Comments on: Tear up the tracks and the business cards http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/03/18/tear-up-the-tracks-and-the-business-cards/ by Jeff Jarvis Thu, 18 Mar 2010 20:55:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Ryan http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/03/18/tear-up-the-tracks-and-the-business-cards/#comment-33273 Ryan Mon, 20 Mar 2006 19:50:05 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/03/18/tear-up-the-tracks-and-the-business-cards/#comment-33273 Lecturers and adjuncts and lower-level faculty have the best chance to affect change in students' attitudes about blogs, online, etc, because they teach the intro-level journalism classes. The undergrads I deal with every day think blogs are unreliable because every time tenured profs says the word Internet, they preface it with "hard-to-confirm sources on the" or follow it with "writers without the same level of responsibility as at a newspaper." It goes on like this, day in, day out, no matter what they say in faculty meetings about teaching convergence, or online design, or html, or whatever. It takes a few younger profs without 15 years at a newspaper starting 35 years ago to get the Internet into students' heads. We've got a few undergrad class-and-prof blogs going now at the school where I'm a grad student, but we're still way behind the times. Oh, and by the way, undergrads seem to ignore guest speakers, no matter how informed or interesting they are. Not sure how to get through that barrier. Lecturers and adjuncts and lower-level faculty have the best chance to affect change in students’ attitudes about blogs, online, etc, because they teach the intro-level journalism classes.

The undergrads I deal with every day think blogs are unreliable because every time tenured profs says the word Internet, they preface it with “hard-to-confirm sources on the” or follow it with “writers without the same level of responsibility as at a newspaper.”

It goes on like this, day in, day out, no matter what they say in faculty meetings about teaching convergence, or online design, or html, or whatever.

It takes a few younger profs without 15 years at a newspaper starting 35 years ago to get the Internet into students’ heads.

We’ve got a few undergrad class-and-prof blogs going now at the school where I’m a grad student, but we’re still way behind the times.

Oh, and by the way, undergrads seem to ignore guest speakers, no matter how informed or interesting they are. Not sure how to get through that barrier.

]]> By: New Media Crossroads » Blog Archive » All Media Are New Today http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/03/18/tear-up-the-tracks-and-the-business-cards/#comment-33242 New Media Crossroads » Blog Archive » All Media Are New Today Mon, 20 Mar 2006 17:03:25 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/03/18/tear-up-the-tracks-and-the-business-cards/#comment-33242 [...] Jeff Jarvis posts an interesting piece on journalism students, quoting a report from Paul Conley that mentions how journalism students today don’t want to see media channels mixed, i.e. TV news is different and separate from newspapers and the web is different from TV and print. Jarvis’ point is dead-on: This needs to change. [...] [...] Jeff Jarvis posts an interesting piece on journalism students, quoting a report from Paul Conley that mentions how journalism students today don’t want to see media channels mixed, i.e. TV news is different and separate from newspapers and the web is different from TV and print. Jarvis’ point is dead-on: This needs to change. [...]

]]> By: CaptiousNut http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/03/18/tear-up-the-tracks-and-the-business-cards/#comment-33137 CaptiousNut Mon, 20 Mar 2006 01:55:23 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/03/18/tear-up-the-tracks-and-the-business-cards/#comment-33137 I don't know why anyone would presume that journalism schools are going to provide the next generation of pundits. Having a graduate degree is not going to generate more web traffic or credibility. What J-Schools did Drudge and Markos Moulitsas go to again? In fact, undergraduate degrees are almost worthless these days thanks to the politics and cronyism infecting the entire educational sphere. I don’t know why anyone would presume that journalism schools are going to provide the next generation of pundits.

Having a graduate degree is not going to generate more web traffic or credibility. What J-Schools did Drudge and Markos Moulitsas go to again?

In fact, undergraduate degrees are almost worthless these days thanks to the politics and cronyism infecting the entire educational sphere.

]]> By: Mack Collier http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/03/18/tear-up-the-tracks-and-the-business-cards/#comment-33114 Mack Collier Sun, 19 Mar 2006 18:29:57 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/03/18/tear-up-the-tracks-and-the-business-cards/#comment-33114 "If you wana win…don’t bother talking to any instructer that isn’t an adjunct." Bingo. None of the other instructors have had to look for a job since the 80s. The reason those kids keep coming up with resumes that look like they were written 20 years ago, is because they were written by instructors that haven't had to look for a job in 20 years. The bottom line is, if you go into your average college tomorrow and ask their instructors if they know what the words firefox, RSS, podcasting, and even weblogs mean, you are going to get plenty of confused stares. This isn't a problem at the top schools, but then again the majority of the college students aren't going to those top schools. “If you wana win…don’t bother talking to any instructer that isn’t an adjunct.”

