WHY ATTEND A JOURNALISM SCHOOL

Students who have interests in becoming Journalists may think J-schools will do the magic. Well, this may not be the case. The trend has changed. Practically every phone owner is a Journalist these days. This is seemingly a fact which incites the Blogger, Patrick Thornton, to exclaim that J-schools are not important anymore. In his Blog titled ‘Lets be honest about J-schools’, he talks at length about J-schools: the prospects in J-schools, the shortcomings in J-schools, and the new trends in the field of Journalism. Of course readers did not let his blog go ‘scot free’. Reader’s comments are as most insightful as the blog itself.

While Thornton maintains that J-schools are a waste of time for those who think that connections and writing skills will been gained, most commenters do not bother on the former. Commenters like king Kaufman, Dave Cullen and Librarienne comment that writing skills are essential in journalism. Their comments, more like objections, erupted following Thornton’s argument that reporting is the heart of Journalism; writing skills are not. The commenters argue that writing forms the basis for good news stories.

However, Thornton maintains that going to J-schools being a graduate will not improve one’s writing skills. He explains that rather than go to a J-school which is very expensive, writing consistently will improve one’s writing skills. While a commenter, Pierce Presley concurs that Journalism schools are expensive, Cullen argues against consistent writing. He argues that people who do not have the necessary writing skills will not improve by writing consistently.

Thornton agrees with Cullen’s argument. He states that of course bad writing is not good for journalism. A good J-school should therefore teach good writing skills. This, he states, bearing in mind that J-schools have Professors who are not aware or updated about the new trends in journalism.He argues that Professors matter. A professor should teach about the new trend: Blogging, Twitter etc. The teaching of the curriculum introduced two decades ago is out-dated, argues Thornton. Mindy McAdam, a commenter, supports Thornton’s argument. She explains that Journalism students should ensure that courses they are taking make sense.

In conclusion, it is a reality; it is a fact. The trend has changed. Technology has compromised the media. Everyone can be a reporter; perhaps not everyone a writer. Writing skills are as essential as reporting skills. Kaufman and Lainey allude that reporting can be instinctive, the art of writing, however, need to be taught. J-schools are nevertheless a plus, for they can nurture one’s writing ability and reporting instinct.