New Plan for University Journalism School
Napier University students discuss the announcement at Merchiston Campus early last week.
-Switch from journalism to business-based curriculum for Napier University
- “It’s really all about sales and the bottom line.” Head of School says
- Students caught off guard by the announcement
A major Scottish university announced a new plan effectively calling for an end of their traditional journalism program and a move to a marketing and business-driven curriculum.
Under the new plan, all journalism courses at Napier University’s School of Creative Industries will be transferred into the Business faculty. Students will no longer learn traditional writing and reporting skills, but focus on marketing new products.
The school hopes that this change will entice prospective students, better equip graduates for the workplace and meet government numbers for enrolment.
Acting Head of School Robin MacPherson said: “We have been aware of criticism of media studies courses in general as being not fit for purpose in training people for work in the modern media. The days of Jon Pilger and Kate Adie are over; nobody cares about poor people in the third world anymore. It’s really all about sales and the bottom line. We have to train our students to be aware of what is happening in the culture all around them and how to sell it as news.”
Students seem to have different opinions.
“I didn’t come to Napier to study business,” third-year student Anthony Rivera said. “I came here because it is supposed to be the best journalism school in Scotland. And now they are cancelling the program.”
The exact timetable for the change is yet to be defined. However, one definite change will be the addition of a course called Celebrity, Gossip and Independent photo-sales, in hopes to train students for quick work-place placement.
“I’m curious to see how the changes will play out,” first-year Katherine Miller said.
