A
posting today announcing an academic chair at the University of Central
Lancashire Department of Journalism seems to indicate that someone in
the industry there is starting to ask the right questions and seeking
to leverage the strengths of the profession and its academic
counterpart.



In a time when the U.S. journalism establishment is just contributing to academic redundancies (see “Columbia and CUNY Get Grants in Journalism“), 
UK Publisher Johnston Press is asking if there might not be a better
way to think about, understand and deliver journalism.



From a press release:



“SPONSORED CHAIR IN DIGITAL JOURNALISM DEVELOPMENT



” The University of Central Lancashire Department of Journalism is to join forces with major UK Publisher Johnston Press in an

exciting new initiative that aims to exploit the benefits of new and emerging digital technology.



The three-year collaboration, worth around *200,000, includes the future appointment of the Johnston Press Chair in Digital Journalism Development at the University.



Tim Bowdler, Chief Executive of Johnston Press, said: “The rapid evolution of digital technology presents huge opportunities and challenges to traditional media companies.



“Through the newly established Chair in Digital Journalism, Johnston Press is delighted to partner with the Department of Journalism and to give added impetus to its already well

recognised commitment to exploring new forms of factual content creation, production and dissemination.



“Johnston Press is determined to take maximum advantage of the new opportunities which digital developments present and our partnership with the University will undoubtedly further this aim.”



In post by January 2006 and funded by Johnston Press, the Chair will form the cornerstone of the partnership between the two organisations. UCLan will also fund a research assistant to assist the Chair in drawing up a research strategy that defines new approaches/methods to:



• the exploration of digital applications for content acquisition (e.g. multi skilled reporters and reporting technologies)



• the exploration of digital applications for content production (copy flow, editorial management and logistics in the multi-media

newsroom of the future)



• exploring digital applications for content dissemination, including multi-media content converged onto one dissemination platform (e.g. the Web); but also the simultaneous dissemination of content on multiple platforms (e.g. hard copy, the Web and mobile)



Major implications



Head of the Department of Journalism Mike Ward said: “By the end of this decade, it’s forecast that there will be up to 1.5 billion computers connected via high-speed broadband and another 2.5 billion phones with more processing power than today’s PCs. This will undoubtedly have major implications for journalists and

publishers alike.



“UCLan’s partnership with Johnston Press, which combines the expertise of one of the top journalism departments in the country with one of the UK’s major regional newspaper groups, presents us with a unique opportunity to investigate, challenge and inform development and debate in digital applications.



“The fruits of the partnership will be relevant, accessible and forward-looking analysis. Together we will produce materials for teaching, knowledge transfer and further research.”

________________



\_ Alan Rawlinson

\_ Course leader, MA in Online Journalism

\_ University of Central Lancashire

\_ www.ukjournalism.org

\_ \_ \_ \_ \_ \_ \_ \_ \_ \_ \_ \_ \_ \_ \_ \_ \_ \_



\_ agrawlinson@uclan.ac.uk

\_ alan@rawlinson.co.uk

\_ 01772 894757

\_ \_ \_ \_ \_ \_ \_ \_ \_ \_ \_ \_”