What is all about Academic community Journalism? Campus

Journalism! A Presented

by Jide Johnson

Deputy ProvostNigerian Institute of Journalism Lagos

At 45th Anniversary Programmme

of Association of Campus Journalist

Obafemi Awolowo University,Ile-IfeOsun state

I. Enhance campus journalism knowledge of participants

II. Improve journalistic skills of participants

III. Stimulate professional responsibility of participants

IV. Highlight the framework for Campus Journalism practice

V. Improve participants understanding of media issues, roles & responsibilities

VI. Improve the proficiency and efficiency of participants

Objectives

‘Newspaper is where the community meets’ (Sam Amuka , Publisher ,Vanguard Newspapers)

Journalism is what brings the community together. It provides the linkage for all segments and strata of the society to commune together.

Introduction

Journalism is 1. ‘anything that contributes in

some way ,in gathering, selection ,processing of news and current affairs for the press radio, television,film, cable, Internet etc(sic)’

2. ‘Writing designed to appeal to current popular or public interest’.

3. As a discipline, she defines, Journalism as “[the profession] of collecting,analysing,verifying and presenting regarding current events ,trends, issues and people . (See Hasan 2013,p.174)

What is Journalism?

1. Newspapers 2. Magazines3. Television4. Radio5. Internet (online newspapers, e-

zine, blogs, and vlogs)6. Social media platform…twitter,

facebook

Journalism spectrum

- a microcosm of journalism in general in tertiary institution.

- journalism carried out by students on subjects related to campus life or issues published in publications only intended for campus distribution and readership.

Is the campus media platform used

for publication and dissemination of academic community news, events and developments. medium of keeping ‘communicants’ abreast of what is happening within, as well as relevant developments outside the academic community

What is campus journalism?

it is: A developmental-oriented

journalism. A tool of cultural expression

representationA mechanism of social

mobilizationA marketplace of ideasA public sphere of discourse and

dialogueA platform of socio-political and

economic education.An avenue for intellectual

development

What is Campus Journalism all about?

The late Palestinian activist and American intellectual Edward Said (2001,p.5) was explicit about the public role of the intellectual as being ‘to uncover and contest, to challenge and defeat both an imposed silence and the normalised quiet of unseen power wherever and whenever possible’( As cited in Jarvie,2006, p.4)

The campus Journalist is the quintessential public intelligentsia

As Campus Journalist reporters, we :1.Specialize in news coverage of campus

activities-academic and non academic[reportage of events

2. understand, explains and interpret academic community policy to the ‘ communicants ’[interpreters of the ‘world’ around them.]

3.Communicate with clarity, accuracy and precision

4.Help shape public opinion5.Build and Mobilize community support6.Make Establishment responsive to

‘‘communitans’ wishes

8.Investigate the interactions among the various sector and power centres in the community.

Responsibilities of a CJ

1. News gathering skills 2. News writing skills.3. Uphold ethical and professional

standards4. Analytical and interpretative

[critical thinking and writing] skills

5. Audience engagement6. They are multimedia narrators.

Characteristics of Campus Journalist

Training ground for prospective Journalism : a training ground for aspiring Journalist

Major source of local news : medium for keeping the campus community abreast of developments

Image projection and promotion: highlights matters that the school and its stakeholders should be concerned about or proud of.

Platform for representation: provides an avenue for freedom of expression and representation of diverse interest.

Benefits of Campus Journalism

1. Newsgathering2. Watchdog of the community 3. Influence intellectual

development & academic excellence

4. Building sustainable academic community.

5. Promoting informed ‘communicants’

Media roles in the community

Journalism stands accused of sacrificing accuracy for speed, investigation for cheap intrusion, and reliability for entertainment and Dramatization. ‘Dumbed down’ news media are charged with privileging sensation over significance and celebrity over achievement…(Hagreaves,2003,p.12)

Unilag First class student vs. Bread seller model.

Topical Issues on media roles and responsibilities

Celebrity Driven Entertainment driven Political focused Public interest.(Fenton,2010)

Types of Journalism

News has been transformed into a discourse of:◦ Personalization◦ Dramatisation◦ Simplification◦ Polarisation(Fenton,2010,p.9)

Tabloidisation and infotainment◦ Focus on controversial, loud and attention-

grabbing stories.

We practice what Davies(2008)called ‘Churnalism’ other than Journalism .◦ Depth of coverage is shallow◦ Spontaneity has replaced reliability◦ Creativity has replaced originality ◦ Commercialisation and commodification of

news’

Critical issues of concern

Uphold community trust and interest.

The community journalist cannot be the lapdog of special interests.

Community journalists must attend and give coverage to the public events that help define their community.

Prospects of Campus Journalism

Online production is the standard practice of newspaper production now.(Rowe, 2004,p.27)

Cross media production should be the focus of campus journalism.

Traditional◦ Print◦ TV◦ Radio

Online◦ Websites◦ Blogs

Mobile◦ Portable and instant

Recommendations

Davies, N(2008). Flat Earth News, London: Chatto& Windus

Fenton,N(ed.) (2010).New media ,Old news, London: Sage

Hargreaves, I. (2003) Journalism: Truth or Dare, Oxford: Oxford University Press

Hassan,S.(2013).Mass communication ,principles and precepts, New Delhi:CBS

Jarvie, G (2006)Sport ,Culture and Society : An Introduction. London: Routledge

Rowe,D (2004)Sport ,Culture and the media, the unruly trinity,2nd edition ,Berkshire: McGraw Hill

References