t s w e r e i n c l u d e d . Of

t h e f i v e w h o q u a l i f i e d , t w o w e r e c i t y e d i t o r s of s e p a r a t e d m o r n i n g a n d

e v e n i n g e d i t i o n s of t h e s a m e p a p e r . T h r e e w e r e e d i t o r s of p a p e r s

w i t h c i r c u l a t i o n s of 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 o r m o r e , one w a s t h e c i t y e d i t o r of a

34

p a p e r s l i g h t l y o v e r 5 0 , 0 0 0 c i r c u l a t i o n , and the o t h e r w a s the c i ty

e d i t o r of a p a p e r wi th c i r c u l a t i o n a r o u n d 80, 000.

F o u r h e l d a b a c h e l o r ! s d e g r e e in j o u r n a l i s m ; the f i f t h w a s

w o r k i n g on one in t h a t a r e a . F o u r f e l t a d e g r e e w a s g e n e r a l l y n e c e s -

s a r y ; two s a i d i t s h o u l d b e in j o u r n a l i s m . T h e r e w a s a c o n s e n s u s of

op in ion a m o n g the f i v e t h a t i t wou ld b e h e l p f u l f o r t h e m and i n s t r u c t o r s

to m e e t a t l e a s t a n n u a l l y . One s a i d s u c h a m e e t i n g "should b e a

p r i o r i t y in ou r p r o f e s s i o n . n T h r e e s a i d t h e y m e e t now wi th e d u c a t o r s

p e r i o d i c a l l y , and one s a i d h e k e e p s in t ouch wi th t h e m a t l e a s t m o n t h l y

t h r o u g h S i g m a D e l t a Chi m e e t i n g s .

Only f i v e e d i t o r s w e r e a c t i v e l y i nvo lved in j o u r n a l i s m e d u c a -

t i o n , b u t f o u r t e e n w e r e i n t e r e s t e d in b e c o m i n g m o r e invo lved , w h i c h

p r o v e s H y p o t h e s i s T e n . T h a t h y p o t h e s i s s t a t e s t h e r e w i l l b e a low

d e g r e e of c o n t a c t wi th j o u r n a l i s m d e p a r t m e n t s , bu t a h igh d e g r e e of

i n t e r e s t in m a k i n g m o r e c o n t a c t s .

C H A P T E R IE

J O U R N A L I S M EDUCATION IN G E N E R A L

T h e c i ty e d i t o r s w e r e a s k e d to s p e c i f y the n u m b e r of s e m e s -

t e r s n e e d e d in n ine s p e c i f i c j o u r n a l i s m c o u r s e s . T h e i r r e s p o n s e

i n d i c a t e d t h e y a r e m o s t i n t e r e s t e d in news g a t h e r i n g and w r i t i n g

c o u r s e s . T h e c o u r s e s , in the o r d e r t h e y w e r e r a t e d , w e r e g e n e r a l

r e p o r t i n g , d e s k w o r k (ed i t ing , h e a d l i n e w r i t i n g , and m a k e - u p ) , pub l ic

a f f a i r s r e p o r t i n g , f e a t u r e w r i t i n g , law of the p r e s s , p h o t o g r a p h y ,

c o m m u n i c a t i o n s r e s e a r c h , c o m m u n i c a t i o n s t h e o r y , and p r i n t i n g . T h e

r a n g e on the n u m b e r of s e m e s t e r s n e e d e d in g e n e r a l r e p o r t i n g w a s one

t o n i n e , w i th f o u r s e m e s t e r s b e i n g l i s t e d m o s t o f t en . On a l l o t h e r

c o u r s e s , one s e m e s t e r w a s l i s t e d m o s t o f t en . F i v e e d i t o r s s a i d no

p r i n t i n g w a s n e e d e d , two s a i d no p h o t o g r a p h y w a s n e e d e d , and f o u r

s a i d no w o r k in c o m m u n i c a t i o n s r e s e a r c h o r t h e o r y w a s n e c e s s a r y .

H y p o t h e s i s Six s t a t e d tha t citfy e d i t o r s w i l l p l a c e a h igh d e g r e e

of e m p h a s i s on a p r a c t i c a l a p p r o a c h to j o u r n a l i s m e d u c a t i o n ; s p e c i f i -

c a l l y t h e y w i l l be m o r e i n t e r e s t e d in s k i l l s a n d t e c h n i q u e s c o u r s e s

t h a n in c o u r s e s w h i c h d e a l w i th r e s e a r c h and t h e o r y . As can b e s e e n

35

36

in Tab le IV, the ed i tors did p lace m o r e importance on a l l b a s i c

s k i l l s c o u r s e s except photography.

T A B L E IV

OPINIONS CONCERNING NUMBER OF SEMESTERS N E E D E D IN NINE JOURNALISM COURSES

C o u r s e s A v e r a g e Number of S e m e s t e r s

G e n e r a l Report ing 4 . 53 Publ ic A f f a i r s Report ing 2 . 5 6 F e a t u r e Wri t ing 2 . 0 6 D e s k Work 2 . 5 0 Pr in t ing . 8 8 Photography . 1 .65 Law of the P r e s s 1 . 6 1 C o m m u n i c a t i o n s R e s e a r c h . 9 7 C o m m u n i c a t i o n s T h e o r i e s . 9 1

The ed i tor s c o m m e n t e d frequent ly in the space provided f o l -

lowing this ques t ion , and in the s p a c e provided for g e n e r a l c o m m e n t s

at the end of the ques t ionna ire , about what they f e l t was a n e c e s s i t y

to e m p h a s i z e b a s i c s . "Learning to w r i t e b a s i c news s t o r i e s i s s t i l l

the m o s t important f a c t o r . . . . if that is m a s t e r e d in c o l l e g e , the v

rest can easily come with experience. Tf Another said, nThe ability

to tackle a complicated story and translate it into a readable and

interesting story is the most important thing. 11

nGeneral reporting and editing really covers the subject for

reporters,1 1 one editor commented. "If they know how to write

37

c o h e r e n t l y , w h i c h m a n y of t h e m d o n ! t , t h e y c a n p i c k up the o t h e r

s k i l l s b y p r a c t i c e , r e a d i n g o t h e r p a p e r s a n d s e e i n g how t h e i r copy i s

e d i t e d . n

One e d i t o r s a i d he h a d ! l a l w a y s f e l t t h a t m o s t i n t e l l i g e n t

m e n a n d w o m e n wi th a n o r m a l a m o u n t of c u r i o s i t y wou ld m a k e p r e t t y

f a i r r e p o r t e r s . B a s i c s a r e m o s t i m p o r t a n t , n h e s a i d , " combined

w i th a s w i d e a n e d u c a t i o n a s p o s s i b l e . , . m o s t t h e o r e t i c a l j o u r n a l -

i s m c o u r s e s a r e n e e d l e s s in r e l a t i o n to a r t s and h u m a n i t i e s . "

One e d i t o r who s a i d f o u r s e m e s t e r s of d e s k w o r k a s w e l l a s

f o u r s e m e s t e r s of g e n e r a l r e p o r t i n g would b e v a l u a b l e m a d e t h i s

c o m m e n t : "A r e p o r t e r ' s p r i m a r y t r a d e i s j u s t t h a t , r e p o r t i n g and

w r i t i n g . I t i s a l s o a g r e a t h e l p if he u n d e r s t a n d s the p r o b l e m s a n d

f u n c t i o n s of t h e copy d e s k . " One o t h e r e d i t o r s a i d f o u r s e m e s t e r s of

d e s k w o r k w a s n e e d e d ; t h r e e s a i d s i x .

S e v e r a l e d i t o r s c o m m e n t e d t ha t law of t h e p r e s s i s i m p o r t a n t

i n t h e i r op in ion . "I b e l i e v e law of the p r e s s shou ld e i t h e r be

e x t r e m e l y e x t e n s i v e o r s p r e a d o v e r a t w o - s e m e s t e r s p a n , " s a i d one .

A n o t h e r s a i d , " T h o r o u g h o v e r a l l f a m i l i a r i z a t i o n wi th p r e s s law n e e d s

m o r e a t t e n t i o n , " and a t h i r d s a i d , "Even v e t e r a n r e p o r t e r s cou ld u s e

a Thel luva f lot m o r e l aw. " T w o of t h e s e t h r e e e d i t o r s w e r e a m o n g

t h o s e c o n s i d e r e d to h a v e a h igh d e g r e e of p a r t i c i p a t i o n in j o u r n a l i s m

e d u c a t i o n .

38

F o r t h e p u r p o s e of c o m p a r i n g the a t t i t u d e s of j o u r n a l i s m

g r a d u a t e s , n o n - j o u r n a l i s m g r a d u a t e s and n o n - g r a d u a t e s , e igh t of the

n i n e c o u r s e s l i s t e d w e r e c o l l a p s e d in one a n a l y s i s of the d a t a . T h e

t h r e e c o u r s e s w h i c h r e p r e s e n t w o r k in n e w s g a t h e r i n g and w r i t i n g

f o r m e d one g r o u p ; the t h r e e c o u r s e s w h i c h r e p r e s e n t r e l a t e d a r e a s of

n e w s p a p e r s k i l l s f o r m e d a n o t h e r , a n d the two c o u r s e s w h i c h r e p r e -

s e n t a n a n a l y t i c a l a p p r o a c h to j o u r n a l i s m f o r m e d the t h i r d . Law of

t h e p r e s s w a s not i n c l u d e d in any of the g r o u p s s i n c e i t cou ld c o n -

c e i v a b l y b e in any of the t h r e e .

T h o s e who w e r e j o u r n a l i s m g r a d u a t e s w e r e in f a v o r of m o r e

w o r k in a l l a r e a s , w i t h the e x c e p t i o n of n e w s g a t h e r i n g and w r i t i n g ,

w h e r e t he n o n - g r a d u a t e s r e p r e s e n t e d the h igh wi th a m e a n of 11. 12.

T h i s w o u l d p l a c e a s t u d e n t in a t l e a s t one n e w s - g a t h e r i n g or w r i t i n g

c o u r s e e a c h s e m e s t e r of h i s f o u r y e a r s , two in s o m e . T h e i r a t t i t u d e s

m a y b e a t t r i b u t e d in p a r t t o an u n f a m i l i a r i t y wi th t he c u r r i c u l a s t r u c -

t u r e of j o u r n a l i s m s c h o o l s , few of w h i c h wou ld inc lude m o r e t h a n

f o u r s e m e s t e r s of b a s i c r e p o r t i n g c o u r s e s a t the m a x i m u m . Only V

one of the non-graduates w a s in the prof i l e group having a high d e g r e e

of part ic ipat ion in j o u r n a l i s m educat ion. The j o u r n a l i s m graduates

rated n e w s - g a t h e r i n g and wri t ing c o u r s e s 2 . 4 4 s e m e s t e r s h igher than

the n o n - j o u r n a l i s m graduates , but in a l l other c a s e s , the d i f f erence in

opinion a m o n g the groups was . 9 5 s e m e s t e r s or l e s s .

39

H y p o t h e s i s S e v e n s t a t e d t h e r e wou ld be no s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r -

e n c e in the j o u r n a l i s m c o u r s e s the e d i t o r s f e e l a r e m o s t v a l u a b l e

a c c o r d i n g to the d e g r e e s t a t u s of the e d i t o r s . T a b l e V shows t h a t

t h e r e s p o n d e n t s , r e g a r d l e s s of d e g r e e s t a t u s , p l a c e d the t h r e e a r e a s

of j o u r n a l i s m e d u c a t i o n in the s a m e o r d e r .

T A B L E V

OPINIONS C O N C E R N I N G NUMBER O F S E M E S T E R S N E E D E D IN T H R E E A R E A S OF J O U R N A L I S M , CLASSIFIED

BY D E G R E E STATUS OF R E S P O N D E N T S

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40

H y p o t h e s i s E i g h t s t a t e d t h e r e wou ld b e no s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r -

e n c e of opin ion on the v a l u e of c o m m u n i c a t i o n s r e s e a r c h a c c o r d i n g to

the y e a r s of e x p e r i e n c e e d i t o r s h a d , or t h e i r f a m i l i a r i t y w i t h c u r r e n t

p r o g r a m s of j o u r n a l i s m e d u c a t i o n in c o l l e g e s and u n i v e r s i t i e s . Bo th

e d i t o r s in t h e f e w e r - t h a n - f i v e - y e a r s ' - e x p e r i e n c e g r o u p and t h e s i x - t o -

f i f t e e n - y e a r s ' - e x p e r i e n c e g r o u p s a i d a n a v e r a g e of one s e m e s t e r w a s

d e s i r a b l e in c o m m u n i c a t i o n s r e s e a r c h . T h o s e wi th m o r e t h a n f i f t e e n

y e a r s ' e x p e r i e n c e s a i d only s l i g h t l y l e s s t i m e , a n a v e r a g e of . 79

s e m e s t e r s , w a s d e s i r a b l e . T h o s e e d i t o r s in t h e g r o u p c o n s i d e r e d to

h a v e a h igh d e g r e e of p a r t i c i p a t i o n in j o u r n a l i s m e d u c a t i o n , and c o n s e -

q u e n t l y a g r e a t e r f a m i l i a r i t y w i th i t , s a i d an a v e r a g e of . 70 s e m e s t e r s

w a s d e s i r a b l e in c o m m u n i c a t i o n s r e s e a r c h . T h o s e not i nc luded in the

h igh d e g r e e of p a r t i c i p a t i o n g r o u p s a i d a n a v e r a g e of . 6 9 s e m e s t e r s

w a s d e s i r a b l e .

O n e e d i t o r c o m m e n t e d , ' T h e r e i s t oo m u c h c o m m u n i c a t i o n s

t h e o r y a n d too l i t t l e p r a c t i c a l , r e a l i s t i c a p p l i c a t i o n . "

R e c e n t and R e l a t e d S t u d i e s

J o u r n a l i s m e d u c a t i o n h a s b e e n c a l l e d (3, p . 26) an

" a c a d e m i c s t e p c h i l d , b a t t e r e d by the c r o s s w i n d s of a d v o c a t e s of i n t e l -

l e c t u a l a n d v o c a t i o n a l p r e p a r a t i o n . 11

41

A s w a s e v i d e n c e d in the p r o f i l e a n a l y s i s of j o u r n a l i s m e d u c a -

t o r s (13, pp . 98 -107 ) , e v e n f a c u l t y m e m b e r s d i s a g r e e to a g r e a t

e x t e n t on t h e r e l a t i v e i m p o r t a n c e of c o u r s e s w i th in s c h o o l s of j o u r n a l -

i s m . T h e m a i n a r g u m e n t s e e m s to s t e m f r o m t h e t r e n d in r e c e n t

y e a r s f o r s c h o o l s of j o u r n a l i s m to m o v e in to the r e a l m of s c i e n t i f i c

r e s e a r c h and t h e o r e t i c a l s t u d i e s of t h e m a s s m e d i a . C o u r s e s in

t h e s e a r e a s e v o k e t h e c r i t i c i s m of t h o s e who f i r m l y b e l i e v e in the

t e a c h i n g of b a s i c s k i l l s , and f e a r the t e a c h i n g of t e c h n i q u e s w i l l s u f f e r

f r o m the i n c l u s i o n of c o m m u n i c a t i o n s .

K r i e g h b a u m , in h i s p a p e r , i n c l u d e s t h e s e c o m m e n t s f r o m

t h e m a n a g i n g e d i t o r of a l a r g e m e t r o p o l i t a n d a i l y :

T h e j o u r n a l i s m e d u c a t o r s h a v e b e e n b u r n e d s e v e r e l y in t h i s s t a t e b y o v e r e m p h a s i z i n g t h e o r y and the P h . D. t o t h e d e t r i m e n t of h a r d n o s e d n e w s r e p o r t i n g and e d i t -ing . T h e y h a v e a l i e n a t e d m a n y of the e d i t o r s and p u b -l i s h e r s b y s t r e s s i n g r e s e a r c h and ' g r a n t m a n s h i p , 1

w i t h o u t s u p p l y i n g the young c o m m u n i c a t o r we n e e d s o d e s p e r a t e l y in the m e d i a (9, p . 808) .

J a k e High ton , a j o u r n a l i s m p r o f e s s o r , s a y s ,

U n q u e s t i o n a b l y r e s e a r c h and s c h o l a r s h i p a r e v i t a l to u n i v e r s i t i e s . J o u r n a l i s m s c h o o l s m u s t p u r s u e t h e m w h i l e k e e p i n g up wi th sw i f t t e c h n o l o g y . T h e day m a y c o m e w h e n n e w s p a p e r s w i l l be c i r c u l a t e d in h o m e s by t e l e v i s i o n t a p e and r e a d a n y t i m e of day . But s o m e o n e w i l l h a v e to r e p o r t and ed i t the n e w s . J o u r n a l i s m s c h o o l s h a d b e t t e r t r a i n n e w s m e n . . . (7, p . 13).

