There are eight universities in the public sector and more than a dozen universities and colleges in the private sector in Pakistan that have teaching and training facilities in journalism at the graduate and postgraduate levels.
What kind of books these students read and how many among these teaching institutions produce quality teaching and training material for their students is an embarrassing question.
A cursory glance over the syllabus shows that most of the books prescribed for students pursuing journalism in English language are obsolete editions that were produced and taught by the American or British educational institutions way back in eighties. Those who have Urdu as a medium of instruction read pirated books translated into Urdu.
In many cases translations are incorrect, and leave the student in a lurch as far as concepts regarding journalism as a profession, and the journalist as a craftsman are concerned. Issues such as intro and its ingredients, the contents of news and its development into a catchy story, its follow up, the argument in favour of and against the concept of fairness, objectivity and ethics need to be understood by a student.
His ability to pass judgement on grammar and construction of sentences is another area that needs to be looked into. Most of the translated works that are being referred to, as primary and secondary sources for learning journalism, is wanting in this respect.
Similarly, students pursuing the electronic media are not being introduced to the kind of vocabulary, grammar, style and the way of presentation that makes all the difference. It may be a news bulletin or a current affairs programme or simply an entertainment presentation, but it needs to be supported by body language. At none of the universities or colleges arrangements to adequately deal with these aspects of teaching and training in journalism have been given importance. The prescribed reading material doesn't meet this requirement.
Over a period of time, there have been tremendous changes in dealing with news. Rivals in the electronic media are in competition with each other.
This phenomenon has given a new meaning to the phrase 'race against time'. There is competition for breaking news amongst TV channels, which, if viewed critically, reaches viewers/listeners in the minimum of words in the minimum of time. This is how craftsmanship in electronic journalism has changed. There is a different vocabulary, a different approach to conventional grammar, and a different style of presentation and body language that works.
The news and current affairs programme are consuming most of the time available to TV channels in 2007, as compared to the seventies and eighties, when about three hours only were earmarked for news and current affairs. Times have changed. Obsolete and outdated materials for academic studies has no reason to be tolerated now.
A Handbook of Independent Journalism by Deborah Potter is a welcome publication that has been produced by the Bureau of International Information Programme, US Department of State. The Pakistani universities and colleges offering mass communications as a subject need this kind of book.
This publication answers questions that have not been addressed adequately in some of the books prescribed in Pakistani universities and colleges. The beauty of this handbook is that it is in simple English, easy to understand. Students pursuing journalism in the Urdu language can also benefit from it. Common terms and phrases generally used in the pursuit of journalism are explained without indulging in too complicated a discussion, difficult to understand.
Its content is, on purpose, concise and presented in way that is easy to understand and remember. Each chapter is carefully classified and whatever has been discussed in one chapter has not been repeated in others. Writings that stretches beyond three to four typed pages usually tend to repeat portions of its text, whereas this handbook is free from this, at times pardonable, flaw that lessens the value of a book.
Besides, discussion on news and its presentation, considerable space is given to discussion on language, grammar and the gradual development of writing skills. Since these are days when 'specialisation' is the buzzword, Deborah Potter has talked about it in detail and has given valuable suggestions to work on. The chapter on ethics and law is instructive. As Potter says 'ethical journalism is essential to the long-term success of the news media', she explains the value of prudent judgement that is to be made before constructing a story and sending it for publication.
The handbook is equally useful for both, students pursuing studies in mass communications, and the journalist working for the newspaper or electronic media. This handbook is recommended reading. It serves as a ready reckoner if kept in the newspaper office or in the newsroom of a TV/radio station.
Deborah Potter is the Executive Director of Newslab, an online resource center for journalists in Washington, D.C., that she founded in 1998. She has taught journalism as a faculty member at the Poynter Institute and at American University, and is a past Executive Director of the Radio and Television News Directors Foundation. Potter leads workshops for journalists in newsrooms across the United States and around the world.
She is a featured columnist, writing about broadcast news for the American Journalism Review and the author of Ready, Set, Lead: A resource Guide for News Leaders. Potter spent more than 20 years in TV news, including 16 as a network correspondent for CBS News and CNN, covering the White House, State Department, Congress, national politics, and environmental issues. She also hosted the PBS TV series "In the Prime". She has a BA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a master's degree from American University.