What is the future of journalism at the university?
The month of September brought two multi-million-dollar headlines involving journalism and communications at Carolina.
The first was a $25 million gift to the School of Media and Journalism, which is the outgrowth of the old J-school that produced hundreds of graduates and dozens of regional newspaper stars.
Both have the potential to be tremendous additions to the UNC’s exposure over the coming years, while they also are fraught with peril from the unknown future of the industries they support.
What a boon for the newly named Hussman School of Journalism and Media, which received its unprecedented gift from the Hussman family that made its fortune on regional newspapers. Ironically, relatively few graduates from the school now go on to jobs in print journalism, which has seen the death of newspapers in major, medium and small markets.
Most of that gift will go toward the new age of journalism, which is digital and broadcast, although those forms are forever changing. Whereas once about 85 percent of the J-school graduates concentrated on the news writing curriculum, that has almost flipped to electronic media, advertising and PR.
UNC’s gorgeous Media and Communications Center unveiled last Friday was required building by the Atlantic Coast Conference’s new television and streaming network that has launched with mixed reviews due to checkered coverage across the league’s footprint from up-state New York to South Florida.
Hopefully, revenue from the ACC’s annual distribution to member schools will grow to both pay back the Rams Club and boost Carolina’s $100 million athletic budget. But the saturation of sports on TV and streaming services is also growing, along with rancor over not having all the games on cable TV like the good old days.
What the stunning new ACC Network building will provide is another media and journalism school of sorts, a 21st century lab where student interns can learn however the industry turns.