F o l l o w i n g the a p p e a r a n c e of H i g h t o n ' s " G r e e n E y e s h a k e s v s .

C h i - S q u a r e s " in Q u i l l , K e i t h P . S a n d e r s u n d e r t o o k a s t u d y (15,

42

pp. 5 1 9 - 5 3 0 ) to d e t e r m i n e what n e w s m e n think about j o u r n a l i s m

r e s e a r c h . Sanders f e l t Highton's a r t i c l e le f t the i m p r e s s i o n "that

n e w s m e n looked at j o u r n a l i s m r e s e a r c h e r s as people off on a tangent

of obfuscated i r r e l e v a n c y . "

Att i tudes in Sanders ' study w e r e de termined through Stephen-

s o n ' s Q methodology . The Q s a m p l e c o n s i s t e d of f o r t y - n i n e s t a t e -

ments s e l e c t e d f r o m a population of m o r e than two hundred s t a t e m e n t s

about j o u r n a l i s m r e s e a r c h . T h e s e w e r e obtained f r o m the subsequent

debate in Qui l l over Highton's a r t i c l e , f r o m other re levant l i t e ra ture ,

and f r o m i n t e r v i e w s with n e w s p a p e r m e n and j o u r n a l i s m r e s e a r c h e r s .

Q u e s t i o n n a i r e s and Q decks w e r e sent to 105 n e w s p a p e r s ran-

domly s e l e c t e d f r o m three s trata of c i r cu la t i on ( l e s s than 3 5 , 0 0 0 ,

b e t w e e n 35, 000 and 100, 000, and over 100, 000). F o r n e w s p a p e r s in

the two l a r g e r s t ra ta , m a t e r i a l s w e r e a d d r e s s e d a l t ernate ly to the

managing ed i tor , ed i tor , execut ive ed i tor or a s s o c i a t e ed i tor , c i ty

ed i tor , and copy edi tor or news edi tor . F i f t y - o n e usable q u e s t i o n -

n a i r e s and f i f ty c o m p l e t e d Q s o r t s w e r e re turned, e l e v e n of t h e m

f r o m c i ty e d i t o r s . Managing ed i tors returned e ighteen, those with the

t i t l e " e d i t o r , " twe lve .

In g e n e r a l , the subjects supported j o u r n a l i s m r e s e a r c h . In

h i s a n a l y s i s , Sanders s ta ted ,

43

T h e y s e e r e s e a r c h a s s o m e t h i n g t ha t c a n h e l p t h e m in p r o d u c i n g b e t t e r n e w s p a p e r s . Wha t t h e y w a n t f r o m r e s e a r c h i s s o m e t h i n g p r a c t i c a l , no t t h e o r e t i c a l . . . . Wi th b u t one e x c e p t i o n , t h e y a g r e e t ha t r e s e a r c h c a n b e b e n e f i c i a l , bu t t hey a l s o th ink t h e r e a r e c o m m u -n i c a t i o n p r o b l e m s b e t w e e n p u b l i s h e r s , e d i t o r s and w o r k -ing j o u r n a l i s t s on one hand and r e s e a r c h e r s on the o t h e r (15, p. 520).

T h e f a c t o r a n a l y s i s p r o d u c e d t h r e e h igh ly c o r r e l a t e d f a c t o r s .

S a n d e r s t e r m e d t h e m t h e g e n e r a l s u p p o r t e r , the s k e p t i c a l s u p p o r t e r ,

and the i g n o r a n t s u p p o r t e r .

T w e n t y - e i g h t s u b j e c t s , f i v e of t h e m c i t y e d i t o r s , m a d e up

the g e n e r a l s u p p o r t e r f a c t o r . S a n d e r s c o n c l u d e d the g e n e r a l

s u p p o r t e r s t i l l w a n t s w e l l - t r a i n e d and p r a c t i c a l l y o r i e n t e d c o l l e g e

g r a d u a t e s to jo in h i s n e w s t e a m ; he s e e s no th ing w r o n g wi th the

t e a c h i n g of r e s e a r c h in j o u r n a l i s m s c h o o l s a n d , i n d e e d , s e e s j o u r n a l -

i s m r e s e a r c h a s b e i n g p a r t i c u l a r l y i m p o r t a n t f o r n t h e new g e n e r a -

t i o n . n

T h e f i v e s u b j e c t s m a k i n g up the s k e p t i c a l s u p p o r t e r f a c t o r

(none w e r e c i ty e d i t o r s ) s h o w e d a d i s d a i n f o r the r o l e of r e s e a r c h in

s c h o o l s of j o u r n a l i s m . T h e i g n o r a n t ^ s u p p o r t e r f a c t o r ( four s u b j e c t s ,

one of w h o m w a s a c i t y e d i t o r ) , saw r e s e a r c h a s a f u n c t i o n of j o u r n a l -

i s m s c h o o l s , but a l s o h a d the m o s t d i f f i c u l t y d e f i n i n g j o u r n a l i s m

r e s e a r c h .

44

One s u b j e c t in t h i s l a s t c a t e g o r y thought r e s e a r c h w a s n a

w a s t e of t i m e " on the a c a d e m i c l e v e l . T h i s s u b j e c t w a s , i n c i d e n t a l l y ,

the only one i n d i c a t i n g a c l e a r l y n e g a t i v e a t t i t u d e t o w a r d j o u r n a l i s m

r e s e a r c h . S a n d e r s s a y s t h e u n a n i m i t y of f a v o r a b l e a t t i t u d e s s u g g e s t s

a b i a s e d s a m p l e r e s p o n s e , b u t one tha t w a s a n t i c i p a t e d a t the o u t s e t

s i n c e a n t i - r e s e a r c h e d i t o r s cou ld h a r d l y be e x p e c t e d to b e e a g e r to

c o o p e r a t e in any s t u d y of j o u r n a l i s m r e s e a r c h , le t a lone one t ha t

w o u l d r e q u i r e t h i r t y to f o r t y - f i v e m i n u t e s of t h e i r t i m e . He f e l t t he

v a l u e of h i s s t u d y w a s i t s a b i l i t y to d e s c r i b e wha t p r o - j o u r n a l i s m

r e s e a r c h e d i t o r s t h ink , s i n c e t h e y a r e m o s t l i ke ly to b e i n t e r e s t e d in

i t s i m p r o v e m e n t .

A n o t h e r a r e a of p r o f e s s i o n a l j o u r n a l i s m t r a i n i n g tha t h a s

b e e n m u c h w r i t t e n abou t i s t e c h n o l o g y . J o s e p h Dunn, v i c e c h a i r m a n

of the new t e c h n o l o g y c o m m i t t e e of t h e A s s o c i a t e d P r e s s M a n a g i n g

E d i t o r s , gave h i s a p p r o v a l in a r e c e n t a r t i c l e (4, pp . 4 - 6 ) to e d u c a -

t o r s who b e l i e v e it is t h e i r job to e d u c a t e s t u d e n t s , and the job of the

i n d i v i d u a l n e w s r o o m to t r a i n i t s p e r s o n n e l to u s e the t o o l s of t h e p r o -

f e s s i o n . D u n n ' s a r t i c l e w a s b a s e d on a d i s c u s s i o n of new t e c h n o l o g y

b y a p a n e l of e d u c a t o r s a p p e a r i n g a t an A P M E m e e t i n g . T h e e d u c a -

t o r s w e r e e m p h a t i c , Dunn s a y s , t h a t i t is not t h e f u n c t i o n of t h e i r

i n s t i t u t i o n s t o t r a i n s t u d e n t s to b e p r o f i c i e n t w i th S e l e c t r i c t y p e w r i t e r s ,

s c a n n e r s , o r d i s p l a y t e r m i n a l s . R a t h e r , e a c h of the p a n e l i s t s

45

e x p r e s s e d s t r o n g be l i e f t h a t it r e m a i n s the m i s s i o n of h i s e d u c a t i o n a l

i n s t i t u t i o n to p r o d u c e th ink ing s t u d e n t s who a r e c a p a b l e of b e c o m i n g

good j o u r n a l i s t s f i r s t and good t e c h n i c i a n s s e c o n d .

Dunn a l s o took no te of the f a c t t h a t e d u c a t o r s s a i d budgetary-

r e s t r i c t i o n s , a s w e l l a s the i n a b i l i t y to d u p l i c a t e the m a n y v a r i a t i o n s

of s y s t e m s p r e s e n t l y in o p e r a t i o n , m a k e a c t u a l t r a i n i n g c l a s s e s p r o -

h i b i t i v e , E x p o s u r e to new t e c h n o l o g y , in m o s t c a s e s , w a s h a n d l e d by

m a k i n g v i s i t s t o c o m p u t e r - o r i e n t e d n e w s p a p e r s a v a i l a b l e to s t u d e n t s .

One r e s p o n d e n t to t h i s t h e s i s s t udy c o m m e n t e d t ha t p r i n t i n g

c o u r s e s shou ld e m p h a s i z e new o p t i c a l copy r e a d e r t e c h n i q u e s .

A n o t h e r s a i d p r i n t i n g wou ld b e w o r t h m o r e t h a n the one s e m e s t e r h e

r a t e d i t if it i n c l u d e d " c o m p r e h e n s i v e w o r k in co ld t ype p r o d u c t i o n and

e l e c t r o n i c t e c h n i q u e s . 11

A s u r v e y of t y p o g r a p h y o f f e r i n g s in j o u r n a l i s m s c h o o l s in

1968 r e v e a l e d (10, p . 134) m o s t s c h o o l s had w o r k e d s o m e i n s t r u c -

t i on in co ld t ype into t h e i r c o u r s e s . T h i r t y - t w o s c h o o l s out of f o r t y -

s e v e n r e s p o n d i n g to the s u r v e y o f f e r e d p r i n t i n g , w i th two o r t h r e e

V

s e m e s t e r h o u r s the m o s t f r e q u e n t l y g r a n t e d a m o u n t of c r e d i t .

M o s t of t he r e s p o n d e n t s i n d i c a t e d in t h e i r a n s w e r s or c o m -

m e n t s t h a t t h e y f a v o r e d v a r i e t y in a r e p o r t e r s e d u c a t i o n .

n I wou ld l ike to s e e m o r e w o r k in E n g l i s h , s o c i o l o g y ,

p o l i t i c a l s c i e n c e , and h i s t o r y , and l e s s in copy ed i t i ng , p r i n t i n g ,

46

e d i t o r i a l w r i t i n g , e t c . , " one e d i t o r , a j o u r n a l i s m g r a d u a t e , c o m -

m e n t e d . " T h e s t u d e n t n e e d s a s w i d e a v a r i e t y of c o u r s e s a s he can

p o s s i b l y g e t , " a n o t h e r s a i d , t h i s one a n o n - j o u r n a l i s m g r a d u a t e .

A n o n - g r a d u a t e o f f e r e d t h e s e c o m m e n t s :

R e p e t i t i o n d o e s no t m a k e f o r good j o u r n a l i s m t r a i n -ing . E d u c a t i o n in o t h e r f i e l d s is m u c h m o r e i m p o r t a n t , b e c a u s e a r e p o r t e r w i l l do m o s t of h i s w o r k in o t h e r f i e l d s . He s h o u l d h a v e a w e l l - r o u n d e d e d u c a t i o n , g iv ing h i m a b e t t e r u n d e r s t a n d i n g of w h a t he i s w r i t i n g a b o u t . A good r e p o r t e r c a n and d o e s put in to u s e w h a t he h a s l e a r n e d in h i s 36 to 44 h o u r s of j o u r n a l i s m [ m o r e t h a n t h e a v e r a g e s t u d e n t wou ld t ake ] b y p r a c t i c a l a p p l i c a t i o n a n d o n - j o b t r a i n i n g . But he c a n n e v e r p i ck up the k n o w -l e d g e h e h a s l e f t b e h i n d by b e c o m i n g too s k i l l e d and too s p e c i a l i z e d i n j o u r n a l i s m .

D i v e r s i f i c a t i o n of knowledge i s the b e s t t oo l a r e p o r t e r c a n p i c k up , and he m u s t b e g i n tha t d i v e r s i f i c a -t i o n a t a n e a r l y a g e and con t inue it t h r o u g h c o l l e g e and i n t o h i s j o b . A l l t he j o u r n a l i s m c o u r s e s in the w o r l d c a n n o t r e p l a c e t h a t d i v e r s i f i c a t i o n . M o r e h i s t o r y , m o r e s o c i o l o g y , m o r e g o v e r n m e n t and p o l i t i c a l s c i e n c e , m o r e m e d i c a l and p h y s i c a l s c i e n c e , m o r e abou t l i fe i t se l f i s n e e d e d in t h e young r e p o r t e r s of t o d a y . But the m o s t s p e c i a l n e e d in c o l l e g e t r a i n i n g f o r a f u t u r e j o u r n a l i s t i s a s m u c h a s he c a n a b s o r b of c u r r e n t e v e n t s . C o l -l e g e i n s t r u c t o r s s h o u l d b e g i n the e m p h a s i s on c u r r e n t e v e n t s the f i r s t day f o r a b e g i n n i n g f r e s h m a n and p u s h i t t o g r a d u a t i o n .

v

L i b e r a l A r t s B a c k g r o u n d

T h e c i t y e d i t o r s s u r v e y e d in t h i s s t u d y i n d i c a t e d a n i n t e r e s t

in h i r i n g y o u n g j o u r n a l i s t s w i th b r o a d l i b e r a l a r t s b a c k g r o u n d s . T h e y

l i s t e d a w i d e v a r i e t y of m a j o r s t hey would c o n s i d e r when i n t e r v i e w i n g

j ob a p p l i c a n t s . E n g l i s h w a s l i s t e d m o s t f r e q u e n t l y (63 p e r c e n t of

47

the re spondent s ) . P o l i t i c a l s c i e n c e w a s l i s t e d by 47 per cent of the

r e s p o n d e n t s , h i s t o r y by 42 per cent , and b u s i n e s s a n d / o r e c o n o m i c s

by 32 per cent . Nine other m a j o r s w e r e named , and s e v e r a l added

a c o m m e n t that a l m o s t any m a j o r would be c o n s i d e r e d depending upon

the appl icant ' s other qua l i f i ca t ions .

The ed i tors w e r e a s k e d to rate e l e v e n a r e a s of study a c c o r d -

ing to the d e g r e e of e m p h a s i s they should be given. Eighteen ed i tors

responding to the quest ion rated government ( s tate , l oca l , and

f e d e r a l ) h ighes t , f o l l o w e d by po l i t i ca l s c i e n c e and e c o n o m i c s . T h e r e

w a s m o r e d i f f e r e n c e of opinion on other a r e a s of study. The s a m e

number thought h i s t o r y and s o c i o l o g y should be given "much" e m p h a -

s i s , but s l i gh t ly m o r e thought h i s tory should be g iven "moderate"

e m p h a s i s . C o n s u m e r a f f a i r s , a r e l a t i v e l y new area of concentrat ion ,

drew f e w e r r e s p o n s e s f o r "much" e m p h a s i s than did h i s t o r y or

s o c i o l o g y , but enough r e s p o n s e s f o r "moderate" e m p h a s i s to p lace

it jus t be low h i s t o r y and ahead of s o c i o l o g y in importance if the two

co lumns of h igher d e g r e e are combined. v

T h e l i f e , e a r t h , a n d p h y s i c a l s c i e n c e s d r e w a c o m b i n e d

r e s p o n s e in the two c o l u m n s of h i g h e r d e g r e e to p l a c e j u s t be low

s o c i o l o g y . P s y c h o l o g y , c r i m i n o l o g y , and s o c i a l w o r k a l l d r e w the

s a m e a m o u n t of r e s p o n s e in c o m b i n e d p e r c e n t a g e s f o r "much 1 1 and

48

" m o d e r a t e " d e g r e e s . C r i m i n o l o g y and s o c i a l w o r k w e r e the only

a r e a s w h e r e any e d i t o r s i n d i c a t e d t h e r e w a s no n e e d f o r e m p h a s i s .

