Universities and Emerging Forms of Journalism

Technology continues to shape and mold itself everyday. Just look at the past 25-30 years as an example. We've probably seen at least ten unique eras of technology. First there was the computer, large devices generally used for calculating mathematical equations. Next came along the personal computer, then the graphic user interface. And then laptops, the internet, and MP3 players began to make their way into the market. There's even huge variations within each of those markets.

All this to say: with evolving technology, responsibility falls on schools to keep up with changes, providing the newest and most advanced classes with current material.

Steve Sloan, a professor at San Jose State's Journalism program teaches a class that was recently redesigned for just such reasons. I'm not enrolled in the class, but from what I've heard it has come to be called "the podcasting class." Now, despite your view of the internet, blogging and podcasting have become giant media for journalists, as well as everyone else, to express their views. They provide an uncensored and direct outlet for all types of information: news, stocks, opinion, entertainment, or simply someone writing and talking about what they had for breakfast.

So many media corporations have become highly regulated to the point that it's hard to find any differences between them. With blogging, you have one person writing about what they feel, and no one else can incorporate their views in any way. In my opinion, this is a huge step forward in media and mass communications, as well as technology. Well done, interesting, and educated blogs will tend to succeed over the ones that, well... aren't.

I think Mr. Sloan is right. Let's keep up with the forefront of journalism. Let's stay ahead of the curve. Let's keep 163 the class that does this.