Education system not producing qualified journos

[rooster59]

Education system not producing qualified journos

KWANCHAI RUNGFAPAISARN
THE NATION



Professor Surapongse Sotanasathien, lecturer at Thammasat University

BANGKOK: THAILAND'S EDUCATION system in the field of journalism and mass communication is lacking the capability to produce qualified journalists to supply the current market situation and changes in the media landscape, according to experts.

Many graduates do not have the multidisciplinary skills required to support their professions in dealing with many different media, both in mass and new digital media.

Professor Surapongse Sotanasathien, lecturer at Thammasat University's Faculty of Journalism and Mass Communication, said that in Thailand, many universities had defined journalism as media studies and categorised it into a number of professional fields - film, broadcasting, newspapers, magazines, journals and advertising. "I myself believe in media convergence. Any study programme being created by the universities based on different media studies will obstruct development in the science of journalism," he said.

While local universities produce many graduates in journalism annually, they are not able to apply themselves immediately to the current market situation, he added.

In Thailand, many educational institutes in journalism produce graduates just to be reporters and photographers, said the academic.

"We see many interviews that Thai reporters conduct with the prime minister. At such interviews, many reporters often ask common-sense questions, but they do not apply journalism by posing interesting and sophisticated questions to the premier," he pointed out.

Surapongse said some educational programmes at the bachelor degree level, such as public relations, should be eliminated and replaced with organisational communication.

"PR is already a death science, as it focuses only on limited communication activities, like media planning," he explained.

The professor added that if they were to replace PR studies with programmes in organisational communication, universities would be able to broaden their education programmes by covering more communication fields.

"Meanwhile, for the master's degree in journalism, I would like to see a multidisciplinary educational system rather than individual media studies. I also would like to see senior officers as well as executives in both private and public organisations with the ability to apply the principles of communication as tools to bring success to their organisations," he said.

Surapongse said that for the PhD programme in journalism and mass communication, he wanted to see the emergence of 'communicology', which covered all sciences and knowledge concerning communications.

Any educational programmes should combine all knowledge regarding to academic, professional and interdisciplinary studies, he suggested.

"For me, journalism and mass communication can cover only second-wave media, which are mass media, but not cover third-wave media, such as websites and social networks," he said.

Suwichit Chaidaroon, lecturer in marketing communications at London's University of Westminster, said the educational system for journalism in the US had strong roots in communication sciences, as well as in empirical studies and quantitative research from interpersonal to mass communications.

Students in the US also have good freedom and flexibility in choosing their study programmes, enabling them to go for something they are really interested in and that will be useful for their future careers, he said.

Meanwhile, in England and Australia, universities are quite strong in cultural and critical studies, he said.

They have also rotated PR and advertising to be under the busi-ness-administration faculty, as |neither fits properly into media |and journalism, he added.

Piya Pongsapitaksanti, associate professor in the Department of Information and Media Studies, Faculty of Global Communication, at the University of Nagasaki, said that at quality universities in Japan, students were provided with the chance to discuss in project-based learning and field-work studies.

Worapron Chanthapan, lecturer at the Communication Arts Faculty of Stamford International University in Bangkok, said that in contrast with western students, Thai students were still scared of expressing ideas during classes.

"In the West, lecturers are just facilitators, and there are essentially no right or wrong answers. If |an answer is wrong, but the student offers a strong justification, |then they will still get points," she said.

The educational system in |the West also has strong academic freedom, not only for lecturers but also for students, she added.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Education-system-not-producing-qualified-journos-30274357.html

-- The Nation 2015-12-05

[NongKhaiKid]

Education system ?

[Rocceao]

Education system

They have a System???

[NongKhaiKid]

I'd suggest there's a whole raft of occupations that the system doesn't produce qualified people for.

Let's start with the Thais supposedly qualified to ' teach ' English language.

[Reigntax]

I'd suggest there's a whole raft of occupations that the system doesn't produce qualified people for.

Let's start with the Thais supposedly qualified to ' teach ' English language.

And we could finish with those having a reasonable knowledge and understanding of how to run the country.

The education system certainly does produce a good understanding on how to look after oneself by obtaining personal benefits why ignoring laws, benefits to the country as a whole and the ability to blame others for doing exactly the same.

[Seastallion]

"interviews that Thai reporters conduct with the prime minister. At such interviews, many reporters often ask common-sense questions, but they do not apply journalism by posing interesting and sophisticated questions to the premier," he pointed out."

Cause and effect.

Maybe your "effect" is from a different "cause" in the case of interviewing the PM.

However, I get your drift and you're probably right.

[AGareth2]

tough job

draconian laws

[Chang_paarp]

Lets start with the headline. Thailand produces many people with qualifications so they are qualified, however they lack competence and workplace skills. The quality and relevance of their education is another item that needs hand wringing over.

[aussiesteve63]

He needs a visit from the fashion police 555

[waldroj]

How can jurnos pose interesting and sophisticated questions to the junta-head when they know the only response they will receive is the proverbial spleen venting?

[Reigntax]

He needs a visit from the fashion police 555

No. Hidden behind the tie he is showing his real colour.

[thesetat2013]

I'd suggest there's a whole raft of occupations that the system doesn't produce qualified people for.