H y p o t h e s i s F i v e s t a t e d t h a t c i t y e d i t o r s wou ld p r e f e r t ha t

job a p p l i c a n t s h a v e a b r o a d e d u c a t i o n a l b a c k g r o u n d , and T a b l e VI

T A B L E VI

OPINIONS ON T H E D E G R E E O F EMPHASIS THAT SHOULD B E GIVEN T O A R E A S OF STUDY R E L A T E D T O

J O U R N A L I S M

A r e a s of S tudy

N u m b e r of R e s p o n s e s A c c o r d -ing to D e g r e e s of E m p h a s i s

A r e a s of S tudy Much M o d e r a t e L i t t l e None

P o l i t i c a l S c i e n c e 13 5

G o v e r n m e n t 17 1

H i s t o r y 5 11 2 . . .

E c o n o m i c s 8 8 2 # • •

M a r k e t i n g and B u s i n e s s 2 8 8 • * •

C o n s u m e r A f f a i r s v ^

4 11 3 . . .

S o c i o l o g y 5 9 4

S o c i a l W o r k 2 7 7 2

C r i m i n o l o g y 4 5 7 2

P s y c h o l o g y 2 7 9 • f f

\

L i f e , E a r t h and P h y s i c a l S c i e n c e s 3 10 5 • * *

49

s h o w s t h e r e a r e only two a r e a s of s tudy a m o n g e l e v e n w h e r e a n y of

the e d i t o r s f e l t no e m p h a s i s w a s n e e d e d . T h e wide v a r i e t y of m a j o r s

o t h e r t h a n j o u r n a l i s m l i s t e d a s a c c e p t a b l e a l s o adds v a l i d i t y to the

h y p o t h e s i s .

T o d e t e r m i n e w h e t h e r t h e r e w a s any d i f f e r e n c e of opinion

a c c o r d i n g to the known d e g r e e s t a t u s of s e v e n t e e n r e s p o n d e n t s , the

da t a w e r e a n a l y z e d by d e g r e e s t a t u s p r o f i l e g r o u p s . P e r c e n t i l e s

w e r e b a s e d on e i g h t j o u r n a l i s m g r a d u a t e s , f i v e n o n - j o u r n a l i s m

g r a d u a t e s , a n d f o u r n o n - g r a d u a t e s . In the a r e a s of p o l i t i c a l s c i e n c e

a n d g o v e r n m e n t , a l l r e s p o n s e s w e r e e i t h e r in the " m u c h " o r

" m o d e r a t e " c o l u m n s . One h u n d r e d p e r c e n t of the n o n - j o u r n a l i s m

g r a d u a t e s i n d i c a t e d " m u c h " e m p h a s i s w a s n e e d e d in both a r e a s . In

the a r e a s of h i s t o r y a n d e c o n o m i c s , one r e s p o n d e n t a m o n g the n o n -

g r a d u a t e s w a s the only one who f e l t t h e y s h o u l d h a v e l e s s t h a n

" m o d e r a t e " e m p h a s i s ( s e e T a b l e VII) .

In t h e a r e a of m a r k e t i n g and b u s i n e s s , 100 p e r cen t of t h e

n o n - g r a d u a t e s f e l t it n e e d e d " l i t t l e " e m p h a s i s , w h e r e a s only 25 p e r v

c e n t of t h e j o u r n a l i s m g r a d u a t e s d id , and 40 p e r c e n t of the n o n -

j o u r n a l i s m g r a d u a t e s d id . In the a r e a of c o n s u m e r a f f a i r s , t h e n o n -

g r a d u a t e s a g a i n r a t e d i t l o w e r t han the o t h e r r e s p o n d e n t s . One

h u n d r e d p e r c e n t of t h e j o u r n a l i s m g r a d u a t e s and 80 p e r cen t of the non-

j o u r n a l i s m g r a d u a t e s s a i d the a r e a d e s e r v e d " m u c h " or " m o d e r a t e "

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51

e m p h a s i s ; none of the n o n - g r a d u a t e s though t it d e s e r v e d " m u c h , n and

only 50 p e r c e n t t hough t i t d e s e r v e d " m o d e r a t e . n T h e j o u r n a l i s m

g r a d u a t e s and n o n - j o u r n a l i s m g r a d u a t e s r a t e d s o c i o l o g y h i g h e r , a l s o .

E i g h t y p e r c e n t or m o r e of bo th g r o u p s r a t e d it " m u c h " o r " m o d e r a t e 1 1 ;

only 50 p e r c e n t of the n o n - g r a d u a t e s r a t e d it t h u s .

One r e s p o n d e n t in the j o u r n a l i s m g r a d u a t e s g r o u p and one in

t he n o n - g r a d u a t e g r o u p saw no n e e d f o r e m p h a s i s in s o c i a l w o r k n o r

c r i m i n o l o g y . O t h e r w i s e , r a t i n g s w e r e f a i r l y e v e n l y d i s t r i b u t e d in

t h e s e a r e a s . S l i gh t l y m o r e n o n - j o u r n a l i s m g r a d u a t e s (60 p e r cen t )

r a t e d p s y c h o l o g y in the two c o l u m n s of h i g h e r d e g r e e t h a n j o u r n a l i s m

g r a d u a t e s or n o n - g r a d u a t e s (both 50 p e r c e n t ) . In the a r e a of s c i e n c e ,

c o n s i d e r a b l y m o r e j o u r n a l i s m g r a d u a t e s and n o n - j o u r n a l i s m g r a d u a t e s

f e l t t h e a r e a d e s e r v e d m o r e a t t e n t i o n ( 8 7 . 5 p e r c e n t and 80 p e r c e n t ,

r e s p e c t i v e l y , in t h e two c o l u m n s of h i g h e r d e g r e e ) t h a n the n o n -

g r a d u a t e s , 75 p e r c e n t of w h o m s a i d it d e s e r v e d l i t t l e e m p h a s i s .

A s u r v e y (6, pp . 130-132) of Ohio n e w s p a p e r e x e c u t i v e s to

d e t e r m i n e w h a t a r e a s of s t udy p o t e n t i a l l y r e l a t e d to j o u r n a l i s m the

V.

e x e c u t i v e s f e l t t o b e m o s t i m p o r t a n t p r o d u c e d f i nd ings s i m i l a r in

s o m e w a y s t o t h i s s t u d y . P o l i t i c a l s c i e n c e c o u r s e s w e r e r a t e d h i g h -

e s t , bu t t h e y w e r e fo l l owed by b e h a v i o r a l s c i e n c e s and g e n e r a l

b u s i n e s s c o u r s e s . T h e c o n c l u s i o n of t h e a u t h o r w a s - t h a t j o u r n a l i s m

s t u d e n t s s h o u l d b e gu ided in to a h e a v y c o n c e n t r a t i o n of p o l i t i c a l

52

s c i e n c e , a n d t h a t a c o u r s e in n e w s p a p e r law s h o u l d be an i m p o r t a n t

p a r t of t h e c u r r i c u l u m in e v e r y j o u r n a l i s m s c h o o l .

T h e A m e r i c a n C o u n c i l on E d u c a t i o n f o r J o u r n a l i s m s t a n d a r d s

p e r m i t t h a t only 25 p e r c e n t of s t u d e n t s ' c r e d i t s m a y b e e a r n e d in

p r o f e s s i o n a l j o u r n a l i s m c o u r s e s , t h e r e f o r e p r o v i d i n g the p o s s i b i l i t y f o r

r e p o r t e r s to a c q u i r e a b r o a d l i b e r a l a r t s b a c k g r o u n d (1, p. 18).

S p e c i a l i z a t i o n

F i f t e e n c i t y e d i t o r s s a i d t h e y b e l i e v e d s p e c i a l i z a t i o n in a

r e p o r t i n g f i e l d s h o u l d c o m e on the j ob , f o u r s a i d i t shou ld c o m e on the

g r a d u a t e l e v e l , a n d two s a i d i t cou ld be i n c o r p o r a t e d in to a n u n d e r -

g r a d u a t e ' s t r a i n i n g . One q u a l i f i e d h i s a n s w e r by s a y i n g s p e c i a l i z a t i o n

w a s a c c e p t a b l e on t h e u n d e r g r a d u a t e l e v e l only if j o u r n a l i s t i c s k i l l s

w e r e g a i n e d a t the s a m e t i m e .

" S p e c i a l i z a t i o n , a s a g e n e r a l r u l e , s h o u l d c o m e a s on the

job t r a i n i n g o r a f t e r a g e n e r a l i z e d b a c k g r o u n d h a s b e e n f o r m e d , " one

e d i t o r c o m m e n t e d . " B u t if a f l e d g l i n g n e w s p a p e r r e p o r t e r h a s a n

i n t e r e s t in a s p e c i f i c f i e l d , t h i s i n t e r a s t s h o u l d b e f e d on the u n d e r -

g r a d u a t e l e v e l i n e l e c t i v e s . T h e y w i l l s t i l l n e e d a ' b r e a k i n g in '

p e r i o d to l e a r n b a s i c r e p o r t i n g b e f o r e s p r e a d i n g in to the p r e f e r r e d

f i e l d . "

53 .

"On the job t r a i n i n g i s t he only p l a c e a r e p o r t e r c a n d e c i d e

f o r h i m s e l f w h a t he w a n t s to do , n a n o t h e r s a i d . nIf he is no t e v e n t u -

a l l y do ing w h a t he w a n t s to do, he w i l l no t do a good job . Bu t

s p e c i a l i z a t i o n b e f o r e i n v o l v e m e n t u s u a l l y m a k e s f o r unhappy

r e p o r t e r s l a t e r a l ong the w a y . M

" U n l e s s the p r o s p e c t i v e r e p o r t e r h a s a s t r o n g enough i n t e r -

e s t in a f i e l d to get h i s d e g r e e in t h a t a r e a , s p e c i a l i z a t i o n shou ld

a w a i t a n i n c u b a t i n g p e r i o d on the job , Tt one e d i t o r e x p l a i n e d .

A n o t h e r s a i d h e b e l i e v e d s p e c i a l i z a t i o n s h o u l d c o m e a f t e r a c t u a l job

e x p e r i e n c e , n m u c h t h e s a m e a s wi th a young d o c t o r who is a l l o w e d

to s p e c i a l i z e only a f t e r a n i n t r o d u c t i o n t o a l l a r e a s of m e d i c i n e . M

A s the c i ty e d i t o r of a s m a l l e r da i l y , one r e s p o n d e n t s a i d

h e c o u l d n r t a f f o r d t h e l u x u r y of s p e c i a l i s t s , bu t would " m u c h r a t h e r

h a v e an a l l a r o u n d r e p o r t e r who cou ld c o v e r a n y t h i n g . " He a d d e d ,

l !I f e e l s p e c i a l i z a t i o n shou ld no t c o m e a t t he c o l l e g e l e v e l , bu t w i t h

n e w s r o o m e x p e r i e n c e . T h i s i s why b r o a d e d u c a t i o n a l b a c k g r o u n d i s

s o i m p o r t a n t . "

The ed i tors w e r e a s k e d to name a r e a s of s p e c i a l i z a t i o n , or

"beats , " they thought would be important in future y e a r s . F i v e

n a m e d e c o l o g y , or the env ironment , and f ive named c o n s u m e r

a f f a i r s . T h r e e ment ioned urban a f f a i r s , and three ment ioned i n v e s t i -

i

ga t i ve r e p o r t i n g in to a l l a s p e c t s of g o v e r n m e n t . Two m e n t i o n e d

54

energy and family living. Named once each were racial relations,

education, science, economics, sociology, and "the psychological

analysis of people and trends.11

One editor said, nI see a movement toward team coverage

rather than beat coverage, a move away from specialization and back

into generalization. If a new beat evolves, it will be in the form of

an 'undercover1 reporting team bent on investigation and in-depth

reporting. 11

Most educators and journalists are agreed that we are living

in an era which requires specialized reporting. C.A. McKnight,

editor of The Charlotte Observer, says,

This is the time of specialists, or reporters schooled in political science, the mysteries of utility rate struc-tures , philosophies of education, the physical sciences, high finance, health and medicine, aviation and other areas where to be ignorant journalistically is to invoke the scorn of our better informed readers (14, p. 21).

Louis Villano, who has held the positions of city editor and

copy editor on a number of publications, says,

The age of the specialist j.s indeed upon us, but the harsh fact is that, with some notable and all too few exceptions, the press has not been moving forward rapidly enough to develop authorities in those fields which defy traditional reportage. This is a crucial point, for if the press is to speak with authority and with credibility on the complex social, economic and political issues of the day, it must possess people versed in the fields they are covering (16, p. 8).

55

In i t s s p e c i a l c a r e e r s e d i t i o n a t t h e b e g i n n i n g of t h i s d e c a d e ,

Q u i l l l i s t e d (2, p p . 2 4 - 2 9 ) a s n e w b e a t s t o look f o r in t h e 1970 ! s

c o n s u m e r a f f a i r s , m e n t a l h e a l t h , u r b a n a f f a i r s , a n d e n v i r o n m e n t a l

r e p o r t i n g . I t a l s o f o r e c a s t t h e i n c r e a s i n g i m p o r t a n c e of g r a p h i c s

a r t s s p e c i a l i s t s , f a m i l i a r w i t h o p t i c a l s c a n n e r s y s t e m s and o t h e r new

t e c h n o l o g y .

C o n t r o v e r s y a r i s e s p r i m a r i l y o v e r w h e n in a r e p o r t e r s

c a r e e r h e s h o u l d b e g i n t o s p e c i a l i z e . B e r n a r d K i l g o r e , p r e s i d e n t

of T h e W a l l S t r e e t J o u r n a l , s a i d (8, p . 8) h e d o e s no t b e l i e v e e d u c a -

t o r s a r e f o l l o w i n g t h e r i g h t t r a c k w h e n t h e y s e e k to t r a i n h i g h l y

s p e c i a l i z e d t y p e s of j o u r n a l i s t s . K i l g o r e s a y s h e c a n s p e a k f r o m

e x p e r i e n c e in s u c h s p e c i a l i z e d f i e l d s a s b u s i n e s s , e c o n o m i c s a n d

f i n a n c e , p o l i t i c s , f o r e i g n a f f a i r s , a n d e v e n s c i e n c e a n d r e l i g i o n .

" W e do n o t n e e d h e l p in t r a i n i n g s p e c i a l i s t s . W e n e e d t a l e n t a n d w e

b e n e f i t f r o m b a s i c t r a i n i n g a n d g e n e r a l e x p e r i e n c e . Bu t b e y o n d t h a t ,

w e m u s t c o n d u c t o u r own s t a f f d e v e l o p m e n t p r o g r a m s . 1 1

E d u c a t o r s a r e no t a l w a y s e a g e r to m a k e s p e c i a l i z e d r e p o r t i n g V.

p a r t of t h e i r p u r p o s e . S c i e n c e , a s p e c i a l i z a t i o n that has c o m e into

i t s own in r e c e n t y e a r s beg inn ing with the launch of R u s s i a ' s Sputnik

and the s p a c e r a c e that f o l l o w e d , o f f e r s a n i l l u s t r a t i o n . P i e r r e C.

F r a l e y (5, p. 323) , w h o le f t h i s p o s i t i o n as s c i e n c e w r i t e r f o r The

P h i l a d e l p h i a E v e n i n g Bu l l e t in to b e c o m e e x e c u t i v e s e c r e t a r y of the

56

C o u n c i l f o r the A d v a n c e m e n t of S c i e n c e W r i t i n g , I n c . , s u r v e y e d

s e v e n t y - s i x s c h o o l s of j o u r n a l i s m in 1961 a n d found tha t o r l y f o u r t e e n

( 1 8 . 4 p e r c e n t ) had c o u r s e s in s c i e n c e w r i t i n g or a s p e c i a l s e q u e n c e

in s c i e n c e o r t e c h n i c a l w r i t i n g . His s u r v e y d r e w s u c h r e s p o n s e s a s ,

' I do not b e l i e v e t h a t s c i e n c e w r i t i n g ha s a p l a c e in the c u r r i c u l u m of

a s c h o o l of j o u r n a l i s m . It does h a v e a p l a c e in the g r a d u a t e p r o g r a m

o r in s p e c i a l i z e d p r o g r a m s f o r e x p e r i e n c e d n e w s p a p e r m e n " (11,

p . 334) . C u r t i s M a c D o u g a l l r e p l i e d , n T h e good old 5 W ' s a r e

i m p o r t a n t to e v e r y o n e a n d I b e l i e v e e v e n the b e s t shou ld get t h e i r

n o s e s r u b b e d in p o l i c e r e p o r t i n g f o r a w h i l e . . . s p e c i a l i z a t i o n

s h o u l d c o m e a t the f i f t h y e a r or g r a d u a t e level1 1 (12, p . 325).

