CONVERGENCE SKILLS AS DEMANDED BY NEWSPAPER EMPLOYERS, TAUGHT BY JOURNALISM PROGRAMS

Abstract

Convergence—the blending of old-media and new-media content delivery technologies—poses challenges for new hires in journalism. In the past, journalists were expected to align with skill sets specific to print or to broadcast content delivery technologies. Nowadays, print journalists are expected to have some broadcast-news skills, and broadcast journalists to have some print skills. Both are expected to have some Web-based skills. This study coded skill sets in job ads posted by U.S. newspapers and the journalism syllabi of North Carolina universities. It also surveyed North Carolina journalism students about the time spent in journalism classes on various skill sets. The results suggest differences between the job ads and syllabi, notably for the skill of using social media journalistically. Areas of similarity include employers’ desire for and instructors’ teaching of multiplatform (e.g., convergence) skills, and such traditional skills as newswriting. The results suggest a need for more convergence instruction in certain skill areas.