Bingo. None of the other instructors have had to look for a job since the 80s. The reason those kids keep coming up with resumes that look like they were written 20 years ago, is because they were written by instructors that haven’t had to look for a job in 20 years.

The bottom line is, if you go into your average college tomorrow and ask their instructors if they know what the words firefox, RSS, podcasting, and even weblogs mean, you are going to get plenty of confused stares. This isn’t a problem at the top schools, but then again the majority of the college students aren’t going to those top schools.

]]> By: Joe Taylor Jr. http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/03/18/tear-up-the-tracks-and-the-business-cards/#comment-33110 Joe Taylor Jr. Sun, 19 Mar 2006 17:00:56 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/03/18/tear-up-the-tracks-and-the-business-cards/#comment-33110 This was somewhat true when I went to school, and it was quite true when I was a student advisor at an Ivy League university. There's something socially about being the Top Dog at a student media outlet -- think Paris on Gilmore Girls. For kids that have been taught since grade school that *sanctioned* actvities are what counts, this is totally natural. Why bother developing your writing skills on a blog when a hiring officer doesn't know what a blog is? And if you're the tribal head of Print at your school, it's natural to be competitve against the Radio and TV tribes because you're playing a zero-sum game for funding and attention. And yet, when I hire folks for my business, I'd rather see a blog than a resume, anyway. But that's just me (apparently). This was somewhat true when I went to school, and it was quite true when I was a student advisor at an Ivy League university. There’s something socially about being the Top Dog at a student media outlet — think Paris on Gilmore Girls. For kids that have been taught since grade school that *sanctioned* actvities are what counts, this is totally natural. Why bother developing your writing skills on a blog when a hiring officer doesn’t know what a blog is? And if you’re the tribal head of Print at your school, it’s natural to be competitve against the Radio and TV tribes because you’re playing a zero-sum game for funding and attention.

And yet, when I hire folks for my business, I’d rather see a blog than a resume, anyway. But that’s just me (apparently).

]]> By: EB http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/03/18/tear-up-the-tracks-and-the-business-cards/#comment-33094 EB Sun, 19 Mar 2006 13:49:35 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/03/18/tear-up-the-tracks-and-the-business-cards/#comment-33094 if you told a news director at a tv station about your blog in a job interview, they would laugh at you and make you run teleprompter on the 5 o'clock news. for a long time. blogs aren't seen as "real" writing, they're mere typing, to many in the hiring realms it seems to me. if you told a news director at a tv station about your blog in a job interview, they would laugh at you and make you run teleprompter on the 5 o’clock news. for a long time.

blogs aren’t seen as “real” writing, they’re mere typing, to many in the hiring realms it seems to me.

]]> By: Leon Benjamin http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/03/18/tear-up-the-tracks-and-the-business-cards/#comment-33092 Leon Benjamin Sun, 19 Mar 2006 13:07:03 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/03/18/tear-up-the-tracks-and-the-business-cards/#comment-33092 According Spherion, by 2007 half the US working population will be freelance. Whether this is the case or not, we are moving inexorabaly towards 'fractional work'. The future of work will take most of these students by surprise. "The internet has caused a fundamental change in attitude towards work and the realisation that a 'career' has ceased to be a feasible way to organise working life. I now view work as an instrument of self-development and personal autonomy and entrepreneurship not as a status symbol, but as an attitude - an attitude that everyone is going to need." Léon Benjamin According Spherion, by 2007 half the US working population will be freelance. Whether this is the case or not, we are moving inexorabaly towards ‘fractional work’. The future of work will take most of these students by surprise.

“The internet has caused a fundamental change in attitude towards work and the realisation that a ‘career’ has ceased to be a feasible way to organise working life. I now view work as an instrument of self-development and personal autonomy and entrepreneurship not as a status symbol, but as an attitude – an attitude that everyone is going to need.” Léon Benjamin

]]> By: sean coon http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/03/18/tear-up-the-tracks-and-the-business-cards/#comment-33066 sean coon Sun, 19 Mar 2006 05:31:52 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/03/18/tear-up-the-tracks-and-the-business-cards/#comment-33066 i was an ad design major at syracuse for undergrad, but not advertising at newhouse; i was advertising design at vpa. the difference? we had the art directors of the future, they had the copywriters and account execs. please tell me how much sense that makes. i was an ad design major at syracuse for undergrad, but not advertising at newhouse; i was advertising design at vpa. the difference? we had the art directors of the future, they had the copywriters and account execs. please tell me how much sense that makes.

