A new story filed for UTS journalism

UTS has a “well-established tradition of educating journalists” – but a review says j-academics need to do better on research

UTS creative writing head Craig Batty is off to UniSA (CMM November 2) and three senior people in the journalism programme are leaving, which creates opportunities for change.

One is for journalism and creative writing programmes to be combined. CMM asked head of journalism Monica Attard if this was happening and she replied. “Craig will be sorely missed. But I look forward to leading a renewed journalism and writing discipline and working with the extraordinarily talented group of academics in both disciplines.”

Other ideas are in the review of UTS journalism submitted this month by its chair, Oscar Westlund, from Oslo Metropolitan University inNorway.

The review found UTS has “a well-established tradition of educating journalists, with strong connections to the national media industry.” But, (there are quite a few buts in the review) researchlacks international impact or thematic focus.”

What to do about this and “advancing digital journalism studies” are a big issue in the review.

Professor Westlund and colleagues recommend,

* “aggressively establish UTS as a national hub for journalism innovation, media start-ups and research

* that people in the journalism programme work with the university’s Centre for Media Transitions, for “nuanced and critical engagement with issues relevant to the news media, journalism and society and offer opportunities for lifelong learning”  (The review thinks well of the centre, which Professor Attard co-chairs).

* priority for digital journalism studies, with a focus on research funding “to build track-record over the short term”

* strategic partnerships to develop workforce skills, “these include innovation, creativity and responsible use of technology.”