Curriculum still evolving

When Jimmy Gentry became dean of Kansas University’s William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications in 1997, he helped formally adopt a mission and values statement, which prominently featured the word “diversity.”

Diversity now embodies the characteristics student-journalists need to be successful, Gentry said.

THE COPY DESK OF THE SUMMER UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN staff edits copy for the biweekly issue of the Kansan in June. From left, are Mandy Miller, Paola senior; Mike Gilligan, Overland Park senior; Matt Stumpff, Overland Park senior; Jason Royer, Shawnee graduate student; and Kristin Keeney, Oklahoma City senior. The students also edit radio-style summaries as part of the converged curriculum.

“We realized that the job description of a professional journalist was changing, and that those students that had a multitude of skills of course would be more marketable when they left here,” Gentry said. “And what we’re trying to do now is balance this new wave of technologies with the basic skills that have made this school successful, good writing and producing fundamentals.”

While KU wasn’t the first school to enter the new century with a converged curriculum, it has been lauded as one of the top models for a diverse learning environment.

Quill, the Society of Professional Journalists’ national magazine, said in its 2001 July/August edition that “the School of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of Kansas (is) considered by many to be a model for innovative curriculum revision.”

Such accolades helped influence senior-to-be Meredith Carr chose KU.

And the benefits of having multiple media opportunities helped Carr make an important career choice.

“When I came here, I thought that I really wanted to be a broadcast major,” said Carr, the convergence manager for KU’s student-run newspaper, the University Daily Kansan. “But after I got in some of the classes, I realized that there were a lot of aspects of print that I liked better, and so I switched to that path.”

In 2000, the J-School revised its curriculum to include two career tracks — News/Information and Strategic Communication.

Required classes in both areas incorporate print, broadcast and online elements to allow students to experience varying forms of media, Gentry said.

“This cross-platform education offers tremendous opportunities,” Gentry said. “But there is also enough specialization that once students find their niche, they can be coached by professors with professional experience.”

The opportunities for learning aren’t limited to just classes.

The school features three major student-run operations — the Kansan, KUJH-TV, channel 14 and KJHK-FM, 90.7.

The three began intertwining elements last year and even more collaboration is expected in the coming year.

“Things are being taken a step further now, and that’s cool,” said Malcolm Gibson, assistant professor and general manager of the Kansan. “I and the students who run the paper are committed to moving the Kansan in the direction of what the school has set as its mission, which is full convergence.”

Gibson said students didn’t have to look far to see convergence happening in a professional setting.

“We are looking at the Journal-World in many ways as a model as to what we’re going to be doing in the future,” he said. “Baby steps are being taken, and so far it’s been going well.”

Gentry said the school had experienced some growing pains, but the one area that most people said was going to be a problem wasn’t.

“I feel really fortunate because we didn’t have the problems that people thought we’d have with the faculty resisting the change,” Gentry said.

Several universities, including the University of Missouri, have taken note of KU’s J-School. Some MU officials have made trips to Mount Oread to check out KU’s journalism program.

“I think that’s pretty cool,” Gentry said.

Gentry stresses that to stay ahead of other schools, KU has to keep improving.

“We have no real idea of what the future holds,” he said. “So it’s our job to keep up with the ever-changing technologies and give students the best opportunity to leave this university and make an immediate difference in their profession.”