University of Toronto wants to create new j-school for ‘professionals who want to become journalists’

by David Silverberg

If the University of Toronto had its way, a new master’s of journalism program would invite specialists in various areas to learn to become journalists. Robert Steiner, director of the journalism lab at the Munk School of Global Affairs, is collaborating with colleagues to get an MJ program off the ground at UofT, J-source reports.

But this j-school will differ from its counterparts by catering to “professionals who want to become journalists or who want to add journalism to their professional work,” a proposal letter states. By September 2012, the Munk School wants to launch this program that will give students “strong journalism skills, a large portfolio of clippings in their global niche media, and advanced education in ethics, entrepreneurship and information technology.”

The letter states enrollment in today’s journalism schools is rising but they aren’t preparing graduates for jobs in the newsroom. The Munk program believes j-schools shouldn’t teach general assignment reporting; rather, this new school will recruit professionals with expertise in a niche topics, from biology to municipal politics.

The program envisions a new type of internship program: “Students in the Munk program will have to work for 18 months, during their academic year and during the summer, as freelance stringers in the niche global media covering their field. Active journalists will mentor ‘bureaus’ of six or seven students for two hours a week throughout the academic year.”

This spin on j-school has not yet been given the green light by UofT officials yet. The project leaders are still gathering feedback.

J-source reports UofT is not alone with this idea: the University of King’s College and Dalhousie University will jointly offer a new 10-month MJ program starting in June 2011, along with each school’s journalism program.