[AEJMC Newspaper Division list] name change discussion

[Clanin, Thomas]

I don't think newspapers are going to die; they're going to evolve and
thrive. However, I think the day may come when I'm reading my newspaper
on a foldable 11x17 Kindle, but we'll still call them newspapers because
that we've always called them.

When was the last anyone DIALED a phone number. That word is still part
of our vernacular. I expect the same thing will happen with the word
newspaper.

Tom Clanin

Department of Communications
California State University, Fullerton
College Park 650-27

http://commfaculty.fullerton.edu/tclanin


-----Original Message-----
From: news-list-bounces at aejmc.net [mailto:news-list-bounces at aejmc.net]
On Behalf Of O'Donnell, Michael J.
Sent: Friday, July 25, 2008 11:11 AM
To: Dorothy Bowles; Members Newspaper Division
Subject: Re: [AEJMC Newspaper Division list] name change discussion

Friends:

Through all this discussion, the thought has occurred to me that what we
are
really worried about is the survival of an AEJMC division named
"Newspaper
Division." 

Much has been said about the viability of newspapers now and into the
future, and I get the feeling that some would consider it a bit disloyal
to
drop the word "newspaper" from the division title. But we do not have
much
control over the future of newspapers (ink on newsprint, at least) other
than to do our part to make newspapers as good as they can be.

If newspapers die, then perhaps the division should die with them, to be
replaced by an online news division or whatever. As much as I love
newspapers, having worked for them in varying capacities for 30 years,
they
are not a big part of the future my students see for themselves. Few of
them
read newsPAPERS, but almost all of them are well-informed about the
world
around them. They ask, If I can get my news in a more convenient, less
expensive, always updated form, why should I plunk down 50 cents for the
hard copy?

I believe that as educators, we should prepare them for THEIR future,
not
our past. For me, that means looking beyond the practices peculiar to
print
journalism and trying to help them become quality journalists in the
media
they will have at their command. In the meantime, we in the Newspaper
Division have much to study, learn and pass on about good JOURNALISM,
even
as we contemplate a future without ink on newsprint.

MO'D

Michael O'Donnell
Associate Professor of Journalism
University of St. Thomas
Mail# 4302
2115 Summit Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55105
651-962-5281

"Brevity is the soul of wit." -- Shakespeare




> From: Dorothy Bowles <bowles at utk.edu>
> Date: Thu, 24 Jul 2008 01:20:14 -0400
> To: Members Newspaper Division <news-list at aejmc.net>
> Subject: [AEJMC Newspaper Division list] name change discussion
> 
> During the past week or so, discussion has swung from "we need a name
> change and here are new name ideas" to "let's not be hasty about
moving
> away from the name Newspaper Division."  I'm torn on the issue and
have
> enjoyed reading the thoughtful posts.
> 
> One reason we've heard for not changing to News or some variation of
> News is concern about infringing on the turf of RTV and other
divisions
> or interest groups. In light of the AEJMC strategic plan that is to be
> voted on in Chicago and talk of a "leaner" organization, is there any
> sentiment that we consider merging (converging) Newspaper and RTV
> divisions? I can think of some advantages in both divisions moving
away
> from platform-based names, but an obvious disadvantage (other than all
> the reasons already stated for retaining Newspaper Division) would be
> fewer convention slots for combined programming. That alone might be
> reason not to even consider a merger.
> 
> Dorothy
> 
> ================================================
> Dorothy Bowles, Professor
> School of Journalism & Electronic Media, Univ. of Tennessee,
> 333 Communications Bldg., Knoxville, TN 37996-0333
> PHONE: 865-974-4454 OR  865-974-5155; FAX: 865-974-5056
> HOMEPAGE: http://excellent.com.utk.edu/~bowles
> =================================================
> 
> Notice: Messages sent to and from this address are stored on a
> University of Tennessee server and may be considered public records
> under the Tennessee Public Records Act, subject to inspection by
> residents of Tennessee.
> ==================================================
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