Boriss’ first proposal is an introductory journalism course that would cover the “last 600 years in search of business models to which we will return. It will focus on the days before the printing press when news was spread by word of mouth and, like today, everyone was a potential creator, editor, and distributor of news.”

Although Boriss doesn’t go into much detail, he seems to believe this course would remind student journalists that there is no such thing as ‘scientific’ journalism, which consists in producing “producing verified, objective, unbiased truths.”

Another course would give students a clear understanding of the US Founding Fathers’ vision for the press, by delving into the interpretation of the First Amendment or Thomas Jefferson’s vision of newspapers “as a “fence” to prevent government from encroaching on individuals’ lives.”

Boriss also proposes courses that will further teach business concerns and new technologies to journalists. Courses about business and new media are in fact beginning to be implemented in most, if not all, journalism schools.

Boriss offers that J-schools teach a creative, entertaining and very short writing course, which would be in line with many of today’s social trends. “As everything now known as “media” converges to the Internet, journalists will soon be competing for audiences against former newspapers/TV news, prime-time programming, movies, video games, blogs, and even porn.”

In other words, young journalists will have to learn new storytelling and writing techniques (could this really be the end of the inverted pyramid scheme?) adapted to grasping readers’ attention on the web. Students will learn how to write in humorous, inspirational, titillating styles, as well as practice writing catchy headlines and 300-word articles.

Finally, a course will teach journalists to “engage their audiences in civil debate to defend the accuracy of their facts and the validity of their opinions. This course will teach journalists how to differentiate left vs. right thinking, recognize their own biases, and treat critics as customers to be persuaded.”

Read more about ‘Are J-schools getting it?’ with Jeff Jarvis and Roy Greenslade, or in this post about Rolling Stone reporter Matt Taibbi saying journalism schools are a waste of time. Do you have any thoughts?

Source: Pajamas Media through Media Bistro