C H A P T E R B I B L I O G R A P H Y

1. A r n o l d , E d m u n d C. , " T h e E d i t o r a n d the E d u c a t o r , 11 Qu i l l , 58 ( D e c e m b e r , 1970), 1 8 - 2 0 .

2 . A r n o l d , E d m u n d C . and o t h e r s , " J o u r n a l i s m S p e c i a l t i e s , " Q u i l l , 58 ( N o v e m b e r , 1970), 2 4 - 2 9 .

3 . C o l b u r n , J o h n H. , " J o u r n a l i s m E d u c a t i o n - - a t a C r o s s r o a d s ? " Q u i l l , 57 ( A p r i l , 1969), 2 6 - 2 7 .

4 . Dunn , J o s e p h , J r . , " E d u c a t o r s See L i t e r a c y , no t T e c h n o l o g y , a s T h e i r M e t i e r , " A s s o c i a t e d P r e s s M a n a g i n g E d i t o r s N e w s , I s s u e No. 62 ( F e b r u a r y , 1973), pp . 4 - 6 .

5 . F r a l e y , P i e r r e C . , " T h e E d u c a t i o n a n d T r a i n i n g of S c i e n c e W r i t e r s , " J o u r n a l i s m Q u a r t e r l y , 43 ( S u m m e r , 1963), 323.

6 . G a u m e r , F . T . , " P u b l i c A f f a i r s R e p o r t i n g : T h e P r o f e s s i o n a l s S p e a k , " J o u r n a l i s m Q u a r t e r l y , 43 (Spr ing , 1966), 130 -132 .

7 . H igh ton , J a k e , " G r e e n E y e s h a d e s v s . C h i - S q u a r e s , " Q u i l l , 55 ( F e b r u a r y , 1967), 10 -13 .

8 . K i l g o r e , B e r n a r d , " N e w s p a p e r s M u s t Be C e n t e r s of L e a r n i n g , " N i e m a n R e p o r t s , XX ( M a r c h , 1966), 7 - 9 .

9 . K r i e g h b a u m , H i l l i e r , " T h e A E J P r e s i d e n t i a l P a p e r , " J o u r n a l i s m Q u a r t e r l y , 49 ( W i n t e r , 1972), 8 0 5 - 8 0 8 .

10. L i n d l e y , W i l l i a m R . , " T h e C u r r e n t P l a c e of T y p o g r a p h y C o u r s e s , " J o u r n a l i s m Q u a r t e r ly, 45 (Spr ing , 1968), 134.

11. Luxon , N o r v a l N e i l , c i t e d in P i e r r e C . F r a l e y , " T h e E d u c a t i o n and T r a i n i n g of S c i e n c e W r i t e r s , " J o u r n a l i s m Q u a r t e r l y , 4 0 ( S u m m e r , 1963), 323 .

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58

12. M a c D o u g a l l , C u r t i s , c i t e d in P i e r r e C. F r a l e y , " T h e E d u c a -t ion a n d T r a i n i n g of S c i e n c e W r i t e r s , " J o u r n a l i s m Q u a r t e r l y , 40 ( S u m m e r , 1963), 323 .

13. M a c L e a n , M a l c o l m S. , J r . , T h o m a s D a n b u r y , and J o h n T . M c N e l l y , " A E J M e m b e r s and T h e i r A t t i t u d e s on J o u r n a l i s m E d u c a t i o n I s s u e s , " J o u r n a l i s m Q u a r t e r l y , 42 ( W i n t e r , 1965), 9 8 - 1 0 7 .

14. M c K n i g h t , C . A . , " T h e J o u r n a l i s t and the E d u c a t o r , " N i e m a n R e p o r t s , XIX ( D e c e m b e r , 1965), 19 -21 .

15. S a n d e r s , K e i t h P . , "Q S tudy of E d i t o r s ' A t t i t u d e s t o w a r d J o u r n a l i s m R e s e a r c h , " J o u r n a l i s m Q u a r t e r l y , 47 (Spr ing , 1970), 1 6 0 - 1 6 2 .

16. V i l l a n o , L o u i s , " N e w s m e n ' s C r y i n g N e e d : B a c k to S c h o o l on C o m p a n y T i m e , " Qu i l l , 57 (Augus t , 1969), 8 - 9 .

C H A P T E R IV

N E W S - G A T H E R I N G AND WRITING COURSES

T h e c i t y e d i t o r s , b y t h e i r r e s p o n s e s to q u e s t i o n s and t h e i r

c o m m e n t s , i n d i c a t e d a g r e a t d e a l of f l e x i b i l i t y w a s a c c e p t a b l e in the

e d u c a t i o n of a s t u d e n t p r e p a r i n g f o r a c a r e e r in n e w s p a p e r s . How-

e v e r , t hey w e r e e a g e r f o r s t u d e n t s t o ga in c o m m a n d of b a s i c s k i l l s a t

t h e s a m e t i m e .

T h e y b e l i e v e d s t r o n g e m p h a s i s s h o u l d b e p l a c e d on n e w s -

g a t h e r i n g and w r i t i n g c o u r s e s (an a v e r a g e of 9. 15 s e m e s t e r s i n

t h e s e c o u r s e s w a s i n d i c a t e d , a s o p p o s e d to 5. 03 s e m e s t e r s in ed i t i ng ,

p r i n t i n g , and p h o t o g r a p h y , and 1 . 8 8 s e m e s t e r s in r e s e a r c h and t h e o r y ) .

When the e d i t o r s c o m m e n t e d on a r e a s of s t u d y r e l a t e d to j o u r n a l i s m ,

t h e y f r e q u e n t l y s a i d tha t b r o a d e d u c a t i o n a l b a c k g r o u n d s w e r e d e s i r -

a b l e , b u t t h a t s t u d e n t s shou ld a l s o a c q u i r e a t l e a s t t he m o s t b a s i c

r e p o r t o r i a l s k i l l s b e f o r e e n t e r i n g the ^ p r o f e s s i o n .

On ly one n e w s o r g a n i z a t i o n out of e i g h t e e n r e p r e s e n t e d in

t h i s s t u d y had wha t cou ld be c a l l e d a t r a i n i n g p r o g r a m . One e d i t o r

s a i d the a s s i s t a n t c i t y e d i t o r r o u t i n e l y w e n t ove r copy w i th the cub

r e p o r t e r s a f t e r d e a d l i n e , a n d th i s w a s a p p a r e n t l y m o r e than the o t h e r

59

60

p a p e r s d id . A n o t h e r e d i t o r c o m m e n t e d , " W e , p r o b a b l y l ike m o s t

o t h e r T e x a s n e w s p a p e r s , g e n e r a l l y a r e t oo s h o r t - h a n d e d to p r o v i d e

an a c t u a l t r a i n i n g p r o g r a m . O u r s i t u a t i o n u s u a l l y i nvo lves a new

r e p o r t e r a c c o m p a n y i n g the p e r s o n h e is abou t to r e l i e v e on a b e a t .

O b v i o u s l y , t h i s s i t u a t i o n i s not i d e a l , bu t i t ' s n e c e s s a r y . "

B o t h the m o r n i n g and the e v e n i n g c i t y e d i t o r s of the one

p a p e r h a v i n g a t r a i n i n g p r o g r a m c o m m e n t e d on how it w o r k e d .

E s s e n t i a l l y , i t is s e t up to f a m i l i a r i z e s u m m e r i n t e r n s w i th a s m a n y

f a c e t s of the n e w s p a p e r a s p o s s i b l e , b u t new e m p l o y e e s a l s o t a k e p a r t .

G o v e r n m e n t o f f i c i a l s o r o t h e r n e w s m a k e r s a r e inv i t ed f o r i n f o r m a l

e x c h a n g e s wi th the s t a f f , and o t h e r s e s s i o n s a r e a r r a n g e d in p a r t i c u -

l a r p r o b l e m a r e a s a s d e e m e d n e e d e d . E x a m p l e s g iven w e r e a s e s -

s i o n on l i b e l law c o n d u c t e d by the n e w s p a p e r ' s a t t o r n e y and a p r o d u c -

t i o n s c h o o l on the s c a n n e r . Mon th ly s ta f f m e e t i n g s f e a t u r e ou t s i de

s p e a k e r s o r f i l m s , one of the e d i t o r s a d d e d . Both of t h e s e e d i t o r s

a r e a m o n g t h o s e in the p r o f i l e g r o u p c o n s i d e r e d t o h a v e a h igh d e g r e e

of p a r t i c i p a t i o n in the j o u r n a l i s m p r o g r a m s of c o l l e g e s and u n i v e r s i -

t i e s .

! ,I a m s t r o n g l y in f a v o r of j o u r n a l i s m s c h o o l s , n s t i l l a n o t h e r

m e m b e r of tha t p r o f i l e g r o u p c o m m e n t e d . n M y t r a i n i n g , a l l of i t ,

c a m e on the job; t h i s i s a w a s t e of the p a p e r ' s t i m e and the s t a f f e r ! s

t i m e . n

61

T h e e d i t o r s w e r e a s k e d to r a t e t h e a v e r a g e c o m p e t e n c y on

b a s i c s k i l l s of s t a f f e r s who w e r e r e c e n t j o u r n a l i s m g r a d u a t e s . T h e

c o n s e n s u s w a s tha t s k i l l s o v e r a l l w e r e a d e q u a t e or l e s s t han a d e q u a t e .

Of the t o t a l r e s p o n s e s f o r a l l s k i l l s , 6. 8 p e r c e n t w e r e c o n -

s i d e r e d "good , 1 1 5 0 . 8 p e r c e n t w e r e " a d e q u a t e , " 3 5 . 3 p e r c e n t

w e r e " l e s s t h a n a d e q u a t e , " and 5 . 6 p e r c e n t w e r e ! Tpoor. M T h e r e

w a s a "no a n s w e r ' 1 p e r c e n t i l e of 1 . 5 .

H y p o t h e s i s Nine s t a t e d t ha t e d i t o r s wou ld th ink the s k i l l s of

r e c e n t j o u r n a l i s m g r a d u a t e s w e r e a d e q u a t e o v e r a l l , bu t would c i t e

s o m e i n s t a n c e s w h e r e t hey w e r e l e s s t h a n a d e q u a t e . T a b l e VIII

i n d i c a t e s t h i s h y p o t h e s i s is v a l i d .

T A B L E VIII

EDITORS 1 ASSESSMENTS O F R E C E N T JOURNALISM GRADUATES 1

A V E R A G E C O M P E T E N C Y IN BASIC SKILLS

B a s i c Sk i l l s

N u m b e r D e g r e e

of R e s p o n s e s by of C o m p e t e n c y

B a s i c Sk i l l s A " LA* p - N / A *

A b i l i t y to R e c o g n i z e News S t o r y 4 14 1 « *

A w a r e n e s s of Who A p p r o p r i a t e S o u r c e s of I n f o r m a t i o n A r e f o r M o s t S t o r i e s 1 7 11 . , • •

A w a r e n e s s of Wha t S o u r c e s of I n f o r m a t i o n ( A l m a n a c , C i ty D i r e c t o r , e t c . ) A r e f o r M o s t S t o r i e d 5 12 2 » *

62

T A B L E VIE (cont'd)

B a s i c Ski l l s

N u m b e r of R e s p o n s e s by D e g r e e of C o m p e t e n c y

B a s i c Ski l l s G* A"" LA" p"" N / A *

Abi l i ty to Conduct Interview 1 15 2 • * 1

Abi l i ty to Take Notes 1 15 1 * • 2

Abi l i ty to S e l e c t Lead l" 8 9 1 • *

Abi l i ty to Organize F a c t s A c c o r d i n g to Importance 1 8 10 « , • #

Abi l i ty to Write C o n c i s e l y and Coherent ly * • 11 6 1 1

A c c u r a c y in Report ing 2 13 4

Abi l i ty to E s t i m a t e Length Story Should Be A c c o r d i n g to Importance • • 8 10 1 • *

A w a r e n e s s of When Ident i f icat ion and Attribution A r e Needed 2 6 9 2 # *

Abi l i ty to Recogn ize What S t o r i e s Need F o l l o w - u p s • * 8 9 2 * •

Ski l l in Spel l ing 1 6 10 2 • *

Knowledge of G r a m m a r 1 11 6 1 * •

Knowledge of A s s o c i a t e d P r e s s (or s i m i l a r ) S ty le R u l e s 1 5 7 5 • •

A b i l i t y to M e e t D e a d l i n e s 3 14 1 1 • •

O b j e c t i v i t y \ 3 10 6 • •

rG, good; A, adequate; LA, l e s s than adequate; P , poor; N / A , no a n s w e r .

63

W e a k n e s s e s , a c c o r d i n g to the e d i t o r s , w e r e a w a r e n e s s of

w h o s o u r c e s wou ld be f o r m o s t s t o r i e s (57. 9 p e r cen t nle3S t han

a d e q u a t e " ) and a w a r e n e s s of w h a t s o u r c e s f o r m o s t s t o r i e s a r e

( 6 3 . 2 p e r c e n t , ! l e s s t h a n adequate 1 1 and 1 0 . 5 p e r c e n t " p o o r " ) .

A w a r e n e s s of w h e n i d e n t i f i c a t i o n and a t t r i b u t i o n a r e n e e d e d and the

a b i l i t y to r e c o g n i z e w h e n s t o r i e s n e e d f o l l o w - u p s w e r e bo th r a t e d

4 7 . 4 p e r c e n t " l e s s t h a n a d e q u a t e " and 1 0 . 5 p e r cen t " p o o r . "

E d i t o r s f o u n d s p e l l i n g s k i l l " l e s s t h a n a d e q u a t e " by 5 2 . 6 p e r c e n t

and " p o o r " b y 1 0 . 5 p e r c e n t . Knowledge of A s s o c i a t e d P r e s s , o r

s i m i l a r s t y l e r u l e s , r e c e i v e d the l o w e s t r a t i n g s , 2 6 . 3 p e r cen t

" p o o r " and 3 6 . 8 p e r cen t " l e s s than a d e q u a t e . "

T h e e d i t o r s found r e c e n t j o u r n a l i s m g r a d u a t e s m o s t c o m p e -

t e n t in t he a r e a of r e c o g n i z i n g news s t o r i e s . T w e n t y - o n e p e r c e n t

s a i d s k i l l s w e r e " g o o d " ; 73. 7 p e r c e n t s a i d t hey w e r e " a d e q u a t e . "

T h e a b i l i t y to conduc t a n i n t e r v i e w and the a b i l i t y to t a k e no t e s w e r e

bo th r a t e d 5 . 3 p e r c e n t "good" and 78. 9 p e r cen t " a d e q u a t e . " No

e d i t o r s s a i d t h e y found s k i l l s "good" in the a b i l i t y to w r i t e c o h e r -

e n t l y and c o n c i s e l y , bu t 57. 9 p e r cen t found t h e m " a d e q u a t e . " T h e

a b i l i t y to a c c u r a t e l y r e p o r t news d r e w a 10. 5 p e r c e n t "good"

r e s p o n s e and a 6 8 . 4 p e r cen t " a d e q u a t e " r e s p o n s e . E d i t o r s r a t e d

knowledge of g r a m m a r 5. 3 p e r cen t "good" and 57. 9 p e r cen t

\ " a d e q u a t e . " O t h e r s t r e n g t h s w e r e the a b i l i t y to m e e t d e a d l i n e s , 15. 8

64

p e r c e n t l ! good n and 7 3 . 7 p e r c e n t A d e q u a t e , " and o b j e c t i v i t y in

r e p o r t i n g , 1 5 . 8 p e r c e n t , f good l ! and 5 2 . 6 p e r cen t " a d e q u a t e . ft

In o r d e r to a n a l y z e t he da ta by the a r e a s s k i l l s w e r e in,

t h r e e c l u s t e r s w e r e i o r m e d f r o m a m o n g the s k i l l s l i s t e d . T h e News

G a t h e r i n g c l u s t e r w a s c o m p r i s e d of the a b i l i t y to r e c o g n i z e n e w s ,

a w a r e n e s s of who and wha t s o u r c e s a r e f o r m o s t s t o r i e s , t he a b i l i t y

to conduc t i n t e r v i e w s and t a k e n o t e s , a n d the a b i l i t y to r e c o g n i z e

w h e n s t o r i e s n e e d to b e f o l l o w e d up. The News W r i t i n g c l u s t e r w a s

c o m p r i s e d of the a b i l i t y to o r g a n i z e f a c t s a c c o r d i n g to i m p o r t a n c e ,

t he a b i l i t y to w r i t e c o h e r e n t l y and c o n c i s e l y , the a b i l i t y to e s t i m a t e

how long a s t o r y s h o u l d b e a c c o r d i n g to i ts i m p o r t a n c e , s p e l l i n g s k i l l ,

and k n o w l e d g e of g r a m m a r and of s t y l e r u l e s . T h e C a r e f u l n e s s in

R e p o r t i n g c l u s t e r w a s c o m p r i s e d of a c c u r a c y , t h e a w a r e n e s s of w h e n

i t e n t i f i c a t i o n and a t t r i b u t i o n a r e n e e d e d , and o b j e c t i v i t y .