]]> By: Paul Conley http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/03/18/tear-up-the-tracks-and-the-business-cards/#comment-33046 Paul Conley Sun, 19 Mar 2006 03:25:31 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/03/18/tear-up-the-tracks-and-the-business-cards/#comment-33046 Hi Jeff, Thanks for the link and the support. I've met a lot of students in recent weeks, and "frightening" is the right word for the experience. I hope you're finding a different situation at CUNY. Hi Jeff,
Thanks for the link and the support.
I’ve met a lot of students in recent weeks, and “frightening” is the right word for the experience.
I hope you’re finding a different situation at CUNY.

]]> By: Allen L. http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/03/18/tear-up-the-tracks-and-the-business-cards/#comment-33004 Allen L. Sat, 18 Mar 2006 22:58:04 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/03/18/tear-up-the-tracks-and-the-business-cards/#comment-33004 I recently was an intern at a news magazine, working on the online department. Most of the other interns were trained to be newspaper type journalist and didn't get blogs either (beyond maybe the personal ones they saw or the political blogs). I think that's changing now though with more school publications coming out with blogs, though. I recently was an intern at a news magazine, working on the online department. Most of the other interns were trained to be newspaper type journalist and didn’t get blogs either (beyond maybe the personal ones they saw or the political blogs). I think that’s changing now though with more school publications coming out with blogs, though.

]]> By: Trudy W. Schuett http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/03/18/tear-up-the-tracks-and-the-business-cards/#comment-33001 Trudy W. Schuett Sat, 18 Mar 2006 22:39:56 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/03/18/tear-up-the-tracks-and-the-business-cards/#comment-33001 I'm on the reader's advisory board for my local newspaper, and most of their reporters are fresh out of J-school. They know very little about the internet and frankly hate blogs. If the editor wasn't one of the first people who went online back in the '90s, they wouldn't have any website or blogs at all, I think. So this revelation is nothing new to me! I’m on the reader’s advisory board for my local newspaper, and most of their reporters are fresh out of J-school. They know very little about the internet and frankly hate blogs.

If the editor wasn’t one of the first people who went online back in the ’90s, they wouldn’t have any website or blogs at all, I think.

So this revelation is nothing new to me!

]]> By: TC@LeatherPenguin http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/03/18/tear-up-the-tracks-and-the-business-cards/#comment-32993 TC@LeatherPenguin Sat, 18 Mar 2006 21:34:52 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/03/18/tear-up-the-tracks-and-the-business-cards/#comment-32993 Oh, Buzzy, you had no idea what you were walking into at CUNY, did ya? I onced edited a campus paper there; beef up your MetroCard, and get ready to ride the rails if you want to get your message out, and then take a deep breath, because the GRAD School lives in its own universe If you wana win...don't bother talking to any instructer that isn't an adjunct. Oh, Buzzy, you had no idea what you were walking into at CUNY, did ya?
I onced edited a campus paper there; beef up your MetroCard, and get ready to ride the rails if you want to get your message out, and then take a deep breath, because the GRAD School lives in its own universe
If you wana win…don’t bother talking to any instructer that isn’t an adjunct.

]]> By: Terry Heaton http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/03/18/tear-up-the-tracks-and-the-business-cards/#comment-32991 Terry Heaton Sat, 18 Mar 2006 21:12:55 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/03/18/tear-up-the-tracks-and-the-business-cards/#comment-32991 I will say that this has not been my experience. Perhaps it's a question of which University. Regardless, I have found just the opposite where I wander, so I'm a bit more hopeful about tomorrow. I will say that this has not been my experience. Perhaps it’s a question of which University. Regardless, I have found just the opposite where I wander, so I’m a bit more hopeful about tomorrow.

]]> By: mark singer http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/03/18/tear-up-the-tracks-and-the-business-cards/#comment-32990 mark singer Sat, 18 Mar 2006 21:11:46 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/03/18/tear-up-the-tracks-and-the-business-cards/#comment-32990 Maybe these students are simply reticent about exposure to the range of views on various subjects that the web provides... Maybe these students are simply reticent about exposure to the range of views on various subjects that the web provides…

]]>