Journalism Education in Australia: Educating Journalists for Convergent, Cosmopolitan, and Uncertain News Environments

Abstract

There is a high national demand for entry into journalism programs and student interest in journalism careers is impressive. Journalism program enrolments rose by 42% in the 2001-2008 period, compared to an increase of 27% in overall enrolments in higher education programs (Scanlon, 2009). This demand is linked to optimism about employment opportunities for graduates who have information and communication technology skill sets and fascination with the news media (Putnis, Axford, Watson, & Blood, 2002). Research indicates that unrealistic perceptions of the high profile work opportunities, glamor, and wealth supposedly found in journalistic careers are also a factor (Alysen & Oakham, 1996). Many journalism graduates aspire to work in metropolitan daily newspapers. A 2011 survey found 57% of final- year journalism students would look for work “reporting at a newspaper” (Callaghan, 2011). Yet, these newsrooms offer very few entry-level job opportunities (Cokley, Edstrom, McBride, & Ranke, 2011; Cokley, Gilbert, Jovic, & Hanrick, 2015). As a consequence, most of the journalism graduates entering the labor market each year (Hirst, 2010) have to settle for other types of media or non-media work (e.g., niche magazines, public relations).