In News G a t h e r i n g , e d i t o r s found s k i l l s 6. 1 p e r cen t "good , M

56. 1 p e r c e n t " a d e q u a t e , " 3 1 . 6 p e r cen t " l e s s t han a d e q u a t e , " and

3 . 5 p e r c e n t " p o o r . " T h e r e w a s a "no a n s w e r " p e r c e n t i l e of 2 . 6 .

V

In News W r i t i n g , e d i t o r s r a t e d s k i l l s 3 . 5 p e r c e n t " g o o d , " 4 3 . 0

p e r c e n t " a d e q u a t e , " 4 3 . 0 p e r c e n t " l e s s t h a n a d e q u a t e , " and 8 . 8

p e r c e n t " p o o r . " T h e r e w a s a "no a n s w e r " p e r c e n t i l e of 1. 7.

W h e r e C a r e f u l n e s s in R e p o r t i n g w a s c o n c e r n e d , e d i t o r s found s k i l l s

65

1 2 . 3 p e r c e n t " g o o d , " 5 0 . 9 p e r c e n t " a d e q u a t e , 1 1 3 3 . 3 p e r c e n t

" l e s s t h a n a d e q u a t e , M and 3. 5 p e r c e n t " p o o r . "

S k i l l s in n e w s w r i t i n g e m e r g e a s t h e ones n e e d i n g t h e m o s t

a t t e n t i o n , w i th 5 1 . 8 p e r c e n t r e s p o n s e of " l e s s than a d e q u a t e " o r

" p o o r , " and only a 3 . 5 p e r cen t r e s p o n s e of " g o o d . "

M o s t of the e d i t o r s added c o m m e n t s a f t e r r e s p o n d i n g to the

q u e s t i o n on b a s i c s k i l l s . An e d i t o r who is c u r r e n t l y c o m p l e t i n g a

d e g r e e in j o u r n a l i s m s a i d , " T h i s , m e c h a n i c s , i s the key a r e a of

c l a s s r o o m f a i l u r e . T h i s c o m e s f i r s t , s c h o l a r l y t h e o r y s e c o n d .

M o s t s c h o o l s h a v e p r i o r i t i e s r e v e r s e d . " An e d i t o r who h o l d s a

B . A . in j o u r n a l i s m and a n M . A . in p o l i t i c a l s c i e n c e a g r e e d . " T h e

d i f f i c u l t y s e e m s to be in old f a s h i o n e d ' news s a v v y . 1 T h e r e is too

m u c h m a s s c o m m u n i c a t i o n s t h e o r y a n d too l i t t l e p r a c t i c a l , r e a l i s t i c

a p p l i c a t i o n . "

One e d i t o r did not a p p e a r p a r t i c u l a r l y c o n c e r n e d abou t b a s i c

s k i l l s . " O u r m a n a g i n g e d i t o r and I a g r e e t h a t we a r e u s u a l l y ab l e to

t a k e p e r s o n s who h a v e ho p r e c o n c e i v e d i d e a s of how to w r i t e and

t e a c h t h e m how w e wan t t h ings w r i t t e n . We w a n t w e l l r e a d and

b r o a d l y e d u c a t e d peop le who know s o m e th ings to w r i t e abou t r a t h e r

t h a n s o m e o n e who knows how to w r i t e bu t a c t u a l l y knows no th ing . "

M o s t of the e d i t o r s who a d d e d c o m m e n t s s p e c i f i e d p a r t i c u l a r

J

s k i l l s w h e r e t h e y though t new r e p o r t e r s w e r e w e a k . "I f i n d few new

66

r e p o r t e r s know how t o do r e w r i t e s . V e r y w e a k on s e c o n d d a y l e a d s .

V e r y i m p o r t a n t on a n a f t e r n o o n p a p e r , 1 1 w r o t e o n e . " S p e l l i n g a n d

g r a m m a r s e e m t o b e m a j o r w e a k n e s s e s of a l l g r a d s , " a n o t h e r s a i d .

O n e e d i t o r e x p r e s s e d c o n c e r n a b o u t r e p o r t e r s 1 f a i l u r e s t o

a t t r i b u t e i n f o r m a t i o n :

T h e m a i n c o m p l a i n t I h a v e w i t h r e c e n t J - s c h o o l g r a d s i s t h e i r f a i l u r e t o a t t r i b u t e i n f o r m a t i o n in t h e i r c o p y . T o o m a n y t i m e s , t h e y m e r e l y i n s e r t i n f o r m a t i o n t h e y n k n o w t o b e c o r r e c t , n b u t h a v e n ! t g o t t e n a n y o n e in a u t h o r i t y t o s a y . T h i s i s p e r h a p s t h e m o s t d i s t u r b -ing p o i n t . T o o , m o s t a r e t o o b u s y l o o k i n g f o r t h o s e f i r s t b y l i n e s t o t a k e p a i n s w i t h t h e r u n - o f - t h e - m i l l ob i t o r t w o - g r a f n e w s s t o r y . I t t a k e s a lo t of e m p h a s i s ( a n d , o f t e n , s o m e s c r e a m i n g ) t o c o n v i n c e t h e m t h a t t h e t w o -g r a f e r i s e q u a l l y i m p o r t a n t . I a l s o s p e n d a lo t of t i m e r e m i n d i n g n e w r e p o r t e r s t o e d i t t h e i r own c o p y b e f o r e p u t t i n g i t in t h e b a s k e t on t h e c i t y d e s k . M a n y s e e m t o t h i n k t h e c i t y d e s k a l s o a c t s a s t h e d i c t i o n a r y .

n T h e a b i l i t y t o w r i t e c l e a r l y , t o o b t a i n f a c t s , a n d g e t

n a m e s c o r r e c t c a n n o t b e o v e r e m p h a s i z e d , " a n o t h e r s a i d .

O n e e d i t o r s a i d h e f o u n d " m o d e r n g r a d u a t e s s e e m a b i t

s h a r p e r t h a n a f e w y e a r s a g o . " He a d d e d , "But , I t h i n k w e a r e

b e g i n n i n g to a t t r a c t t h e b e t t e r g r a d u a t e s . " T h i s e d i t o r w a s one w h o

w o r k e d on t h e l o n e p a p e r w i t h a t r a i n i n g p r o g r a m .

A n e d i t o r of one of t h e l a r g e r c i r c u l a t i o n p a p e r s s a i d " t h e r e

i s a t r e m e n d o u s l a c k of h u m i l i t y in t h e c u b s a n d t h e m a i n d r a w b a c k i s

t h a t t h e y d o n ! t t a k e t i m e t o l e a r n c e r t a i n b a s i c s - - s t y l e , o r g a n i z a t i o n ,

e t c . " 1

67

S e v e r a l e d i t o r s e x p r e s s e d c o n c e r n o v e r l ack of o b j e c t i v i t y .

" O u r m a i n c o m p l a i n t i s t h a t f a r too m a n y young j o u r n a l i s t s a r e

A d v o c a c y 1 r e p o r t e r s and canno t c o m p r e h e n d t ha t w e i n s i s t on p u r e

o b j e c t i v i t y , 11 one w r o t e .

A n o t h e r s a i d abou t t h i s po in t ,

None of t h o s e [ s k i l l s ] li&ed ! , l e s s t h a n a d e q u a t e " o r l ! p o o r n c r e a t e a n y g r e a t p r o b l e m s e x c e p t o b j e c t i v i t y . T h e o t h e r s c a n be l e a r n e d f a i r l y q u i c k l y in the n e w s r o o m . But o b j e c t i v i t y i s a n e v e r end ing b a t t l e f o r a l l of u s . T h i s i s n ' t to s a y t ha t we s h o u l d n ' t h a v e o p i n i o n s - - w e m u s t , and we m u s t c o n t i n u a l l y s t r i v e t o c h a n g e w h a t we v i e w , a s j o u r n a l i s t s , i s w r o n g . But we m u s t a l s o m a k e e v e r y p o s s i b l e e f f o r t t o p r e s e n t a l l s i d e s of any c o n t r o -v e r s i a l s t o r y . And th i s m u s t be done , if a t a l l p o s s i -b l e , w i thou t a m a n u f a c t u r e d s l a n t . We have to give t h e r e a d e r the c h a n c e to m a k e h i s own d e c i s i o n s . If w e t r y to m a k e t h e m f o r h i m , he m i g h t qui t l i s t e n i n g t o u s .

One e d i t o r s a i d s t u d e n t s n n e e d m o r e d r i l l in r o u t i n e s of

n e w s p a p e r w o r k . Young r e p o r t e r s t o d a y a r e too a c t i v i s t and

i m p a t i e n t . n He had b e e n w o r k i n g in the n e w s p a p e r b u s i n e s s t w e n t y -

one y e a r s , e igh t of t h e m a s a c i ty e d i t o r o r an a s s i s t a n t c i ty e d i t o r .

A n o t h e r e d i t o r , w i th only f i v e y e a r s 1 e x p e r i e n c e in the b u s i -

n e s s a n d one y e a r a s a c i t y e d i t o r , s a i d ,

I c a n r e l a t e to the y o u n g s t e r s c o m i n g out of c o l -l e g e . By and l a r g e , I a g r e e w i th t h e i r d o c t r i n e s of c h a n g e . But you*ve got to know w h e r e you a r e going . Y o u ' v e got to have y o u r gun loaded wi th f a c t s b e f o r e you f i r e i t out a t the g e n e r a l pub l i c . You 've got to u n d e r -s t a n d w h a t the i m p a c t w i l l m e a n to the e s t a b l i s h e d , m i d d l e c l a s s .

68

One e d i t o r o f f e r e d t h e s e c o m m e n t s a b o u t the g e n e r a l c o m p e -

t e n c y of new r e p o r t e r s :

A n u m b e r of t h o s e w e ' v e l e t go c a m e to ou r c i t y r o o m wi th t h e i r own p r e c o n c e i v e d i d e a s of wha t a n e w s -p a p e r s h o u l d b e and how a s t o r y s h o u l d be w r i t t e n .

T h e y w e r e a b o v e w o r k i n g n i g h t s , c o v e r i n g the p o l i c e b e a t o r g iv ing t h e i r b e s t on a r o u t i n e a s s i g n m e n t .

T h e i r r e a d i n g w a s g e n e r a l l y r e s t r i c t e d to Vonnegu t , T h e B o i l i n g S tone and T o m W o l f e . I ' m a g r e a t a d m i r e r of W o l f e a n d the s o - c a l l e d new j o u r n a l i s m . H o w e v e r , u n f o r t u n a t e l y , I ' v e s e e n v e r y few young r e p o r t e r s w i th t h e f l a i r and the s t o r y t e l l i n g t e c h n i q u e or the p o t e n t i a l t o w r i t e l ike W o l f e .

We e n c o u r a g e d i f f e r e n t s t y l e s . . . . H o w e v e r , w e i n s i s t on t a s t e , c l a r i t y and f a i r p l a y .

F r a n k l y , w h a t p u z z l e s m e is how o r why our m a j o r u n i v e r s i t i e s g ive d e g r e e s in j o u r n a l i s m t o s t u d e n t s who (1) p o s s e s s no f e e l f o r the E n g l i s h l a n g u a g e , (2) l i t e r -a l l y , c a n ' t w r i t e a s e n t e n c e , and (3) d o n ' t know s y n t a x o r g r a m m a r .

R e c e n t and B e l a t e d S t u d i e s

T h e b a s i c s , c r i t i c s h a v e c h a r g e d , a r e o f t en d o w n g r a d e d .

J o h n H u l t e n g , a p r o f e s s o r of j o u r n a l i s m , s a y s ,

I have b e e n d i s m a y e d on m o r e than a few o c c a s i o n s b y the t e n d e n c y of s o m e j o u r n a l i s m e d u c a t o r s to d e n i -g r a t e and a p o l o g i z e f o r tha t p a r t of t h e i r c u r r i c u l u m tha t h a s t o do wi th d e v e l o p i n g the a b i l i t y of s t u d e n t s to h a n d l e w o r d s and i d e a s e f f e c t i v e l y . Of t en s u c h c o u r s e s a r e p a l m e d off on the m o s t j u n i o r and i n e x p e r i e n c e d f a c u l t y m e m b e r s , who e s c a p e f r o m t h e m a s s o o n a s t hey c a n a c q u i r e s u f f i c i e n t s e n i o r i t y (1, p . 14).

M . L . S t e i n , the c h a i r m a n of the D e p a r t m e n t of J o u r n a l i s m

a t New Y o r k U n i v e r s i t y ' s W a s h i n g t o n S q u a r e Co l l ege and a f r e q u e n t

69

a u t h o r of a r t i c l e s on j o u r n a l i s m , c r i t i c i z e s (2, pp . 4 2 - 4 3 ) p r a c -

t i o n e r s who d i s p e n s e the b l a n k e t a d v i c e , "You c a n l e a r n n e w s p a p e r

w o r k on the j o b . 11 S t e in w o n d e r s if t h e s e n e w s m e n wi l l p e r s o n a l l y

t a k e the t i m e to t r a i n t h e h o p e f u l j o u r n a l i s t if he T s h i r e d , t e a c h h i m

the f i n e po in t s of news g a t h e r i n g and w r i t i n g , conduc t s e m i n a r s f o r

h i m in the l e g a l a s p e c t s of j o u r n a l i s m e t h i c s and s o m e of the f i n e

po in t s of pub l i c a f f a i r s r e p o r t i n g , and , in s h o r t , supp ly h i m w i t h

enough i n f o r m a t i o n t h a t he w o n ' t be f i r e d d u r i n g h i s p r o b a t i o n a r y

p e r i o d .

T h e " h a r d k n o c k s " s c h o o l of j o u r n a l i s m is a m y t h to be d i s -

c o u r a g e d , S t e i n s a y s , c i t i n g the f a c t t h a t , w i t h the e x c e p t i o n of t he

C o p l e y a n d Ganne t t g r o u p s , few news o p e r a t i o n s a r e p r o v i d i n g f o r m a l ,

o n - t h e - j o b t r a i n i n g .

S t e in a s k s ,

W h e r e i s t he c i ty e d i t o r who , a f t e r m a k i n g a s s i g n -m e n t s , a n s w e r i n g t e l e p h o n e s , ed i t i ng copy a n d a r g u i n g wi th the M. E . , h a s t i m e to t e a c h f u n d a m e n t a l s to f l e d g -l ing r e p o r t e r s ? Once in a wh i l e a n o l d e r r e p o r t e r , if h e ' s t h a t type of guy, w i l l h e l p a young s ta f f w r i t e r , bu t t h i s is a c h a n c y o c c u r r e n c e . M o s t n e w c o m e r s a r e l e f t t o s i n k o r s w i m and a n u m b e r of t h e m s i n k , e s p e -c i a l l y on m e t r o p o l i t a n d a i l i e s (2, p. 42) .

If t h e y do n o t h i n g e l s e , S t e in s a y s , j o u r n a l i s m s c h o o l s p r e -

p a r e g r a d u a t e s to c a r r y out a s s i g n m e n t s wi thou t the n e e d of h a n d -

ho ld ing and n u r s i n g by the c i t y d e s k .

70

S t e i n s a y s j o u r n a l i s m e d u c a t i o n , a t l e a s t a m i n i m u m of

c o u r s e s in t h a t a r e a , s h o u l d not be n e g l e c t e d in a n a t t e m p t to ge t a

l i b e r a l e d u c a t i o n . If p r o p e r l y t a u g h t , j o u r n a l i s m s t u d e n t s a r e ge t t i ng

a l i b e r a l e d u c a t i o n , h e s a y s . And e v e n the j o u r n a l i s m m a j o r , a t an

a c c r e d i t e d s c h o o l , w i l l t a k e only 25 p e r c e n t of h i s w o r k in j o u r n a l -

i s m , bu t w i l l h a v e a m u c h b e t t e r u n d e r s t a n d i n g of t he p r o f e s s i o n a s a

r e s u l t .

