Annotated Bibliography Summary: The Sociology of the Professions and the Problem of Journalism Education

   Anderson, C.w. “The Sociology of the Professions and the Problem of Journalism Education.”       Radical Teacher 99 (2014): 62-68. Web. 26 Feb. 2017

Professor C.W. Anderson, in his article "The Sociology of the Professions and the Problem of Journalism Education", showcased in depth the extent to which his university, the College of Staten Island, is not only taking precautionary steps to unravel the reasoning behind the crash of available jobs in the journalistic market, but is also taking into account all of the possible ways in which students with a heart for journalism can succeed in this new world. As show on page 63 of his article, saying, "As documented by the Pew Research Center’s State of the News Media 2013, ‘estimates for newspaper newsroom cutbacks in 2012 put the industry down 30% since 2000 and below 40,000 full time professional employees for the first time since 1978…" this article constantly reviews the proven struggles graduates have faced for decades, highlighting the exact ways in which the job market has both fallen through larger corporations and risen with private businesses. Anderson's purpose in writing this article was to educate possible journalists regarding the tangible likelihood of difficulty they may face, while also accentuating the accuracy of alternative journalistic careers.

There were several quotes within this article that I found would not only help me with my research, but would also provide me with a perspective that differed my mentor: journalism's popularity, along with its relevancy, is in a rapid state of decline. In saying, "And then, at some point, comes the class I dread. The baldest version of the title is 'How to Get a Job.' Because the problem is, I don’t actually have an answer." (Page 63), Anderson brings the real issue to light; he proves that even he, a professor of journalism, cannot provide a way in which stability is ensured. This is further expanded upon of page 66, when he states that many professional writers, and scholars alike, did not even consider journalism to be a viable and stable career choice any more. He goes on to say, “What is worse, neither entrepreneurial journalism nor the teaching hospital model really addresses the professionalization challenge—the fact that the value of journalistic professionalism is ever more in doubt as technologies democratize access to media production.” (Page 66), which only further proves his point of view to be even more bleak than originally anticipated, forcing the reader to truly ponder upon how this crisis came to be, as well as the ways in which society as a whole can mend the bridge.

Because this article was written by a professor of journalism at the College of Staten Island, indicating Anderson's professionalism and experience, it represents a true, first-hand account of how the job climate is affecting graduate students. It is also a featured, reliable source on the Galileo webpages.

Through my current Essential Question, "What realistically profound challenges could I possibly face in the future through entrepreneurial journalism, and in what ways am I able to better prepare myself for a successful journalistic career in this job climate?", I've constantly pondered the issues that face the world of journalism today, and contemplated the ways in which I, as an individual writer, could leave my own impact in this realm. Because this article showcases a more negative side to the equation, focusing on the lack of jobs and experience within this profession, it has broadened my perception on the matter. Now, I am able to take this source and compare it with the more optimistic side of the entrepreneurial journalism career choice; this will allow me to more accurately and effectively shape my research with little to no personal bias, while also expanding my understanding of a possible profession!

My Plan for The Program

Throughout my time in the Honors Mentorship Program, I've not only deepened my understanding of the ever-evolving world of entrepreneurial journalism through my internship with Cumming Local, but I've also broadened the depth of my entire perception regarding the very essence of the career. While I've always considered journalism to be the perfect combination of writing and employment, through some of my research, I found that some people involved in this career don't always feel the same way; sometimes, journalism is depicted as an occupation filled with loose ends rather than one of fulfillment. In my effort to truly understand this profession, and the roll I may have in its societal standard, I've come to the conclusion that I need to not only research the applicability of entrepreneurial journalism for college students through basic research (highlighting both sides of the equation), but I also need to create visuals that emphasize the information and summaries I have found. In doing this, I will create both a Prezi presentation, to summarize my findings, as well as a survey, in which I can evaluate the point of view of my fellow peers.

Annotated Bibliography Summary: Encouraging Entrepreneurial Journalism Among University Students

Rojano, Fj Paniagua, M. Gómez Aguilar, and Me González Cortés. "Encouraging Entrepreneurial Journalism among University Students." Encouraging Entrepreneurial Journalism among University Students (2014): 548-70. Web. 29 Jan. 2017.

The researcher featured in the article, "Encouraging Entrepreneurial Journalism Among University Students", examined a Spanish, university-level journalism class and recorded the information regarding the students' opinions, concerns, and comments about entrepreneurial journalism, leading to a further examination of the results. This article constantly reflects the obstacles that many aspiring journalists face, delves deeper into the reasoning behind why the issues have occurred, and showcases the exact journalistic departments in which these challenges have  most commonly arisen throughout recent years. The purpose of the research depicted in the article is to establish the efficiency of the new implementations to the journalism programs, and to determine their worth. It constantly refers back to the students and their judgement, seeking their opinions regarding not only the challenges they fear to face in this career realm, but also how effective the course was in preparing them for these challenges. The article also highlights the possible benefits of becoming an employer, rather than an employee, through the eyes of the students and professors involved.

Throughout the article, there were several quotes that I knew would help my research and push along the findings of my essential question. In saying, "[Farias] describes how in recent years journalism went from being a profession characterized by professional intrusion to a profession characterized by job insecurity, then by unemployment, and later by the current situation, in which job insecurity and independence issues are the major concerns of journalists. As a result, the credibility of the information and the professional activity of journalism have been deteriorated in the last five years", found on page 549, the article accurately portrayed the real, traumatic issue plaguing the world of journalism that ultimately deters students from pursuing this long lasting opportunity. This point of view is also supported by several line on page  554, all showcasing the difficulties that come along with the job. The researcher, however, goes on to state the multitude of reasons in which students are captivated with this career option, constantly highlighting the efforts that the class took to help them realize how amazing entrepreneurial journalism can actually be in this day and age (found on pages 553, 557, 559, 561, and 564-567). This is largely supported by the quote, "At the end of the course, most students recognized that it was helpful, to such an extent that, before taking the course only 39% had ever consider the possibility of launching a journalistic enterprise and the rest (61%) never thought about it; while now, after completing the course, 91% of them does consider this option as a career opportunity” found on page 559.

Because this article was a research document written by a professor and an associate professor of the School of Communication Sciences at the University of Málaga in Spain, it represents both a first-hand account of the ongoing interactions within the classes, as well as an accurate depiction of the world of journalism and its complications as told by those with the correct qualifications. It is also featured as a reliable source in the Galileo folders.

While this article reflects the challenges and situations that many Spanish students fear, it represents a true depiction of the effects journalism and its challenges have worldwide (as is evident by the reference to the economic crisis that occurred in 2008). It also parallels much of what the article, "Entrepreneurial Journalism and the Precarious State of Media Work", highlights. Both articles establish the limitations and challenges that aspiring journalists continue to face, and provide reasons as to why this may be. "Encouraging Entrepreneurial Journalism among University Students", however, includes a more optimistic mindset regarding the entrepreneurial approach to journalism. This coincides more with my new essential question, "What realistically profound challenges could I possibly face in the future through entrepreneurial journalism, and in what ways am I able to better prepare myself for a successful journalistic career in this job climate?". This article will allow me to further my knowledge of entrepreneurial journalism, and expand my understanding of its realistic mechanics; all while seeing another side to the same story.