Where'd Michigan Journalism Go ?

Where'd Michigan Journalism Go ?

By Kevin Bunkley

A year removed from the University of Michigan and subsequently The Michigan Daily...the job market for young writers is one from hell. Publications are closing up, tenured staff are re-interviewing for jobs someone half their age -- and salary -- could do, and here I am stuck in the middle with my hat in my hand waiting for that phone call. As I've navigated this search, however, certain things have entered my mind, and one thing consistently bothers me. Am I at a disadvantage because I come from a school with no formal journalism program? It wouldn't seem so, but, once upon a time Michigan did have a journalism program. It was before most people reading this were born, but it did exist. A return of a formal journalism program may just help others who come after me get a job when they get that block M diploma. The Daily plays a role, but the administration must recognize that even Daily staffers want some teaching from experienced professionals.

What happened to Michigan's journalism program? The only evidence I ever heard about it was when Michigan State Journalism Professor, and University alumnus Joe Grimm told me that he obtained a Bachelor's in journalism in 1975 from Michigan. It's a mystery as to why the University phased out its undergraduate journalism program, but The Michigan Daily was clearly a more viable way to encourage journalism on the campus with no financial cost, since The Daily is independently run by a board.

This decision has negatively affected mine and others' experiences for learning journalism. Yes, The Daily is essentially a regular newsroom and actual writing experience is far more valuable than sitting in a classroom, but that only goes so far. An editorial board member such as myself does not do reporting that often, so a journalism program would have been the perfect supplement to learn ethics, multimedia and how to get a job after graduation. However, I was pleased to learn of UM-Flint starting a journalism program in May. It focuses more on online journalism, but one thing is important: the students wanted it, and the administration yielded. If there was enough interest among students at the Ann Arbor campus, I would hope the administration would be as supportive.

I have no factual information as to why the journalism program was eliminated, but I have a theory. From what Mr. Grimm wrote to me in the email in which I first learned of this extinct degree, I believe the program was a casualty of the times it lived in. Graduates of Universities from 1973-1976 experienced a terrible economic recession. The policies of Presidents Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter exploded inflation and unemployment rates, and state funding for its public universities was in a pinch. The University of Michigan almost certainly had to eliminate some academic majors, so journalism was likely one of those that was cut to balance the budget. I imagine that thereafter, The Michigan Daily picked up the slack as soon as the economy improved in the Eighties, and the Board of Regents probably never saw any reason to bring the journalism program back.

Two things must happen so that everyone who isn't a straight reporter doesn't have the same difficulties I have been plagued with: The University must either consider reinstating the program in full, or else lobby the Knight Wallace Fellows to start a program that allows a group of students to interact with the journalism pros that come here each Winter to improve their craft. At the very least I would have jumped at the chance to have a journalism minor that was overseen by the Communications Department, one of the most lacking departments in the entire University -- its reputation for easy courses to fill credit hours is not undeserved. The second is that students themselves need to ascertain whether there is enough mass interest for such a program, because if it is only half full that doesn't serve a purpose, The Daily far surpasses a half-strength official field of study. I implore all the persons who regularly read The Daily, but have thought themselves too unprepared to join the staff, to think about whether they would pursue a degree in journalism.

There are thousands of good writers walking around this campus, and if the University wants to better equip all of them to be effective American citizens, they'll look into restarting a journalism major in the interest of claiming a major role in providing a dying industry with a tidal wave of new talent that is just begging to be hired like I am.