T h e m a j o r c o m e s a w a y wi th a knowledge of t h e h i s t o r y a n d t r a d i t i o n of h i s p r o f e s s i o n . He l e a r n s s o m e -t h i n g a b o u t the n e w s m e d i a f s p r o b l e m s , i t s r e l a t i o n s h i p t o s o c i e t y and g o v e r n m e n t , i t s f u n c t i o n in a d e m o c r a c y , He i s i n f o r m e d a b o u t the c o m m u n i c a t i o n p r o c e s s and is p r e s e n t e d wi th an e t h i c a l b a s i s f o r h i s a c t i o n s . Above a l l , he i s m a d e a w a r e of h i s r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s a s a j o u r n a l -i s t . I b e l i e v e f i r m l y t ha t if j o u r n a l i s m is e v e r to b e c o m e t r u l y a p r o f e s s i o n , i t w i l l be a c c o m p l i s h e d l a r g e l y t h r o u g h t h e i n f l u e n c e of j o u r n a l i s m s c h o o l s .

I h a v e m e t a n u m b e r of n e w s m e n and w o m e n who c o u l d h a v e p r o f i t e d f r o m a j o u r n a l i s m e d u c a t i o n . T h e y w e r e s k i l l e d t y p e w r i t e r m e c h a n i c s but had l i t t l e u n d e r -s t a n d i n g o r a p p r e c i a t i o n of the n u a n c e s of t h e i r w o r k a n d w e r e a l m o s t t o t a l l y l a c k i n g in i d e a l i s m abou t it (2, p . 43 ) .

R e p o r t o r i a l A r e a s

T h e e d i t o r s w e r e a s k e d to i n d i c a t e the d e g r e e of e m p h a s i s

t h e y f e l t t w e l v e t r a d i t i o n a l a r e a s of r e p o r t a g e s h o u l d be g iven a s p a r t

of a j o u r n a l i s m s t u d e n t s e d u c a t i o n . T h e y r a t e d c i t y c o u n c i l and

m u n i c i p a l a f f a i r s h i g h e s t (a r e s p o n s e of 42 . 1 p e r c e n t f o r , T much n

e m p h a s i s ) . N e x t h i g h e s t w a s e l e c t i o n p r o c e d u r e s ( 3 1 . 6 p e r c e n t

71

r e s p o n s e f o r "much 1 1 e m p h a s i s ) . O t h e r a r e a s r a t e d h igh in

e m p h a s i s w e r e coun ty o f f i c e s and a g e n c i e s , c o u r t s t r u c t u r e s in

g e n e r a l , c r i m i n a l c o u r t p r o c e d u r e s , and p o l i c e , a l l of w h i c h r e c e i v e d

a 2 6 . 3 p e r c e n t " m u c h " r e s p o n s e . E m p h a s i s on c o v e r i n g l e g i s l a -

t u r e s w a s r a t e d l o w e s t ( 2 6 . 3 p e r c e n t r e s p o n s e f o r " l i t t le 1 1 e m p h a -

s i s ) . T h i s i s p r o b a b l y b e c a u s e m o s t p a p e r s s e l e c t s e a s o n e d r e p o r t e r s

to c o v e r the s t a t e l e g i s l a t u r e , if the p a p e r i s l a r g e enough to h a v e i ts

own c a p i t a l c o r r e s p o n d e n t a t a l l ( s e e T a b l e IX).

T h e e d i t o r s w e r e a l s o a s k e d to c o m m e n t on w h i c h of t h e s e

r e p o r t o r i a l a r e a s t h e y found b e g i n n i n g r e p o r t e r s l e a s t w e l l p r e p a r e d

to c o v e r . C i t y c o u n c i l a n d c o u r t s t r u c t u r e s in g e n e r a l w e r e e a c h

m e n t i o n e d b y s i x e d i t o r s . County o f f i c e s and a g e n c i e s w e r e m e n -

t i o n e d f o u r t i m e s , and f e d e r a l o f f i c e s and a g e n c i e s , t he l e g i s l a t u r e ,

t a x p r o c e d u r e s o r g o v e r n m e n t f i n a n c i n g , and p o l i c e t h r e e t i m e s .

S t a t e o f f i c e s and a g e n c i e s , e l e c t i o n p r o c e d u r e s , c r i m i n a l c o u r t p r o c e -

d u r e s , and w e l f a r e a g e n c i e s w e r e n a m e d t w i c e e a c h . E d u c a t i o n w a s

l i s t e d o n c e .

O n e e d i t o r s a i d the n good f ! a d a p t r a p i d l y to a l l a r e a s .

A n o t h e r s a i d r e p o r t e r s wou ld l e a r n to c o v e r m o s t of t h e s e a r e a s on

t h e j o b , b u t if t h e y c a m e wi th s o m e e x p e r i e n c e o r knowledge , t h a t w a s

e v e n b e t t e r . He a d d e d , " T o o m a n y r e p o r t e r s , e v e n e x p e r i e n c e d

o n e s , do not r e a d the p a p e r da i l y a s t h e y s h o u l d . M o s t r e p o r t e r s do

72 .

T A B L E IX

OPINIONS CONCERNING T H E D E G R E E O F EMPHASIS T R A D I T I O N A L A R E A S O F R E P O R T A G E SHOULD BE GIVEN

R e p o r t i n g A r e a s

N u m b e r of R e s p o n s e s by-D e g r e e of E m p h a s i s

M M o ' N N / A '

C i t y C o u n c i l and M u n i c i p a l A f f a i r s

Coun ty O f f i c e s and A g e n c i e s

S t a t e O f f i c e s and A g e n c i e s

L e g i s l a t u r e

F e d e r a l O f f i c e s and A g e n c i e s

E l e c t i o n P r o c e d u r e s

C o u r t S t r u c t u r e s in G e n e r a l

C r i m i n a l C o u r t P r o c e d u r e s

T a x P r o c e d u r e s and G o v e r n m e n t ' F i n a n c i n g

S c h o o l s and E d u c a t i o n

P o l i c e

W e l f a r e A g e n c i e s

8

5

3

5

2

6

5

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5

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11

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"M, m u c h ; Mo, m o d e r a t e ; L , l i t t l e ; N, n o n e ; N / A , no a n s w e r .

73

n o t r e a d A u s t i n s t o r i e s a t a l l , o r e v e n m a n y s t o r i e s not on t h e i r own

b e a t . M

M o s t of t h e e d i t o r s w h o f e l t new r e p o r t e r s h a d p a r t i c u l a r

w e a k n e s s e s w e r e c o n c e r n e d t h a t t h e y w e r e in t he a r e a s w h e r e new

r e p o r t e r s a r e m o s t l i k e l y to b e a s s i g n e d . O n e e d i t o r s a i d b e g i n n i n g

r e p o r t e r s w e r e w e a k in p r e p a r a t i o n f o r c o v e r i n g c i t y a n d c o u n t y

a f f a i r s , e d u c a t i o n , a n d w e l f a r e . " T h e s e s e e m to b e the l e a s t g l a m o r -

o u s , b u t in m a n y w a y s , t h e m o s t b a s i c . n

T h e e d i t o r of one of t he l a r g e r m e t r o p o l i t a n d a i l i e s s a i d ,

" M o s t a r e p r e t t y w e a k on o p e r a t i o n of l o c a l g o v e r n m e n t . M a n y n e v e r

h a v e a t t e n d e d a m e e t i n g of a c i t y c o u n c i l , c o m m i s s i o n e r s c o u r t , o r

s c h o o l b o a r d . 11

O n e s a i d , TII b e l i e v e a b e g i n n i n g j o u r n a l i s t s h o u l d h a v e

a c q u i r e d a w o r k i n g k n o w l e d g e of a l l c a t e g o r i e s m e n t i o n e d [ in t h e

q u e s t i o n n a i r e ] , p a r t i c u l a r l y e l e c t i o n p r o c e d u r e s . I a m o f t e n a m a z e d

a t t h e l a c k of k n o w l e d g e in t h i s a r e a . n

A n o t h e r s a i d , "We h a v e b e e n p o i n t e d l y d i s a p p o i n t e d in how

l i t t le m o s t r e p o r t e r s know about cour t s t r u c t u r e s in g e n e r a l . "

One ed i tor a m o n g t h o s e in the p r o f i l e group hav ing a h igh

d e g r e e of p a r t i c i p a t i o n in j o u r n a l i s m educat ion o f f e r e d t h e s e c o m m e n t s :

Unfor tunate ly , m o s t r e c e n t J - g r a d s s e e m to be w e a k e s t in the a r e a s in w h i c h they should be s t r o n g e s t -p o l i c e and c r i m i n a l cour t p r o c e d u r e s . The p o l i c e beat

74

t r a d i t i o n a l l y h a s b e e n a s t a r t i n g point and a p r o v i n g a r e a f o r m a n y r o o k i e r e p o r t e r s . O b v i o u s l y , it is m a n d a -t o r y t h e y b e t h o r o u g h l y b a c k g r o u n d e d in po l i ce and c r i m i -n a l c o u r t p r o c e d u r e s . I have found t h a t m o s t l a ck the a b i l i t y to dec ide f o r t h e m s e l v e s w h e t h e r o r not a s u s -p e c t ' s n a m e c a n b e u s e d , e t c . I would s t r o n g l y e m p h a -s i z e t he p o l i c e a n d c r i m i n a l a r e a s be s t r e s s e d m o r e s t r o n g l y .

One e d i t o r s a i d , n b e g i n n i n g r e p o r t e r s s e e m l e a s t ab l e to

c o v e r a l l a r e a s w h e r e f a c t s m u s t b e s e p a r a t e d f r o m a m a s s i v e d o s e of

r h e t o r i c , s u c h a s c i ty c o u n c i l s , l e g i s l a t u r e , e t c . 1 1

A n o t h e r c o n c l u d e d , " t h e y n e e d a good, w e l l r o u n d e d b a c k -

g r o u n d , e s p e c i a l l y l e a n i n g t o w a r d l o c a l and coun ty a r e a s , s i n c e m o s t

w i l l s t a r t a s g e n e r a l a s s i g n m e n t r e p o r t e r s a n d w i l l d e a l in t h e s e

T h e da ta on the q u e s t i o n c o n c e r n i n g r e p o r t o r i a l a r e a s w e r e

a n a l y z e d in t e r m s of w h e t h e r r e s p o n d e n t s p r e f e r r e d tha t a p p l i c a n t s

h a v e a d e g r e e in j o u r n a l i s m , o r w h e t h e r t h e y f e l t a d e g r e e in j o u r n a l -

i s m w a s no t n e c e s s a r i l y a r e q u i r e m e n t ( see T a b l e X).

T h o s e who b e l i e v e d a d e g r e e in j o u r n a l i s m w a s not p a r t i c u -

l a r l y i m p o r t a n t r a t e d d e s i r e d e m p h a s e s in f o u r key a r e a s s l i g h t l y

h i g h e r . T h e c o m b i n e d p e r c e n t a g e s f o r " m u c h " and " m o d e r a t e "

e m p h a s i s f o r t h i s g r o u p w e r e 92. 8 p e r cen t f o r c i ty c o u n c i l and m u n i -

c i p a l a f f a i r s , 85. 7 p e r cen t f o r coun ty o f f i c e s and a g e n c i e s , 85. 7 p e r

cen t f o r c o u r t s t r u c t u r e s in g e n e r a l , and 92. 8 p e r cen t f o r c r i m i n a l

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c o u r t p r o c e d u r e s . T h e c o m b i n e d " m u c h " and " m o d e r a t e " p e r -

c e n t a g e s of t h o s e who p r e f e r r e d j o u r n a l i s m d e g r e e s w e r e 80 p e r

c e n t in e a c h c a s e . T h e g r o u p wh ich p r e f e r r e d j o u r n a l i s m d e g r e e s

gave bo th e l e c t i o n p r o c e d u r e s and p o l i c e a n 80 p e r c e n t c o m b i n e d

t o t a l , a s o p p o s e d t o the o t h e r g r o u p ' s 7 8 . 6 p e r c e n t .

C H A P T E R B I B L I O G R A P H Y

1. H u l t e n g , J o h n L. , " C o m m e n t s on E d u c a t i o n f o r J o u r n a l i s m , " Q u i l l , 57 ( M a r c h , 1969), 14.

2 . S t e i n , M . L . , " J - S c h o o l in the N e w s r o o m ? " Qu i l l , 60 (Novem-b e r , 1972), 4 2 - 4 3 .

77

C H A P T E R V

CONCLUSIONS AND R E C O M M E N D A T I O N S

T h e o v e r a l l c o n c l u s i o n of t h i s s t u d y is t h a t c i t y e d i t o r s a r e

i n t e r e s t e d in s e e i n g c o l l e g e and u n i v e r s i t y d e p a r t m e n t s of j o u r n a l i s m

t a k e a p r a c t i c a l a p p r o a c h to j o u r n a l i s m e d u c a t i o n . T h e y w a n t

s t u d e n t s w e l l - g r o u n d e d in l i b e r a l a r t s who a r e s k i l l e d in the b a s i c s of

n e w s g a t h e r i n g and w r i t i n g and who p o s s e s s a w i l l i n g n e s s to i m p r o v e

t h o s e s k i l l s on t h e job b e f o r e b e c o m i n g s p e c i a l i z e d or a n a l y t i c a l

w r i t e r s .

One e d i t o r s u m m e d up h i s f e e l i n g s t h i s w a y : " M a n y r e c e n t

g r a d s canno t f u n c t i o n a w a y f r o m a c o n t r o l l e d , c l a s s - r o o m type s i t u a -

t i o n . T h e y t e n d to bog down when c o n f r o n t e d wi th o b s t a c l e s . M o r e

a t t e n t i o n shou ld b e p a i d to the p r a c t i c a l e x p e r i e n c e s i d e in c o l l e g e . tf

T h i s e d i t o r a d d e d t h a t t h e p r a c t i c a l a p p r o a c h , in h i s e s t i m a t i o n , a l s o

i n c l u d e d do ing a w a y w i t h " f i c t i o n r e g a r d i n g s o f t h o u r s and h igh pay

f o r n e w s p a p e r t y p e s . " T h e y don r t e x i s t , he s a i d .

S u m m a r y of the H y p o t h e s e s

1. T h e c i t y e d i t o r s w i l l not b e c o n c e r n e d abou t w h e t h e r job

a p p l i c a n t s h a v e d e g r e e s .

78

79

F i f t y - f i v e p e r c e n t of t w e n t y e d i t o r s r e s p o n d i n g though t job

a p p l i c a n t s s h o u l d , in m o s t c a s e s , h a v e d e g r e e s ; 45 p e r cen t s a i d

d e g r e e s w e r e not n e c e s s a r i l y a r e q u i r e m e n t . T h e h y p o t h e s i s i s

n e i t h e r p r o v e n n o r d i s p r o v e n .

2 . T h e c i t y e d i t o r s 1 p r e f e r e n c e on d e g r e e s w i l l not b e

d e t e r m i n e d by w h e t h e r t h e y hold one t h e m s e l v e s .

F o r t y p e r c e n t of t w e n t y e d i t o r s r e s p o n d i n g h e l d d e g r e e s

t h e m s e l v e s and though t a d e g r e e w a s g e n e r a l l y n e e d e d ; 30 p e r cen t

h e l d d e g r e e s t h e m s e l v e s bu t did no t th ink one w a s n e c e s s a r i l y n e e d e d .

F i f t e e n p e r c e n t h e l d no d e g r e e , but t hough t one w a s g e n e r a l l y n e e d e d ;

10 p e r c e n t h e l d no d e g r e e and did no t t h i n k one w a s n e c e s s a r i l y

n e e d e d . One of the t w e n t y e d i t o r s o f f e r e d no i n f o r m a t i o n on h i s own

e d u c a t i o n a l b a c k g r o u n d . T h e l a c k of a s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e of op in -

ion m a k e s the h y p o t h e s i s v a l i d .

3 . T h e c i t y e d i t o r s w i l l not b e c o n c e r n e d abou t w h e t h e r

a p p l i c a n t s 1 d e g r e e s a r e in j o u r n a l i s m .

S e v e n t y - f i v e p e r c e n t of the t w e n t y e d i t o r s r e s p o n d i n g s a i d a V

d e g r e e in j o u r n a l i s m w a s not n e c e s s a r i l y a n a d v a n t a g e , m a k i n g the

h y p o t h e s i s v a l i d .

4 . T h e c i t y e d i t o r ' s p r e f e r e n c e s on j o u r n a l i s m d e g r e e s w i l l

no t be d e t e r m i n e d by w h e t h e r t h e y hold a d e g r e e in j o u r n a l i s m .

