Growing Tension among Old and New Journalism Education

This post was originally posted on Tech Academy at www.andreagenevieve.com

In 2009 there’s been a common stereotype, in any field, that young people don’t know what they are talking about. Over the past year the debate has grown over the positive and negative aspects of Generation Y in the workplace. What about academia? Does this debate transfer to careers in higher education? It’s a question that’s been on my mind lately, as I work my way through the application process of a Doctoral program in Curriculum and Instruction. I want to know whats in store for me if I graduate and hope to teach before the age of 30.

Speaking as a member of Generation Y, I oftentimes feel judged and chastised for my lack of credibility and experience in academia. Academia is teeming with Baby Boomers and Senior Citizens, where are all the young people like me?

Think about it, what is the median age of a Journalism and Communication department? 45? 50? 60 years old? At your next staff meeting take a look around the room and see for yourself. I’ll be interested to know which schools include “new” blood on their staff and which aren’t ready to look past the tenured faculty.

Is There Room for Generation Y in Academia?

It brings to my mind another important question of debate: In this day and age, as the field changes on a daily basis, are current Journalism or Communication professors really fit to teach every topic, both new and old? On the contrary, I tend to believe young faculty and staff are exactly where its at. (My Generation Y, overgeneralizing, big mouth talking here.)

If higher education institutions could only open their employment doors to younger, newer educators and adjuncts, maybe students would feel they are acquiring actual skills they may put to use immediately after graduation. The goal of higher education is to prepare students for life after graduation and who would know better, than those who have just come from undergrad or graduate school themselves?

Perhaps there should be a national higher education survey to measure the value of students’ education and their opinion of current educators. I’d also like to see how many schools employ Generation Y professors or staff. (Something to think about for sure, for those of you research-savvy enough to take this question further. I’d be very interested to see the results.)

To my point of “old” versus “new,” I think it’s a merger of the two that would best benefit students. The “old” can offer students lifelong media skills, while the “new” can show current trends and teach students how to use new media tools, or technology, effectively while enrolled in school and also as professional working communicators. Isn’t this the very idea the media field is turning to as a business model? In a time when newsrooms are down-sizing left and right, interns and Generation Y young adults are stepping up to plate and pick up the pieces. More and more media organization are launching internship or fellowship initiatives.

Increasing Awareness of New Media in Higher Education

A colleague of mine brought up a good point last week after our departmental staff meeting, “No one is going to hire someone to do something they don’t understand themselves.”

It’s inevitable that the current tension between the two sides will increase, unless the “old” can recognize the value of “new” educators, and the “new” earn the respect and trust of veteran employees. One of the main problems with technology and new media initiatives in higher education today is the lack of understanding or awareness. Too often, educators just don’t get it. To combat this, I’m making it my goal to increase awareness of social media and technology in the higher ed classroom, through my future doctoral research and projects, using groups such as Social Media Club- EDU.

Look out academia, Generation Y, technology and social media are all headed your way.