Jeanz supports global journalism education
Jeanz played a significant role in supporting a recent major global conference of journalism educators, awarding grants totalling $2000 to attendees.
The multi-day World Journalism Education Congress (WJEC) was held at AUT University in July.
Jeanz awarded a $500 prize to AUT’s Merja Myllylahti, whose paper on newspaper publishers’ revenues was judged by the conference’s peer reviewers as being the best New Zealand paper presented.
Merja’s paper has already been accepted for publication by a top overseas academic journal.
Merja, who is a member of Jeanz and recently received her PhD, thanked the association for the prize.
“The award will encourage me to continue my research in the area.”
Jeanz gave a $500 Jeanz-member travel grant to Whitireia journalism head Bernie Whelan to present his paper at the conference.
Bernie, who is studying for his PhD, gave a paper on how the Maori world view can inform a bicultural approach to journalism.
Bernie also chaired a paper session.
“Massive thanks to Jeanz,” he said. “It really means a lot to have the support of your peers.”
Jeanz gave a $500 student travel grant to Massey PhD candidate Victoria Quade to present a paper, reporting on her thesis’s literature review.
She thanked Jeanz for helping her attend the conference.
“This was a fantastic opportunity to meet the people whose work I’ve read.”
Jeanz was also a sponsor of the conference’s opening ceremony, which featured a moving powhiri.
The powhiri clearly affected the delegates, many of whom had travelled great distances to attend the conference, including from Europe, the Americas, Africa, Asia and Oceania.
The chair of the conference’s steering committee, Verica Rupar, said Jeanz’s support had been tremendous.
She thanked Jeanz for backing the conference “from day one”.
Jeanz member Merja Myllylahti of AUT, with her award for the best New Zealand paper.
Jeanz president Grant Hannis presents Merja Myllylahti with her prize for the best New Zealand paper.
Bernie Whelan, winner of the Jeanz-member travel grant to present a paper at the conference.
Doctoral student Victoria Quade, who won the Jeanz student travel grant to present a paper.
Pacific educators convene at WJEC
Pacific media educators and trainers from around the Pacific took advantage of the recent 4th World Journalism Education Congress (WJEC) to get up to speed on global trends and to strategise for the future.
Organised and hosted by the Pacific Media Centre at AUT University, the Asia-Pacific stream of 12 people - funded with $23,000 from donors - spanned both the Australian and Pacific pre-conferences and the main WJEC conference.
“I must give credit to a wonderful group of educators from what we always claim – not just in media but by our governments as well — to be our Pacific region,” said Misa Vicky Lepou, president of the recently formed association of Pacific journalism educators, the Media Educators Pacific (MeP).
Presentations included 11 papers and three live-streamed panels on corruption and the media in the Pacific, Post-COP21, climate change and the challenge facing journalism educators in the Asia-Pacific, and Pacific journalism education with a focus on recent unrest at PNG universities.
Also, Kalafi Moala, Tongan publisher and broadcaster and deputy chair of the Pasifika Media Association, gave an inspiring closing address.
The group held a strategising “fono” at the PMC attended by the Pacific Media Assistance Scheme project manager Francis Herman, Australian Press Council research and communications director Michael Rose, Massey University PhD student Victoria Quade, UNESCO Pacific’s Aterina Samasoni-Pele and Professor David Robie, director of the Pacific Media Centre.
“It isn’t always easy to get through at such huge international conferences to make your voices heard — not as individuals but as one voice,” Misa said.
Progress had been made at the meeting and since MeP was formed in Suva, Fiji, in 2015, Misa said.
The draft constitution for MeP was developed by Professor David Robie in 2012. In recognition of Dr Robie’s work in journalism education in the Asia-Pacific region, the MeP welcomed him as the group’s academic adviser.
“Journalism schools and TVET institutions need supporting academics like Dr Robie and many others to share insights and experiences to support our cause and journey,” Misa said.
Pacific Journalism Review will be publishing a special edition drawn from Asia-Pacific papers at WJEC later this year.
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Participants in the Pacific stream at WJEC16 meeting in AUT’s Pacific Media Centre, including Jeanz member Professor David Robie (back row, far right). Image: Del Abcede/PMC
Misa Vicky Lepou being interviewed after the Pacific journalism education “fono”. Image: Eliki Drugunalevu
Massey achieves ACEJMC accreditation
Massey’s Journalism School is now accredited by US organisation the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC).
Massey is the only journalism school in New Zealand and Australia to be accredited by ACEJMC.
Accreditation confirms that the Massey programme is of a high international standard.
To be accredited, a journalism school has to demonstrate its meets a wide range of standards, including on curriculum, professional experience of staff, diversity, etc.
“We are naturally delighted with this achievement,” Massey Journalism head Grant Hannis said. “The process was demanding and took many years.
“To have it reach a successful outcome was very satisfying.”
ACEJMC accredited Massey’s School of Communication, Journalism and Marketing, which includes the Journalism School, earlier this year. |
