Twelve students attended a town hall session to discuss the future of the Medill School of Journalism with Dean John Lavine Wednesday in the McCormick Tribune Center Forum. Lavine gave an overview of his vision of audience-driven media and fielded questions from students.
Lavine released the Medill 2020 plan, a 21-page document that described his goals for Medill’s future graduates, on April 17. Students have been posting comments for Lavine and other Medill faculty on an online undergraduate discussion board since April 8.
Lavine said student comment and concern is vital to the reconstruction of the Medill curriculum. He said upperclassmen need to explain their concerns to younger students so that current apprehensions are not overlooked.
“Medill is a bit behind in the sense that students don’t have as big of a voice as I think they should have,” Lavine said.
Student questions focused on how Lavine’s ideas would change the curriculum. Medill senior Nicole Matuska, a Daily photographer, said although she is graduating, she wants to ensure “writing and storytelling stays in the curriculum.” Lavine told Matuska that although future Medill graduates should be “proficient” in digital technologies, they will master good writing.
“You will know subjects deeper and be able to write and report better,” he said. “(Technology) will be a comparatively small part of what you do here.”
Lavine said he did not know which classes would be changed, eliminated or added.
Other student questions centered on Lavine’s plans to bring Medill’s Integrated Marketing Communications program closer to journalism.
“There are parts of journalism and parts of IMC that should never be together,” he said. “Let’s take the part of IMC that talks about reaching an audience and bring it into journalism – without reaching an audience it will be harder and harder for good journalism to exist.”
Lavine assured students that international teaching media programs will continue in Medill’s future. Medill will keep the program in South Africa and may add more, he said. Lavine also said he foresees Medill newsrooms in diverse Chicago neighborhoods.
Lavine will hold another town hall session from 1 to 2 p.m. Friday in the center. He said he plans to hold more forums in the fall to receive student input on curriculum decisions.
Reach Margaret Matray at [email protected]. Reach Amanda Palleschi at [email protected].
