Not only has the public's attitude toward journalists eroded over the past 20 years, but the explosion of technology has given consumers access to massive amounts of news and information every waking moment of the day. Local and national newspapers, cable television stations devoted entirely to 24-hour news coverage, tabloid magazines, television "infotainment" and on-line news resources, these are only some of the news "sources" available to consumers. It is not difficult to understand why the American public is skeptical of today's journalists when it is practically impossible to determine what news organization is deemed "credible" or which journalist is considered "ethical."
Though the line continues to blur between what is and what is not considered journalism and the public's perception of journalists continues to diminish, enrollment figures indicate that this is not quelling the number of students entering journalism and/or mass communications schools across the United States. In fact, data collected from the Annual Survey of Journalism and Mass Communication Enrollments indicated an estimated 171,941 undergraduate students were studying journalism in 2001-2002 (Becker, et al Annual Enrollment 184). That was an increase of 2.2 percent from academic year 2000-2001 (Becker, et al 184).
Furthermore, at least half of the students receiving a bachelor's degree in journalism or mass communications obtained jobs in the communication field at least six months to eight months after graduation (Becker, et al 2002 Enrollment 1). Such figures indeed indicate that the journalism students of today will be the working journalists of tomorrow. These journalists face the daunting task of making ethical decisions in a field that is driven by technology, competition and money and that is not considered by the public to be trustworthy. (Bill Kovach, December 2001)
Professionals and academics are sometimes at odds about the best method to bridge ethics education with the practicality of the profession. In a 2000 Quill article Wendy Barger said ethics education still needs to address the "perceived disconnect between academics and professionals (Barger and Elliott 25). But it is evident that academics and professionals deem journalism ethics an area worthy of increased attention.
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