Journalism courses: Fit for purpose or in need of reform?

The popularity of journalism courses at UK universities isn't faltering – in fact student numbers are up 230 per cent since 2000.

Quoting figures from the Higher Education Statistics Agency, François Nel, visiting academic fellow at the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, explained that there are about two working journalists out there for every student journalist but the ratio is narrowing.

"The prospects of the majority of the journalism graduates getting employment in the mainstream media is very slim indeed," he said at a Westminster Media Forum event in London yesterday.

As more digitally native outlets pick up the graduates and talents legacy media seem unable to, Nel asked: is this training still suitable?

"We need to reduce the current emphasis on preparing students to meet the stated requirements of those formerly known as the employers and enforced through the training councils," said Nel.

"And we need to open that debate wider on the issue in order to inform what is being taught in journalism courses, and how it is being taught and to what end."

Not all trainees want a mainstream media career, he said, but "the lack of jobs offered by traditional employers is a critical issue facing journalism education".

This popularity of journalism courses, particularly among undergraduates who seemed undeterred by the new UK fee system that almost trebled tuition costs in 2012, doesn't quite reflect the situation on the job market.

"There are now about 30,000... full and part-time journalists in the UK," explained Nel, "about half of estimates at the turn of the century.

"And if you’ve been paying attention to recent statements," he added, referencing recent news of further reductions in staff at UK media outlets including the BBC, "you’ll know that there are more cuts to come."

So are journalism students being sold an unrealistic dream by universities, and is academia doing enough to prepare students for the media world outside?

Nel says some journalism courses are still "firmly rooted in the industry's expansion in the 1960s," after the founding of the NCTJ.

"Journalism training in Britain is entrenched in a 20th century system that has a simple goal: to provide junior employees in the news industry," he said.

Nel also highlighted the importance of applied research in journalism and of transferring that curiosity to discover more about the industry to the students, which fits in with the focus on employability.

And in a world where the traditional employers are increasingly not showing up to the university jobs fair, teaching entrepreneurial skills and the spirit of innovation is becoming a crucial part of training as well.

Another issue Nel brought to the table yesterday was a discussion about the skills of the trainers and journalism educators themselves. While dedicated and engaged, those who have been in their positions for many years should "update their skills and competencies" to meet the current challenges in the industry.

There's more work to be done to turn journalism academia into the "vibrant engine for practical knowledge and teaching that is required to ensure that the sector not only grows in numbers but in effectiveness," said Nel.

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