Let's start with the Thais supposedly qualified to ' teach ' English language.

And we could finish with those having a reasonable knowledge and understanding of how to run the country.

The education system certainly does produce a good understanding on how to look after oneself by obtaining personal benefits why ignoring laws, benefits to the country as a whole and the ability to blame others for doing exactly the same.

Aren't those things taught from birth though? You can not blame only the teachers for that. Families and daily life teach them those skills as well

[trogers]

And a university professor just discovered this fact that was the talk of TV for at least 5 years...

[Usernames]

Journalism is essentially illegal in this country, what with the defamation laws and such. Why would any student in their right mind study communications and journalism? Talk about a dead end career.

[jaltsc]

"THAILAND'S EDUCATION system in the field of journalism and mass communication is lacking the capability to produce qualified journalists to supply the current market situation and changes in the media landscape, according to experts."

The education system turns out plenty of qualified journalist. They are just not allowed to practice professional journalism.

It appears that "copy off the smart kid", is what most students are qualified to do upon graduation. If the smart, qualified kid becomes a journalist and writes the truth, he is arrested and his career is over. However, the kids who copied off of him, now copy what the government hands out and tells them what to write.

[waldroj]

Usernames,

I suspect that most of these students would have aspirations of hosting glamour TV shows or becoming becoming movie stars! Few would have any intention of being a "reporter", and as you point out, why would anyone blame them?

[MZurf]

Journalism is essentially illegal in this country, what with the defamation laws and such. Why would any student in their right mind study communications and journalism? Talk about a dead end career.

Exactly. In Thailand questioning those "above" you is a no-no, and since that is the very essence of journalism (at least IMHO) you're left with gossip columnists. There are a few notable exceptions but they get attitude adjusted into silence, or worse.

[Caveat Emptor]

I'd suggest there's a whole raft of occupations that the system doesn't produce qualified people for.

Let's start with the Thais supposedly qualified to ' teach ' English language.

Just a passing thought but how many university professors, school directors etc are fully and properly qualified for the posts they hold ?

[NongKhaiKid]

Journalism is essentially illegal in this country, what with the defamation laws and such. Why would any student in their right mind study communications and journalism? Talk about a dead end career.

Imagine sitting in your news room and being told your assignment for the day was to cover the PM''s press conference !

Just go, note everything he says, don't ask questions and it might be suitable to applaud enthusiastically when he finishes.

[gandalf12]

I'd suggest there's a whole raft of occupations that the system doesn't produce qualified people for.

Let's start with the Thais supposedly qualified to ' teach ' English language.

Be easier to name the ones it does produce qualified people for positions

[Emster23]

How much education does it take to copy Junta press handouts and post as news? Anything beyond that is fraught with danger I reckon.

[Barry Friedman]

And here is the list of qualified occupations they are producing.

[maewang99]

what a sleepwalker! journalism is all but the last thing a system of indoctrination would ever produce, even "accidentally" somehow.

what's not funny is all of us westerners who, myself included for a while, join into this... it's very simple why we can all so easily get a job as a "teacher" in Thailand... and no, it is not because Thailand is a "poor country".... it is why Thailand is a poor country... but they are "happy".

[callaway]

From what I see, the Thai education system does not seem to produce much of anything. If you ever meet an educated Thai, then I bet a pound to a penny, he or she was educated overseas.

[tuanku]

We have a similar thread about historians. There is no point being a journalist when the most interesting stories are off limits and you cannot name names due to idiotic laws set up to protect unworthy individuals. Even the braver editorials have to tiptoe around defamation laws and LM

[Assurancetourix]

"THAILAND'S EDUCATION system in the field of journalism and mass communication is lacking the capability to produce qualified journalists to supply the current market situation and changes in the media landscape, according to experts."

The education system turns out plenty of qualified journalist. They are just not allowed to practice professional journalism.

It appears that "copy off the smart kid", is what most students are qualified to do upon graduation. If the smart, qualified kid becomes a journalist and writes the truth, he is arrested and his career is over. However, the kids who copied off of him, now copy what the government hands out and tells them what to write.

You can write like that also for some occidental countries like France or Belgium ...

[DavisH]

I may have to go for attitude adjustment if I expressed my opinions on this

[DrTuner]

There's something seriously wrong with my brain. I instantly read journos as pornos and thought, hey, that's not right.

[cockatoowho]

He has only just worked that out, I could have told him that decades ago. To be fair, they can only ask the Premier and his cohorts mundane and stupid questions as the sophisticated questions are beyond them.

[scorecard]

Lets start with the headline. Thailand produces many people with qualifications so they are qualified, however they lack competence and workplace skills. The quality and relevance of their education is another item that needs hand wringing over.

"Thailand produces many people with qualifications so they are qualified, however they lack competence and workplace skills."

Well of course new graduates lack experience, same in any profession in any country.

Is the professor just making excuses?

Does his course include a systematic approach to checking facts / data etc., before the reporter lodges their reporting pieces?

Does the course or other courses include knowledge of the typical structure of a newspaper / magazine, etc., including the need for a higher level editor to check reporters submissions before they are published?

Does the professor / his institution include work experience with a recognized newspaper or similar with the provider giving a grade for the internship against a structured grading paper, which ultimately is part of the factors which bring final graduation?