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Newspaper Association calls journalism department 'the best in Utah' By
Toby G. Hayes LOGAN -- Calling its program "the best in Utah," news leaders from the Pacific Northwest Newspaper Association discussed the future of the journalism department at Utah State University during a visit last week. Following a two-day evaluation of the department, the three representatives, William Beecham, bureau chief for the Associated Press in Utah and Idaho; Bruce Smith, publisher of the Logan Herald Journal; and Clark Walworth, managing editor of the Twin Falls, Idaho Times-News, called a meeting of USU journalism students and working graduates. The representatives asked what needed to be improved in the department. The general consensus? As the university's fastest growing department, smaller classes. Before any changes can be made, there's one problem facing the department: accreditation. "One of the reasons we can't get accredited is because our student-to-teacher ratios are too high," said department head Ted Pease. The current ratio is 1 to 36. USU President Kermit L. Hall recommends a 1 to 20 ratio. Without accreditation, the department can't apply for federal grants. Short on funds to hire new faculty, one way to lower student to teacher ratios would be to weed out the students who aren't serious about a journalistic career. "[A lot of students] don't know what direction they're going and they'll figure it out after they graduate," said Herald Journal sports reporter and USU graduate Jeff Hunter. Another way to make the department more focused on journalism may be a split, recommended Beecham. By separating it into print/broadcast and public relations, the department may be able to better serve the students in each discipline, he said. "You're selling your company. You're not journalists," Beecham told one of the public relations students. "That is a fact in my mind." Darrell Ehrlick, Herald Journal city editor, agrees. "I don't see journalism and public relations as a marriage made in heaven." Beyond recommendations for the department's direction, the visiting news leaders wanted to know how a one-time grant may be best served in the department. The last time the newspaper association visited USU in 1998, they donated $8,000 to the department that was used for the purchase of 16 computers for the journalism lab on the third floor of the Animal Science building. At the meeting Tuesday, students and graduates endorsed the idea of funding guest lecturers and visiting editors to augment the department's program. They also suggested using funds to improve equipment at the Utah Statesman, the campus student newspaper, although it is not part of the journalism department. Other ideas for funding included air conditioning for the department, plus the implementation of a testing program to weed out students who are not dedicated and focused on a journalism career. It is unknown when or how much money the association will donate to the journalism department. "Whatever you decide to do with the money," said Herald Journal reporter Jeremy Pugh, "I think it should go to whatever can be done to improve journalists."
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