I am a J-sch alumni from the States and completed a master of journalism in one of the Asian countries. I can say J-sch is the States is so much better in ALL ASPECTS: the facilities, the teachers, the learning materials, and the students.

One of the key of journalism school is to let students to go out to explore the world, rather than remembering the theories on textbooks. One of the undergraduate journalism classes here is about online media, but basically, it was a history class. However, in the States, we have chances to learn about latest online tech at the media lab.

I hope these developed countries can bring sparkles to the J-sch in Asia.

Journalism school will be fair if no government intervention. In Myanmar jouirnalism school is limited for junta's men. There is no private journalism school as yet. Sorry. I've got flu and so discomfort now. I'm too busy for trip to Bangkok, BKK Media Conference2008, held by EWC. There's not easy to get Thai-visa and I have to try via Bangkok Hospital Link. At private visa and air tickets office asked unsual documents such as house grant contract or car owner's book or other silly things. I can get Thai-visa if only I'll show them. So since I'm a health journalist I get it for BKK trip via Bangkok Hospital link in Yangon. I cannot understand why Thailand has made such difficult things for Myanmar.

Why cant people in general and university professors in particular, understand that the old traditional methods of teaching couldn't be applied to Journalsim & Mass Communication. Still the courses in journalism schools and Mass Communication departments is highly based on theory with no practical training. Feature and article writing is even taught by giving the definition, important elements etc. To everybody's surprise, i have also done my Masters in Mass communication (Pakistan) in these circumstances.

Karl, I must say I agree with you 100% because I know a friend who is interested in instructing young journalists but the head of department wanted him to have M.A. or Ph.D, although a graduate himself. Obviously this kind of thinking is affecting our so-called graduates nowadays as most of them hardly write correct sentences. The worst is that most of the instructors are outdated and needs upgrade, unfortunately they are yet to assimilate the new media formulae and therefore only give out what they have from the dark ages. A change of heart is needed urgently especially in developing countries. Check out Prof. Guy Berger of Rhodes recent work on African Journalism institutions. It would really marvel you, some of them don't even have emails.

Journalism is a profession you learn by doing. If you were going to medical school, you would never want to take a surgery course from a professor who had spent virtually no time in an operating room.

Yet when you examine the job ads for both American and International universities, usually what they look for is someone with a Ph.D.

Go into any market and ask who are the very best reporters, producers, editors, videographers and photographers and you'll find lots of talent, but virtually no PhD's.

For J-Schools to provide useful, practical education, they need to hire instructors who have had significant professional experience.

The Caucasus School of Journalism (I have a bias - I've been one of the instructors there), has done a superb job because it has hired first-rate instructors who have years of experience.

Now, with the ever changing technology, j-schools need to be hiring people who have significant online experience.

Unfortunately, there's often a disconnect between what's taught and what the market needs, notably in less developed countries. There may be a lack of resources. The problem often lies with curricula that aren't designed with those needs in mind. I co-authored a book for UNESCO called "Model curricula for journalism education for developing countries and emerging democracies" available for download at this URL http://portal.unesco.org/ci/en/ev.php-URL_ID=24824&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html As a former journalist who teaches undergraduates, advises budding college reporters and trains professional journalists, I try to help those different constituents come out of those dark ages. We all have a responsibility to maintain high professional standards and uphold media ethics.

Magda Abu-Fadil

Director

Journalism Training Program

Regional External Programs

American University of Beirut

P.O.Box 11-0236

Riad El Solh 1107 2020

Beirut, Lebanon

Tel: (Off) 961-1-748539 (Direct)

  (Off) 961-1-350000 Ext. 2566

Fax: 961-1-748539

Mobile: 961-3-792817

Email: ma145@aub.edu.lb

      magda@terra.net.lb

      magda.abufadil@gmail.com

http://rep.aub.edu.lb