What is Journalism For? Call for Journalism Educators to Think beyond Industry Practice

Abstract

This article suggests that journalism educators are potentially doing a disservice to the industry by continuing to echo industry practitioner responses to the question: ‘What is journalism for?’ This article reports on a survey of journalism academics and practising journalists in Australia, which found that they predominately share views about the role of journalism. With massive shifts occurring in the way journalism is funded and produced, it is clear that journalism requires new thinking from scholars who have the time and resources to reflect beyond current normative frames and professional values. The authors suggest that in the interests of the journalism industry’s future, the Australian academy should differentiate itself from the industry’s immediate needs and be more forward thinking in its work.