Mass Media Myopia

Accuracy in Academia ^ | May 17, 2010 | Malcolm A. Kline

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Mass Media Myopia

Malcolm A. Kline, May 17, 2010

The mass media, and those who train them, cannot figure out why their industry is in decline. “Drury University, a nationally accredited institution of higher learning, has added an online class to its Social Media Certificate program for graduate credit,” PR Newswire reported on May 13, 2010. “Deltina Hay, author of A Survival Guide to Social Media and Web 2.0 Optimization, will facilitate the webinar program, teaching students how to use social media and Web 2.0 technologies.”

“Drury University offers both on-campus classes and the online webinar class as a means of providing education in the best practices, texts, and research compiled in new media communications. Students who successfully complete Drury’s social media program will receive 3 hours of graduate credit that is transferrable to accredited universities accepting social media courses within their degree programs.”

Meanwhile, “As the proliferation of mobile phones throughout society continues, media organizations are looking for ways to capitalize on opportunities that mobile phone usage presents,” the University of Missouri announced on May 12, 2010. “An MU researcher believes he has found a new way for news outlets to take advantage of the mobile revolution.”

“Clyde Bentley, an associate professor at the University of Missouri School of Journalism, a Reynolds Journalism Institute Fellow, and an expert on mobile journalism, sees many possibilities for mobile phones in journalism, ranging from breaking news updates to long-term projects. He believes a person’s cell phone could be very helpful in explaining confusing geographic stories.”

Dr. Bentley might want to work on his own interpersonal skills before venturing into the Brave New World of modern technology. His ratings on ratemyprofessors.com indicate he may have some challenges in old-fashioned lecture settings:...