The J-school debate: the theory of practical teaching

I don’t think we’ll ever get over this one, but that’s not stopping anyone from getting into it.

Some updates from various places:

Dave Lee’s jblog The best route to success

Tuck’r's last word – I doubt it somehow

There’s one thing though that I need to get straight.

I do not advocate a “media studies” approach to journalism education and so when Jim suggests that the alternatives are “media studies” versus a “practical” approach, that’s not how I see the debate.

My position is that journalism is a discipline in its own right, it is not a branch of media studies, or cultural studies, or communication studies. These are sister disciplines, but in fact journalism is the oldest. Journalism has been taught for 100 years at the Missouri School of Journalism (which is part of Missouri University). In fact I’m on my way there for the celebrations, next week.

Leaving on a jet plane

My OE starts tomorrow (Sunday). I’m flying out to LAX and two nights at the Bonaventure hotel on South Figueroa. I leave New York on the 17th for London.