The vocalization of undergraduate study

Abstract

Ten years after journalism graduates emerged from the three universities first prepared to offer the subject at this level, there are in 2003 nearly 600 opportunities to learn journalism at undergraduate level in a variety of permutations. Relatively few of these are accredited by industry training bodies. Questions about the ownership of industrial accreditation (ostensibly, the mark of a partnership between universities and the workplace) are now acute for journalism educators. Can there be a pedagogy of journalism (a subject whose short history has so far resulted in its being overwhelmingly and pragmatically led by short-term workplace demands) which is consistent with the mandate of universities to provide opportunities for innovation, creativity, and critical approaches to the largely uncontested practices of journalism?

Keywords:

• journalism
• placement
• vocational
• interdisciplinary
• AJE
• accreditation