In the Nieman ebook How To Make J-school Matter (Again): A blueprint for the future of journalism education, Amy Webb identifies six hidden challenges facing journalism educators today and offers a new approach to curriculum and classroom education. Webb, founder of the digital strategy firm Webbmedia Group, conducted research for the project as a Knight Visiting Nieman Fellow at Harvard.

The Six Hidden Challenges in Journalism Education

• There are long-standing tensions between universities and their journalism departments or schools.
• There is no culture of academic leadership within journalism departments and schools.
• The current system prevents curriculum development from keeping pace with the changing realities of modern newsrooms.
• Accreditation in journalism is a paradox, making things simultaneously better and worse.
• Journalism departments do not fundraise on par with their peers within the university.
• Journalism schools have not cultivated a symbiotic relationship with the industry.

Webb’s three-pronged approach includes a foundation of exceptional liberal arts coursework; a holistic survey of modern journalism and newsrooms with deep-dives into specialized concentrations; and a compulsory experiential learning component that can better mirror the educational background and expectations of young Millennials.