The University of Missouri and the University of Kansas both have well-respected journalism programs, but neither school was able to land any journalism professors on the list of the “Top 50 Journalism Professors” for 2012.
The list was compiled by JournalismDegree.org. (LINK).
The closest either school came was Chad Edwards, who earned his Ph.D. from the University of Kansas, but is currently an Associate Professor in the School of Communication at Western Michigan.
“The final 50 professors were selected after a lengthy nomination period, and were included based on a variety of factors including the quality and quantity of publications they’ve authored, ranking of their academic institutions, as well as awards and honors they’ve earned,” spokesperson Katie Webber told Bottom Line Communications.
TOO MUCH SPORTS
There’s too much emphasis on sports at both institutions, not that there’s a direct correlation here, of course. However, better pay is more likely to attract better instructors to someone’s J-school.
DOES NOT INCLUDE TEACHING
You’ll notice that the criteria for picking the best professors mentioned by Ms. Webber do not include teaching. So I don’t think either MU or KU should feel too bad about not being included.
NO SPORTS AT MU
There’s no emphasis on sports in the Mizzou J-School program. You can’t even take a class on sports writing (or at least you couldn’t a few years ago).
POPULARTY CONTEST?
None on the list from my alma mater, SIU-Carbondale. I think it’s a popularity contest.
COMMIE PROFESSOR
My late father (BJ ’48) was a MU J-School grad. He was greatly influenced by the Dean, Pulitzer recipient, Frank Luther Mott. I have all of Dad’s Savitar yearbooks. There’s one in particular I remember, because Dad pointed out an Arts and Sciences professor whom Dad said was a Communist. Wouldn’t you know it, the alleged pinko professor looked like Leon Trotsky. I always got a kick out of my father remembering the best professor, Dean Mott and the other guy, the Communist.
SOME QUESTIONS
1. “The list was created using independent research…” What independent research?
2. Who vetted the “independent research”?
3. What is the criteria used for a good journalism professor?
4. using this criteria it would seem my “Top 50″ would be equal to your Top 50..?
5. Maybe I should begin a blog on the “Top 50 blog sites citing independent research” using my own “independent research”.
GOOD MU PROFS GONE
Obviously, the good ones are gone from the University of Missouri. I was there when the likes of William Bickley provided sound, practical and informative instruction for the prospective journalist. What can you expect now with the Don Reynolds mark all over the place. Donrey, once the bottom line of all bottom line newspaper chains, left a legacy of cheapness. The journalism school had an aura of excellence in my day — not now.