80

T w e n t y p e r c e n t of t w e n t y e d i t o r s r e s p o n d i n g h e l d a d e g r e e

in j o u r n a l i s m and though t one in t h a t a r e a w a s p r e f e r a b l e ; 30 p e r c e n t

h e l d a d e g r e e in j o u r n a l i s m b u t did not t h i n k one in tha t a r e a w a s

n e c e s s a r i l y p r e f e r a b l e . T h e l a c k of a s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e of op in -

ion m a k e s t h e h y p o t h e s i s v a l i d .

5. T h e c i ty e d i t o r s w i l l p r e f e r t h a t job a p p l i c a n t s h a v e a

b r o a d l i b e r a l a r t s b a c k g r o u n d .

T h e c i t y e d i t o r s i n d i c a t e d b y the w i d e v a r i e t y of m a j o r s t h e y

wou ld c o n s i d e r w h e n h i r i n g t h a t t h e y w e r e i n t e r e s t e d in s t a f f s c o m -

p r i s e d of b r o a d l i b e r a l a r t s b a c k g r o u n d s . T h e h y p o t h e s i s is f u r t h e r

p r o v e n by t h e f a c t t h a t t h e r e w e r e only two a r e a s of s t udy a m o n g

e l e v e n l i s t e d w h e r e any of t h e e d i t o r s f e l t no e m p h a s i s w a s n e e d e d .

T h e y w e r e i n t e r e s t e d m o s t in s e e i n g s t u d e n t s a c q u i r e knowledge in the

a r e a s of p o l i t i c a l s c i e n c e , g o v e r n m e n t (local, s t a t e and f e d e r a l ) , and

e c o n o m i c s .

6 . T h e c i t y e d i t o r s w i l l p l a c e a h igh d e g r e e of e m p h a s i s

on a p r a c t i c a l a p p r o a c h to j o u r n a l i s m c o u r s e s ; s p e c i f i c a l l y , t hey w i l l

b e m o r e i n t e r e s t e d in s k i l l s and t e c h n i q u e c o u r s e s t han in c o u r s e s

w h i c h d e a l w i t h r e s e a r c h and t h e o r y .

T h e e d i t o r s s a i d a n a v e r a g e t o t a l of 9. 15 s e m e s t e r s w e r e

n e e d e d in g e n e r a l r e p o r t i n g , pub l i c a f f a i r s repor t ing- , a n d f e a t u r e

w r i t i n g . T h e y s a i d a n a v e r a g e t o t a l of 5. 03 s e m e s t e r s w e r e n e e d e d

81 .

in d e s k w o r k , p r i n t i n g , and p h o t o g r a p h y . T h e y i n d i c a t e d a n a v e r a g e

t o t a l of only 1. 88 s e m e s t e r s w e r e n e e d e d in c o m m u n i c a t i o n s r e s e a r c h

a n d t h e o r y , m a k i n g the h y p o t h e s i s v a l i d .

7. T h e r e w i l l be no s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e in the j o u r n a l i s m

c o u r s e s t h e e d i t o r s f e e l a r e m o s t v a l u a b l e a c c o r d i n g to t h e i r own

d e g r e e s t a t u s .

T h e r e s p o n d e n t s , r e g a r d l e s s of d e g r e e s t a t u s , p l a c e d the

t h r e e g r o u p s of j o u r n a l i s m c o u r s e s in t h e s a m e o r d e r ( g e n e r a l r e p o r t -

ing , p u b l i c a f f a i r s r e p o r t i n g , and f e a t u r e w r i t i n g ; d e s k w o r k , p r i n t i n g ,

a n d p h o t o g r a p h y ; c o m m u n i c a t i o n s r e s e a r c h and t h e o r y ) , m a k i n g the

h y p o t h e s i s v a l i d .

8 . T h e r e w i l l be no s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e in the v a l u e p l a c e d

on c o m m u n i c a t i o n s r e s e a r c h a c c o r d i n g to the n u m b e r of y e a r s of

e x p e r i e n c e the e d i t o r s h a v e , o r t h e i r f a m i l i a r i t y wi th c u r r e n t p r o g r a m s

of j o u r n a l i s m e d u c a t i o n .

E d i t o r s wi th f e w e r t han f i f t e e n y e a r s ' e x p e r i e n c e s a i d an

a v e r a g e of one s e m e s t e r of r e s e a r c h w a s n e e d e d ; e d i t o r s wi th m o r e

%.

t h a n f i f t e e n y e a r s ' e x p e r i e n c e s a i d an a v e r a g e of . 7 9 s e m e s t e r w a s

n e e d e d . T h o s e e d i t o r s c o n s i d e r e d to b e m o r e f a m i l i a r w i th j o u r n a l -

i s m e d u c a t i o n p r o g r a m s s a i d a n a v e r a g e of . 7 0 s e m e s t e r w a s n e e d e d

in r e s e a r c h ; t h o s e c o n s i d e r e d to be l e s s f a m i l i a r s a i d a n a v e r a g e of

82 .

. 6 9 s e m e s t e r w a s n e e d e d . T h e l a c k of a s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e of

op in ion m a k e s the h y p o t h e s i s v a l i d .

9. T h e c i t y e d i t o r s w i l l r a t e the o v e r a l l s k i l l s of r e c e n t

j o u r n a l i s m g r a d u a t e s a d e q u a t e , b u t w i l l cite s o m e i n s t a n c e s in w h i c h

t h e y a r e l e s s t h a n a d e q u a t e .

Of the t o t a l r e s p o n s e s f o r c o m p e t e n c y in a l l s k i l l s , 50. 8

p e r c e n t w e r e c o n s i d e r e d a d e q u a t e and 3 5 . 3 p e r cen t w e r e c o n s i d e r e d

l e s s t h a n a d e q u a t e . W e a k n e s s e s w e r e a w a r e n e s s of who and w h a t

s o u r c e s wou ld b e f o r m o s t s t o r i e s , a w a r e n e s s of when i d e n t i f i c a t i o n

and a t t r i b u t i o n a r e n e e d e d , the a b i l i t y to r e c o g n i z e w h e n s t o r i e s need

f o l l o w - u p s , s p e l l i n g , a n d knowledge of s t y l e r u l e s . T h e e d i t o r s found

new r e p o r t e r s l e a s t p r e p a r e d to c o v e r c i t y c o u n c i l , coun ty o f f i c e s and

a g e n c i e s , and c o u r t s in g e n e r a l . T h e h y p o t h e s i s is v a l i d .

10. T h e r e w i l l be a low d e g r e e of c o n t a c t b e t w e e n the c i ty

e d i t o r s a n d j o u r n a l i s m d e p a r t m e n t s , bu t a h igh d e g r e e of i n t e r e s t in

m a k i n g m o r e c o n t a c t s .

T h e r e w a s a s i g n i f i c a n t l y low d e g r e e of c o n t a c t b e t w e e n the

e d i t o r s a n d j o u r n a l i s m s c h o o l s . F i f t y p e r c e n t of s i x t e e n r e s p o n d e n t s

h a d not v i s i t e d a j o u r n a l i s m s c h o o l w i th in the l a s t y e a r ; only 31 p e r

cen t v i s i t e d one a s f r e q u e n t l y a s once a y e a r . An inv i t a t i on t o v i s i t a

s c h o o l of j o u r n a l i s m had b e e n r e c e i v e d by j u s t 47 p e r c e n t d u r i n g the

l a s t y e a r . (A c o l l e g e o r u n i v e r s i t y h a v i n g a t l e a s t a t w o - y e a r p r o g r a m

83

i n j o u r n a l i s m e x i s t s in o r v e r y n e a r e a c h of the c i t i e s f r o m w h i c h

e d i t o r s r e p l i e d . ) Only f i v e e d i t o r s gave a f f i r m a t i v e a n s w e r s on a l l

t h r e e p o i n t s , m a k i n g the d e g r e e of c o n t a c t e v e n m o r e l i m i t e d .

A n 88 p e r c e n t r e s p o n s e to the s u r v e y i n d i c a t e s a s t r o n g

i n t e r e s t in j o u r n a l i s m e d u c a t i o n . A d d i t i o n a l l y , 7 3 . 6 p e r cen t of n i n e -

t e e n r e s p o n d e n t s a n s w e r e d a f f i r m a t i v e l y w h e n a s k e d if t h e y would be

i n t e r e s t e d in m e e t i n g w i th j o u r n a l i s m i n s t r u c t o r s to d i s c u s s j o u r n a l -

i s m e d u c a t i o n , a n d 83 p e r c e n t of t h o s e s a i d s u c h m e e t i n g s shou ld

t a k e p l a c e a t l e a s t a n n u a l l y . T h e h y p o t h e s i s is v a l i d .

A r e a s f o r F u r t h e r Study

A t l e a s t t h r e e a r e a s of f u r t h e r s t u d y a r e s u g g e s t e d by the

r e s u l t s of t h i s s t u d y .

F i r s t , t he s t u d y cou ld b e c o n d u c t e d in o t h e r s t a t e s to d e t e r -

m i n e if o t h e r c i t y e d i t o r s ' a t t i t u d e s d i f f e r in any s i g n i f i c a n t w a y s .

O n l y f i v e e d i t o r s h a d a t t e n d e d a c o l l e g e o r u n i v e r s i t y ou t s i de of T e x a s

a n d only one had w o r k e d on a n e w s p a p e r in a n o t h e r s t a t e . How th i s

m i g h t h a v e s h a p e d t h e i r op in ions cann.pt be d e t e r m i n e d f r o m the da t a

c o l l e c t e d f o r t h i s s t u d y .

S e c o n d , a s i m i l a r s t u d y migh t be a d m i n i s t e r e d to p r a c t i c i n g

j o u r n a l i s t s w h o a r e r e c e n t g r a d u a t e s of a j o u r n a l i s m s c h o o l . T h e i r

a t t i t u d e s t o w a r d j o u r n a l i s m e d u c a t i o n and t h e i r a s s e s s m e n t s of t h e i r

84

p r e p a r a t i o n cou ld then b e c o m p a r e d to t h o s e of t he c i t y e d i t o r s to

d e t e r m i n e w h e r e t h e r e w a s c o r r e l a t i o n .

T h i r d , a s t u d y cou ld b e m a d e of w a y s in w h i c h p r a c t i c i n g

j o u r n a l i s t s , p a r t i c u l a r l y c i t y e d i t o r s , and j o u r n a l i s m e d u c a t o r s

cou ld e s t a b l i s h m e a n i n g f u l , con t i nu ing t a l k s on j o u r n a l i s m e d u c a t i o n .

W h e t h e r a f o r m a l a d v i s o r y c o m m i t t e e , a s h a s b e e n d i s c u s s e d w i t h i n

the A E J , i s f e a s i b l e o r not would be one po in t f o r i n v e s t i g a t i o n . I t

i s a p p a r e n t a m a j o r i t y of c i t y e d i t o r s a r e i n t e r e s t e d in d i s c u s s i n g

j o u r n a l i s m e d u c a t i o n i s s u e s wi th i n s t r u c t o r s , bu t t h i s s t udy did no t

a t t e m p t to s u r v e y e d i t o r s on w h a t f o r m a t they b e l i e v e d the m e e t i n g s

s h o u l d t a k e . N o r is t h e r e any input f r o m e d u c a t o r s , who m o s t c e r -

t a i n l y wou ld n e e d to be s u r v e y e d .

Only one e d i t o r c o m m e n t e d on a p a r t i c u l a r p r o g r a m of

c o o p e r a t i o n , o t h e r t h a n s u m m e r i n t e r n s h i p s , b e t w e e n h i s p a p e r and

a l o c a l j o u r n a l i s m s c h o o l .

T h e is c o o p e r a t i n g wi th **** j o u r n a l i s m d e p a r t -m e n t in a p r o g r a m w h i c h b r i n g s s o p h o m o r e r e p o r t e r s to ou r n e w s r o o m f o r f i r s t - h a n d o b s e r v a t i o n of n e w s p a p e r o p e r a t i o n s . S e v e r a l s t u d e n t s a c c o m p a n y b e a t r e p o r t e r s on t h e i r r o u n d s to s e e the a p p l i c a t i o n of w h a t t h e y r v e l e a r n e d in t e x t b o o k s . T h i s i s a p i lo t p r o g r a m , bu t I ' m e n t h u s i a s t i c abou t i t s f u t u r e . Next y e a r we e n t e r the i n t e r n p r o g r a m ( T e x a s Da i ly N e w s p a p e r A s s o c i a t i o n )

w h i c h I f e e l is a n a t u r a l e x t e n s i o n of the c a m p u s J - s c h o o l . I s t r o n g l y b e l i e v e e m p h a s i s in J - s c h o o l c o u r s e s shou ld b e on p r a c t i c a l a p p l i c a t i o n . T h e m o r e the b e t t e r . T h e u s e of p r o f e s s i o n a l n e w s m e n ( - w o m e n ) a s a d v i s o r s on s c h o o l p u b l i c a t i o n s b r i n g s n e e d e d e x p e r i e n c e to s u p p l e -m e n t t e x t b o o k k n o w l e d g e .

85 .

T h e r e would s e e m to be a n u m b e r of b e n e f i t s in e s t a b l i s h i n g

w o r k i n g r e l a t i o n s h i p s to bo th the w o r k i n g p r e s s , b y w a y of m o r e

i n f o r m e d b e g i n n i n g r e p o r t e r s , and to j o u r n a l i s m f a c u l t i e s , E d m u n d

L a m b e t h s a y s t h e i n d u s t r y and s c h o o l s l a c k " i n t e l l e c t u a l c o m m o n

g r o u n d s " (6, p . 58). L a m b e t h , d i r e c t o r of the W a s h i n g t o n R e p o r t i n g

P r o g r a m of the U n i v e r s i t y of M i s s o u r i S c h o o l of J o u r n a l i s m , w e n t on

to e x p l a i n how the p r o g r a m he s u p e r v i s e s w a s c l o s i n g the gap to s o m e

e x t e n t . In t h e p r o g r a m , g r a d u a t e s t u d e n t s e a r n e l e v e n h o u r s of c r e d i t

f o r pub l i c a f f a i r s r e p o r t i n g in the n a t i o n ' s c a p i t a l . T h e s a l e of t h e i r

n e w s s e r v i c e to da i l y p a p e r s too s m a l l to have W a s h i n g t o n c o r r e s p o n d -

en t s h e l p s pay the c o s t of the p r o g r a m .

T h e r e a r e o t h e r e x a m p l e s of p r a c t i c a l l y o r i e n t e d con t inu ing

e d u c a t i o n , b u t V i l l a n o s a y s t h e r e a r e f e w . ! , T h e p r e s e n t s t a t e of

con t inu ing e d u c a t i o n is a d e p r e s s i n g one, . . . T h e N i e m a n f e l l o w -

s h i p s a t H a r v a r d , t he o u t s t a n d i n g e x a m p l e of s u c h p r o g r a m s , c a n

e n c o m p a s s only f i f t e e n p e r s o n s 1 1 (10, p . 8).

A r n o l d s a y s (1, p . 20) t h e r e is no d e m a n d f o r a m a s t e r s

or a d o c t o r a t e on p a p e r s , s o s i g n i f i c a n t p o s t g r a d u a t e w o r k m u s t be

done in t h e n e w s r o o m . R e p o r t e r s m u s t b e a l l o w e d to t a k e a d v a n t a g e

of s e m i n a r s . O t h e r w i s e , he s a y s , " the d r o p o u t r a t e of the b e s t

young p e o p l e , s t i l l e a g e r to l e a r n , w i l l con t inue as they b e c o m e f r u s -

t r a t e d and b o r e d . ^ He a d d s , ! l t does s e e m l o g i c a l , a f t e r we have

86

spent s o much in recru i t ing , that we inves t a l i t t le m o r e to keep those

w h o m w e a l r e a d y have . "

T h e s e c o m m e n t s w e r e about cooperat ive p r o g r a m s of c o n -

t inu ing educat ion. But there is much that could be a c c o m p l i s h e d on

the undergraduate l e v e l by pract i c ing journa l i s t s and educators

work ing t o g e t h e r .

E a r l Cohn concluded (2, p. 345) a f ter a study of the con-

c e p t u a l i z a t i o n of the n e w s w r i t i n g p r o c e s s that student journa l i s t s

would bene f i t f r o m "a high degree of invo lvement and ident i f icat ion

with t o p - f l i g h t r e p o r t e r s . " John Colburn s a y s , "Journa l i sm s c h o o l s

need m o r e journa l i s t s in r e s i d e n c e — on a regular b a s i s " (3, p. 27) .

City ed i tors and educators working toge ther could br ing

m o r e r e p o r t e r s to the c l a s s r o o m .

