Rethinking Content and Distribution

July 12, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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By Gary Hanson, Kent State University | Radio-Television Journalism

Not long ago, I was visiting with the parent of a prospective student who asked me what kind of media job his daughter could get after she finished our program. Given the troubled times for media companies, the question was right on target and gave me a bit of pause because he was really asking what skills his daughter will need to succeed in a world that is increasingly information and communication based.

The media world is not as bleak as it seems. More content is being produced now than ever before. Video is no longer just on television, it’s on YouTube; audio is more than radio, it’s a podcast; media writing is not just on a printed page, it’s on Web sites and blogs. [Read more...]

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Discussing JMC with… Von Whitmore

June 23, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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Von WhitmoreVon Whitmore is a JMC Associate Professor and the Coordinator of Graduate Studies at Kent State University. She has professional experience as a reporter for radio and television in the Hampton Roads Virginia market and as the General Manager of Hampton University’s FM radio station, WHOV. Von’s teaching areas are in broadcast producing, graduate ethics and theory.

How do you define mass communication?

Mass communication involves the utilization of technology for the immediate or time delayed transmission of ideas to audiences of various sizes and at various distances. [Read more...]

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Discussing JMC with… Candace Bowen

June 23, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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Candace BowenCandace Perkins Bowen directs both the Center for Scholastic Journalism at Kent State University and the statewide Ohio Scholastic Media Association.

She teaches media writing plus journalism teaching methods and desktop publishing for Integrated Language Arts majors.

A former high school journalism teacher with a BS in newspaper journalism and an MA in journalism education, Perkins Bowen is a past president and remains on the board of the Journalism Education Association. In addition, she heads the Steering Committee of the Student Press Law Center Advisory Council and is the current head of the Scholastic Journalism Division of AEJMC.

How do you keep your students excited about working in the field of communications in light of shrinking job opportunities?

Are job opportunities really shrinking? Or are they shifting and rearranging? Our democracy still needs an informed citizenry, and thorough, fair, honest and accurate information must be available. Journalists need to be flexible and creative in their approach to providing that. In today’s world, that also means being digital and thinking about audiences and trying new techniques. Doing THAT makes it easy to keep students excited — they can use Flash and Soundslides and all sorts of bells and whistles. The not-so-exciting part is when you must remind them of spelling and grammar and AP style and ethical considerations. [Read more...]

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