Week 1 -The Purposes of Media Research
Why research is so important?
-expected by employers
-there is no end to research due to history
-key skills in life for any job
Journalism is Academic Research
| Journalism Emphasis | Academic Emphasis |
| Revealing facts | Advancing the discipline |
| Making a product (e.g. a feature article) | Producing research papers |
| Challenging power structures (e.g. investigative reporting | Developing theory |
| Usually in the ‘field’ (e.g. political leaders, citizens, the powerless) | In libraries, archives and in the ‘field’ |
| Strict time constraints | Less strict time constrains |
| Budget constraints | Funding constraints |
| Generalist researchers | Specialist researchers |
| Oriented to production and audiences | Oriented to academic peers |
| Not as rigorous as academic research | High academic prestige |
| Journalists need highly developed social skills | Academics need some or few social skills |