S e v e r a l p e r s o n s who have s tudied and wri t ten about journa l -

i s m educat ion have s u g g e s t e d that prac t i c ing journa l i s t s could be used

e f f e c t i v e l y a s i n s t r u c t o r s , at l e a s t on an adjunct b a s i s .

T e b b e l s a y s ,

If professionalism is the objective, then the teach-ers ought to be skilled practitioners of the craft. But too often the schools draw city room people who didn't quite make it, or writers f rom other media who are less than mediocre, or academicians with only a smat-tering of experience. It seems axiomatic that teach-ers who are going to teach writing and editing and pre-sumably improve the standards of the professions ought to be good writers and editors themselves. Too few are (9, p. 6).

87

MacDouga l l s a y s ,

T h e r e a r e top - f l igh t n e w s m e n who would be f ine in the c l a s s r o o m . But with the c l i m a t e on c a m p u s e s - -the P h . D . r e q u i r e m e n t s - - i t ' s a ba t t l e with a d m i n i s t r a -t ions to get th is kind of n e w s m e n . And, if t h e y ' r e h i r e d , of ten they n e v e r get a c a d e m i c p r o m o t i o n s . We 've got to c l e a r the way to b r i ng men into our f i e ld who a r e not going to be f r u s t r a t e d by a c a d e m i c dead ends (7, p. 12).

The c o m m e n t s m a d e by Tebble and MacDougal l w e r e both in

the la te 1960 ' s . P e r h a p s the s i tua t ion has changed somewhat s ince

then . J a m e s D. Head, w r i t i n g in 1971, says, " T h e r e is a happy f e r -

m e n t in the J - s c h o o l s . They have r e d i s c o v e r e d a good t e a c h e r of the

c r a f t does not n e c e s s a r i l y have to have a l l the a c a d e m i c honor s and

c r e d i t s . A l m o s t e v e r y week E d i t o r and P u b l i s h e r l i s t s ano the r we l l

known n e w s m a n leaving to t each s o m e w h e r e " (4, p. 17).

It would s e e m a c lose coopera t ion be tween ed i to r s and e d u c a -

t o r s would encou rage s e r i o u s cons ide ra t i on of when it is a p p r o p r i a t e to

b r i n g p r a c t i c i n g j o u r n a l i s t s into j o u r n a l i s m schoo l p r o g r a m s a s

i n s t r u c t o r s , and how the b e s t and m o s t qua l i f ied could be obtained.

P e r h a p s the mos t i m p o r t a n t , a t l e a s t the mos t b a s i c , bene f i t

to be d e r i v e d f r o m c lose coope ra t ion of ed i t o r s and e d u c a t o r s is the

i n c r e a s e d a s s u r a n c e that s tuden ts be ing p r e p a r e d f o r c a r e e r s in

j o u r n a l i s m wi l l get the oppor tuni ty to work in t h e i r chosen p r o f e s s i o n .

K r i e g h b a u m concluded a f t e r h is s tudy of the s e p a r a t i s m

be tween e d i t o r s and e d u c a t o r s ,

88

Only one e x e c u t i v e who had not v i s i t e d the l o c a l j o u r n a l i s m s c h o o l d u r i n g the p a s t y e a r s a i d tha t m o r e t han a q u a r t e r of h i s s t a f f h a d b e e n h i r e d f r o m the l o c a l c a m p u s . F o r t h o s e who c l a i m e d t h e y h a d v i s i t e d the l o c a l j o u r n a l i s m s c h o o l o r d e p a r t m e n t "a h a l f - d o z e n o r m o r e t imes 1 1 d u r i n g the p a s t 12 m o n t h s , a f u l l 71 p e r c e n t h i r e d 26 p e r cen t or m o r e of t h e i r p e r s o n n e l l o c a l l y . T h e r e i s a n obvious m e s s a g e h e r e f o r j o u r n a l -i s m f a c u l t y c o n c e r n e d wi th p l a c i n g t h e i r g r a d u a t e s (5, p . 807) .

E v e n if t h e r e i s no p r o b l e m p l a c i n g g r a d u a t e s , the qua l i t y of

t h e p l a c e m e n t m i g h t b e i m p r o v e d . K r i e g h b a u m s a y s good job p l a c e -

m e n t c o m e s m o s t r e a d i l y a f t e r good c o n t a c t s b e t w e e n p r o f e s s o r s and

p r a c t i t i o n e r s .

Boyd M i l l e r , p l a c e m e n t c o o r d i n a t o r a t M i c h i g a n S t a t e U n i v e r -

s i t y , c o n c u r s : "Knowing the f a c u l t y m e m b e r s p e r s o n a l l y m a k e s c h e c k -

ing t h e m a s r e f e r e n c e s l a t e r t ha t m u c h m o r e i n fo rma t ive 1 1 (8, p . 57).

T h e r e undoub ted ly a r e any n u m b e r of a p p r o a c h e s to s t u d y i n g

j o u r n a l i s m e d u c a t i o n . T h i s t h e s i s c o n c e r n e d i t s e l f wi th c i t y e d i t o r s ,

bu t p r o v i d e d a b a s i s f o r s t u d y i n g bo th g e n e r a l i t i e s and s p e c i f i c s of

j o u r n a l i s m i n s t r u c t i o n t h a t cou ld be u s e d to s u r v e y o t h e r p o p u l a t i o n s ,

n a m e l y r e c e n t j o u r n a l i s m s t u d e n t s t h e m s e l v e s and t h e i r i n s t r u c t o r s .

C H A P T E R BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. A r n o l d , E d m u n d C. , " T h e E d i t o r and the E d u c a t o r , " Qui l l , 58 ( D e c e m b e r , 1970), 18-20 .

2 . Cohn, E a r l L. , " T e n t a t i v e C o n c e p t u a l i z a t i o n of the N e w s -W r i t i n g P r o c e s s , " J o u r n a l i s m Q u a r t e r l y , 45 ( S u m m e r , 1968), 344-345 .

3 . C o l b u r n , John H. , " J o u r n a l i s m E d u c a t i o n - - a t a C r o s s r o a d s ? " Qu i l l , 57 (Apr i l , 1969), 2 6 - 2 7 .

4 . Head , J a m e s D. , " A r e N e w s p a p e r E x e c u t i v e s B i a s e d a g a i n s t J - G r a d s , " Qui l l , 59 ( D e c e m b e r , 1971), 16-17 .

5 . K r i e g h b a u m , H i l l i e r , ' T h e A E J P r e s i d e n t i a l P a p e r , " J o u r n a l i s m Q u a r t e r l y , 49 (Win te r , 1972), 805-808 .

6 . L a m b e t h , E d m u n d B. , " J - E d u c a t i o n O f f - C a m p u s , " Qui l l , 58 ( N o v e m b e r , 1970), 55.

7 . M a c D o u g a l l , C u r t i s , c i t ed in J a k e Highton, " G r e e n E y e s h a d e s v s . C h i - S q u a r e s , " Qui l l , 55 ( F e b r u a r y , 1967), 10-13 .

8. M i l l e r , Boyd L. , " R e c r u i t i n g f o r J - T a l e n t , " Qui l l , 57 ( M a r c h , 1969), 15.

9. T e b b e l , John , " J o u r n a l i s m E d u c a t i o n : Myth and R e a l i t y , " Qu i l l , 54 ( J a n u a r y , 1966), 6 - 7 .

v

10. V i l l ano , L o u i s , " N e w s m e n ' s C r y i n g N e e d : B a c k to Schoo l on C o m p a n y T i m e , " Qui l l , 57 (August , 1969), 8 - 9 .

89

APPENDIX A June 6, 1973

Dear Editor:

The separatism that exists between those who practice journalism and those who teach journalism deserves serious study. Your assistance Is needed in a survey of Texas city editors to help provide information for such a study..

The survey is being conducted as partial fulfillment of the thesis requirements for a masters degree in journalism at North Texas State University.

The decision to survey city editors was made because you represent the level of newspaper management most continu-ously in contact with beginning journalists. If they are coming to the profession unprepared, it is you who could most nearly determine in what ways.

The questionnaire will take about 10 minutes to answer, and is designed in such a way that you may add comments on your own expectations and criticisms. Please feel free to use the backs of the pages if you need more space. Enclosed is a postage-paid, addressed envelope. Please return the question-naire as soon as possible. Thank you for your time and interest.

, Sincerely,

Judi McAda Graduate Student, NTSU Journalism Instructor, Richland College of the Dallas County Community College District

90

APPENDIX B

Questionnaire

Name

Pub'J icat ion

1. How many now:*, room rtnp I •i.veo.,» aro urid̂ r your supervision?

2. If .you work for a publishing firm which has editorially separate morning and evening papers, do these employees repre-sent a separate staffs or do they work for both papers?

3. Do you interview prospective employees for the city side?

4. Do you participate In the final decision to hiro employees for the city side?

5. Do you believe applicants should have a degree?

Do you believe the degree should be in journalism?

What other majors might .you consider?

91

92

6„ Please indicate in these specific areas the average competency of employes you know to be recent graduates of a school of journalism.

Good Adequate Less than Poor adequate

ability to recognize news story

awareness of who appropri-ate sources of information are for most stories

awareness of what sources of information (almanac, city directory3 etc.) are for most stories

ability to conduct inter-view

ability to take notes

ability to select lead

ability to organize facts according to importance

ability to write concisely and coherently

accuracy in reporting

ability to estimate length story should be according to importance

awareness of when identi-fication and attribution are needed

ability to recognize what

stories need follow-ups

skill in spelling

knowledge of grammar knowledge of AP (or simi-lar) style rules

93

Good Adequate Less than Poor adequate

ability to meet deadlines

objectivity

Comments:

7. Please rate the following areas traditionally covered by the city side reporters according to the degree of knowledge you believe a beginning reporter should have about them.

Much Mdderate Little None

c:i ty council and municipal a J'fa:i r;;

county offices and a^oncios

state offices and agencies

legislature

federal offices and agencies

election procedures

court.structures in general

criminal court procedures

tax procedures and government financing

schools and education

police

welfare agencies

Please comment in the space provided on the next page on"which of the above areas beginning journalists seem least prepared to cover.

Comments: 94

8. Please rate the following subjects according to the degree of emphasis you believe they should be given as areas of study for the future journalist.

Much Moderate Little None

political science in general

state3 local and federal government

history

economics

marketing and business

consumer affairs

sociology

social work

criminology

psychology

life, earth and physical scionce

Please comment on your feelings about when "specialization" in a reporting area should come (undergraduate level, graduate level, on the job), and about what new beats you foresee.

Comments:

95

9. Assuming a student is undertaking a four-year program of instruction with plans to be a newspaper reporter, how many some*n l.nrs do you be] 3 eve lie should have; In each of the following journalism courses?

general reporting and writing

public affairs reporting

feature writing

desk work (editing, headline writing, make-up)

printing

photography

law of the press

communications research

communications theories

Comments:

10. How many years have you worked in the newspaper business?

As a city editor or assistant?

11. How many of the years spent in the newspaper business were

in Texas? t

12o What colleges and universities have you attended? ________

What degrees have you received and in what majors?

96

13. When was the last time you visited a school oi' journalism"

Do you visit one frequently?

For what purposes?

14. When was the last time you were invited to visit a school

of journalism?

Does your publication allow you time away from your job to

accept such invitations?

15. Would you like to meet with other practicing journalists and

journalism instructors to discuss journalism education?

How often?

Would your publication allow you time away from your job for

this purpose?

16. Do you have any type of formal training program in your

newsroom? . If so, please describe how

it works.

General Comments:

A P P E N D I X C

M A I L I N G LIST

N e w s p a p e r E d i t i o n C i r c u l a t i o n C i t y E d i t o r

T h e A b i l e n e R e p o r t e r N e w s

A . M . P . M . C o m b .

4 4 , 1 5 4 2 0 , 8 2 7 6 4 , 9 8 1

W a l l y S i m m o n s ^ 'i' >\<

S a m e

T h e A m a r i l l o N e w s T h e A m a r i l l o G lobe T i m e s

A . M . P . M . C o m b .

4 9 , 525 3 5 , 5 1 3 8 5 , 0 3 8

M a r y K a t e T r i p p O r v i l l e H o w a r d

T h e A u s t i n A m e r i c a n T h e A u s t i n S t a t e s m a n

A . M . P . M . C o m b .

5 8 , 7 6 8 3 2 , 7 2 5 9 1 , 4 9 3

J o h n B r y a n t Bob B a n t a

T h e B e a u m o n t E n t e r p r i s e T h e B e a u m o n t J o u r n a l

A . M . P . M. C o m b .

6 3 , 4 7 1 1 9 , 9 6 4 8 3 , 4 3 5

F r e d G u a r n e r e J o e E l a m

T h e C o r p u s C h r i s t i C a l l e r T h e C o r p u s C h r i s t i T i m e s

A . M . P . M. C o m b .

68 , 626 3 7 , 8 4 2

1 0 6 , 4 6 8

B i l l D u n c a n S a m e

T h e D a l l a s M o r n i n g N e w s T h e D a l l a s T i m e s H e r a l d

A . M . . P . M.

2 5 5 , 4 9 1 2 3 3 , 5 4 7

B o b M i l l e r B i l l H a n k i n s

T h e E l P a s o T i m e s T h e E l P a s o H e r a l d

A . M. . P . M. C o m b .

59 , 348 4 3 , 8 6 7

1 0 3 , 2 1 5

J . R . S m i t h V i r g i n i a T u r n e r

C o m b . , c o m b i n e d c i r c u l a t i o n of both e d i t i o n s .

' S a m e , s a m e p e r s o n s e r v e s a s c i t y e d i t o r of b o t h e d i t i o n s .

97

98

N e w s p a p e r E d i t i o n C i r c u l a t i o n Ci ty E d i t o r

T h e F o r t W o r t h P r e s s T h e F o r t W o r t h S t a r -

T e l e g r a m

T h e H o u s t o n C h r o n i c l e T h e H o u s t o n P o s t

P . M. A . M . P . M . C o m b .

P . M. A . M.

5 5 , 9 0 2 9 7 , 7 5 5

1 3 8 , 0 2 0 2 3 5 , 7 7 5

2 9 5 , 2 0 7 2 9 4 , 6 7 7

R o b e r t G. T r i m b l e H o r a c e C r a i g P h i l R e c o r d

Z a r k o F r a n k s Doug la s F r e e -

l a n d e r

T h e Lubbock A v a l a n c h e J o u r n a l

T h e San A n g e l o S t a n d a r d -T i m e s

T h e San A n t o n i o E x p r e s s T h e San A n t o n i o News

T h e San A n t o n i o Light

T h e W i c h i t a F a l l s R e c o r d T h e W i c h i t a F a l l s T i m e s

A . M . P . M. C o m b .

A . M . P . M . C o m b .

A . M . P . M . C o m b .

P . M .

A . M. P . M. C o m b .

5 7 , 5 8 3 2 2 , 3 5 5 79, 938

4 0 , 2 3 5 10 ,242 5 0 , 4 7 7

8 1 , 9 3 6 6 7 , 6 0 7

1 4 9 , 5 4 3

3 1 , 4 0 4 19 ,562 50, 966

H o w a r d S w i n d e l l O p a l Dixon

Mike Pe r ry -C h a r l e s R e d d e n

J a y R o g e r s B e r t W i s e

120, 943 J o e L. Scho t t

Dan C o l e m a n C a r r o l l Cope l i n

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101

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102

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V a n W i n k l e , H a r o l d , "Should J o u r n a l i s m Schoo l s Have P r o f e s s i o n a l A d v i s o r y C o m m i t t e e ? " J o u r n a l i s m Q u a r t e r l y , 40 ( S u m m e r , 1963), 3 6 7 - 3 7 0 .

V i l l a n o , L o u i s , " N e w s m e n ' s C r y i n g N e e d : B a c k to Schoo l on C o m p a n y T i m e , " Qu i l l , 57 (Augus t , 1969), 8 - 9 .

W a l s h , E d w a r d A. , " J o u r n a l i s m T e a c h i n g in a L i b e r a l A r t s C o l l e g e , " N i e m a n R e p o r t s , 2 2 ( June , 1968), 19 -20 .

W i l s o n , A v o n , " C h a n g i n g P r e s s u r e s f o r G r a p h i c A r t s in J o u r n a l i s m E d u c a t i o n , " J o u r n a l i s m Q u a r t e r l y , 45 ( W i n t e r , 1968), 7 3 8 - 7 4 1 .

N e w s p a p e r

T h e D a l l a s M o r n i n g N e w s , A p r i l 9, 1973.