Venkat Raman
The challenges faced by journalists in a fast-changing world, their response to disruption in mainstream media and the ‘creative tension’ that exists in newsrooms will be among the topics that will be discussed at a Conference later this week.
Organised by the Journalism Education Association of New Zealand (JEANZ) on December 13 and December 14, 2018 at Te Auaha New Zealand Institute of Creativity located at 65 Dixon Street, Te Aro, Wellington on December 13 and 14, the Conference will be inaugurated by Broadcasting Minister Kris Faafoi.
Digital Disruption Specialist
Radio New Zealand Board Member Melissa Clark-Reynolds will be the Opening Speaker and facilitate the ‘Disruption Session,’ sponsored by the Wellington City Council.
A Specialist in ‘Digital Disruption,’ she has been the Chief Executive of a number of technology companies, and is on the boards of government agencies as well as high growth technology organisations. Her experience includes Online, TV and Computer Gaming.
She works as a Digital Strategist, and mentors the international start-up community.
Creative Tension
The Session on Creative Tension: Diverse form and function of the art and craft of journalism would be of interest to many.
A Conference Communique said that data speeds and affordability are opening up new ways of telling stories and reaching audiences for Journalism schools and their graduates.
“They are also putting storytelling choices in the hands of diverse communities and cultures. But how is Journalism Education managing the competing demands of these multiplying forms and functions?
“At the same time, fewer people are considering Journalism Education, and the number of training options is shrinking. How are the tensions being managed between expectations of industry, the expanding creative possibilities for the craft, and fewer options for exploring it?”
The Conference will also cover diversity of voices in Journalism Education and Teaching Feedback Sessions.
New website launched
On another note, JEANZ has just launched its new website as a portal for its members, the industry and for people evincing interest in Journalism Studies.
Dr Catherine Strong, Senior Lecturer at the Massey University School of Communication, Journalism and Marketing and Executive Member of JEANZ, said that Journalism educators are driving dynamic changes in their institutions and their own association to meet the demands of changing requirements of employers and students.
The new website comes at the same time as members in journalism schools around the country are redeveloping their programmes, she said.
Trends in Journalism
“The developments address the dramatically different job descriptions and rise in demand for the journalism skills being delivered in the digital environments of modern journalism programmes. There has never been greater demand for quality Journalism and Journalism educators are staying ahead of that demand, and it is reflected in the website content which is easy to find on any platform, and in the programmes being delivered around the country,” she said.
Dr Strong said that the website includes news updates about member activities, resources including journalism links, student run news sites in Aotearoa and textbook exercises, contact information, and research by members.
www.jeanz.org.nz
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Photo Caption:
- Melissa Clark-Reynolds (Picture Courtesy: CINZ)
- Dr Catherine Strong (Picture Courtesy: Massey News)
