Thursday, February 11, 2010
Celebrity journalism degree?
http://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/2010/news/row-erupts-over-celebrity-journalism-degree/
At first glance you do have to wonder a little about a university offering a degree in celebrity journalism.
Is this a sign of the times we live in? Probably. Is it acceptable? That depends.
Clearly Dr Pike thinks it’s a sign of how vacuous and ephemeral our popular culture has become. How can we spend resources on this when there’s serious science to fund?
But just like that science it’s being provided because there’s a real need for it. Whether you like it or not, much more media coverage these days is about celebrities, so it’s surely important to have young journalists trained in how to do it properly and within the law.
And while traditional journalists trained for hard news are increasingly chasing a shrinking number of jobs these youngsters will have an edge in getting the positions in an area of the media which has and likely always will be popular with media consumers.
Once upon a time the idea of any training in being a reporter, let alone a degree in it, was derided. Now it's accepted among most journalists. So why shouldn't this be the latest addition.
At first glance you do have to wonder a little about a university offering a degree in celebrity journalism.
Is this a sign of the times we live in? Probably. Is it acceptable? That depends.
Clearly Dr Pike thinks it’s a sign of how vacuous and ephemeral our popular culture has become. How can we spend resources on this when there’s serious science to fund?
But just like that science it’s being provided because there’s a real need for it. Whether you like it or not, much more media coverage these days is about celebrities, so it’s surely important to have young journalists trained in how to do it properly and within the law.
And while traditional journalists trained for hard news are increasingly chasing a shrinking number of jobs these youngsters will have an edge in getting the positions in an area of the media which has and likely always will be popular with media consumers.
Once upon a time the idea of any training in being a reporter, let alone a degree in it, was derided. Now it's accepted among most journalists. So why shouldn't this be the latest addition.
Labels: celebrity journalism degree
