David Slayden on Journalism Departments and Education

OurBlook interview with David Slayden, Executive Director of Boulder Digital Works at the University of Colorado at Boulder

How are journalism schools adapting to the new media landscape? What are some of the major changes that are being implemented?

DS: For most journalism schools, the focus is multimedia and technology training as they attempt to become and remain relevant. Google "digital journalism schools" and Knight Digital Media Center at UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism surface near the top of the list. The J Lab also has been working hard to develop interactive journalism.

There have been fundamental shifts in journalism, content production and distribution. I am not at all sure that journalism schools understand the significance of the changes that have been brought on by the technologies they are now embracing. Much has changed and these changes are permanent. The relationship with readers, how they get and regard news, and of course, consumer participation in the creation as well as the consumption of news is gaining importance every day. While journalists have ignored the business aspect of their profession, the business model has changed permanently in this recession and the new media landscape. Content creation and delivery has changed more in the past 10 years than in the previous century. We live in an upload culture now. People participate in the news process. The better schools are not trying to "save" journalism as much as evolve their programs to embrace citizen participation.

What are some of the challenges that journalism departments are currently facing?

DS: The biggest challenge is modernizing a journalism department's dated and ossified curriculum, and this is further challenged by the processes by which the curriculum is created and approved. Universities tend to embrace timeless values, and this works for most majors, but digital technology and the evolution of the communications industry are moving far faster than most universities can keep pace with. At Boulder Digital Works, we've designed a model program around the "permanent beta" world we live in, and we are constantly rewriting our curriculum to incorporate new technologies, best practices and feedback from industry practitioners that work in business, technology and creativity. We believe journalism schools and their professors need to be aligned with the speed of industry and the needs of the profession, and right now that means educating students about the long-term impact of the economic recession, social media, integrity, plagiarism, and the influence of commenters and bloggers.

What are the most important skills that journalism grads need?

DS: Other than the obvious need to be able to tell stories across platforms, graduates need to be prepared to be entrepreneurial and adaptive. They need to produce content quickly and embrace real-time public commentary, but they also still need to ground themselves in solid writing, editing and relationship skills.

Professional internships are a great way to gain first-hand industry experience, to get a feel for the pace and deadlines of the industry, and to hone in on real-world skills needed in the workplace.

Are there more students than before, fewer or about the same, and why? Have they had to make significant investments in technology and equipment?

DS: In a down economy, enrollment in graduate programs typically tends to rise. The proliferation of computers has raised the standard of basic technology in the workplace, so students need to have a grasp of how to utilize these technologies in their everyday lives. This is often an investment for both the students and a budget strain for universities, but it is part of the training and skills they need to be successful down the road. Endowments and the Knight Foundation are helping to bring the latest technologies to universities nationwide.

Journalists are having a hard time adapting the new media landscape. How are journalism professors faring?

DS: Professors come with varying skills and expertise. Like other content industries, we are in a transitional time. While there is increasing adaptation among professors, we are living in a sea of change, and journalism educators need constant refresh and updating. More and more we will see industry people mentoring and teaching at universities, because they are the most engaged with today's digital word and the mindset and skill sets needed to succeed.

Is there a shortage of professors who can teach these new skills?

DS: Yes. Schools know that they need someone digital, but beyond the vocabulary many do not really know what that means in terms of curriculum, instruction, capabilities and the full integration of digital in the classroom. In many cases, you have people who know little to nothing about digital making hiring decisions to bring in "digital" people. At the end of the day, it is a recipe for failure and frustration for all parties involved.

Do traditional journalism schools/departments face competition from online universities?

DS: Yes. But a better way of putting it is that journalism schools face competition from any space or place that can actually teach people how to be technically capable and thrive in the digital environment. Students are often angered by the disconnect between what they experience in journalism schools and what they actually need to know.

What advice would you give current educators?

DS: Become current. Stay current. Develop working ongoing partnerships with the best digital minds in the professional community that you can find. Understand that you need to work harder than ever to remain relevant. Also, it would be really smart to pay attention to IDEO and design thinking as you think about the future of news.

Are there any examples of projects or programs that are really helping students balance journalism integrity and new media skills?

DS: Like I said, UC Berkeley and J Lab. There are others but these are my personal favorites.

Taking into account the current state of journalism programs, what effect will it have on the industry in 10 years?

DS: Much of the real innovation is happening in the industry, and there needs to be a closer connection between the education and professional communities for there to be more alignment, and therefore, more impact. Any journalism program that doesn't embrace the future will be relic of the past. I think there will be fewer good programs.

How many new journalism graduates are getting jobs, and what kind of jobs are they getting?

DS: I'm not really the person to answer this question.

Do internships still exist? If so, how have they changed?

DS: The best programs are encouraging students to take internships and to get real-world experience, and internships have become a prerequisite for entry-level jobs in many cases. Of course, the recession has made internships less available to students, as companies have had to deal with new staffing models and leaner teams. At CU, and at Boulder Digital Works, we are encouraging our students to engage in practical learning whenever possible, and we have found that more and more companies are looking for digitally-savvy interns.

Anything else you want to add?

DS: I think journalism is important and necessary but journalists are sometimes their own worst enemies. In some respects, it is a highly conservative profession that has traditionally been resistant to change. How journalism can still honor its commitment to key values and also thrive is a huge challenge. Success will depend on embracing the change and evolution that is happening right now.

(David is the executive director of Boulder Digital Works at the University of Colorado at Boulder. He has written for both film and advertising and his creative work has been honored by top awards shows and publications. In 2000, he created the blurr lab, a cutting edge, interactive design initiative funded by the Omnicom Group. In 2009, David conceived, developed and launched the School of Journalism and Mass Communication's newest program, Boulder Digital Works. BDW works with post-grads and professionals in the digital space and has been funded, in part, by MDC. http://adsa2b.colorado.edu/faculty.html)