Syracuse University OTR: ABC News Links With Top Journalism Schools

ABC News Links With Top Journalism Schools

Posted by Crystal 05/30/2008 7:43 PM
Category: Tags: ABC News, ABC News On Campus, World News, Good Morning America

This is breaking news for any aspiring broadcast journalist, ABC News is starting digital bureaus at the top five journalism schools. The program titled "ABC News on Campus" wants to use students, chosen by their professors, to produce content for ABC.

Students will work with mentors from ABC, and have the chance to produce content for all the ABC News platforms, such as Good Morning America and ABC World News.

Best of all? Students will be paid for their contributions (unlike ABC's other indentured servants otherwise known as interns).

ABC's Picks:

1. The Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University
2. S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University
3. University of Florida's College of Journalism and Communications
4. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's College of Journalism and Mass Communications
5. University of Texas (Austin) School of Journalism

The initiative aims to jump start the careers of many broadcasting hopefuls. ABC expects to find the modern-day Hugh Downs or Barbara Walters from the participants.

+ 63 comments

Anonymous says,

Umm...It's generally understood that Northwestern University and The University of Missouri have the top two journalism schools in the country. Whoever wrote this is probably going to be reprimanded by his/her boss(who probably attended one of the two schools.) Posted 05/13/2008 10:54 AMReply

Anonymous says,

Well, I had always heard that Syracuse was a really good school for communications and television--but Missouri and Northwestern are the other two you always hear about. Posted 05/13/2008 10:58 AMReply

Anonymous says,

I don't think ABC is saying these are THE top 5, just 5 of the top. It seems like regional diversity played a role in the selection as well, which makes sense since you want reporting from all over the country. Posted 05/13/2008 11:05 AMReply

Anonymous says,

ASU has always been a top journalism school. Posted 05/13/2008 11:38 AMReply

Anonymous says,

Northwestern and Missouri are both known as print journalism schools. ABC is looking for broadcasters Posted 05/13/2008 11:55 AMReply

Anonymous says,

University of Maryland is known as one of the top 3 broadcast journalism schools in the country. So this clearly isn't the top 5. Posted 05/13/2008 12:49 PMReply

Anonymous says,

The Ohio State University is known for the best journalism school in the country. FACT CHECK Posted 05/13/2008 1:16 PMReply

Anonymous says,

As a soon to be Mizzou grad, I have to say I find that list a bit surprising. Florida and Texas? Really? Mizzou is in the top three print journalism schools, but I'm pretty sure the broadcast school here is one of the better ones as well. Oh well,who wants to work for a broadcast news organization these days anyways, yeesh. Posted 05/13/2008 1:29 PMReply

Anonymous says,

Top 5 - no way. Five of the top J-Schools - maybe. The journalist responsible for this article fails Journalism 101. Any list that omits Mssouri's J-School is defifient in accuracy. Probably a grad of one of those other 5 schools. Posted 05/13/2008 1:44 PMReply

Anonymous says,

Leaving out Missiouri and Northwestern undermines the credibility of this list. Another top school left out is the University of Iowa, whose student-produced newspaper has won many awards over the years. On the other hand, the list and its intent highlights the wide gulf between print and broadcast journalism, where you don't necessary have to know how to write, only look good in front of a camera. Posted 05/13/2008 1:53 PMReply

Anonymous says,

has no one heard of the columbia school of journalism? Posted 05/13/2008 1:55 PMReply

Anonymous says,

Arizona State has a top 5 broadcast journalism program easy. Never known UT or Florida's to be that outstanding. It should be UNC, ASU, MIZZOU, NORTHWESTERN, AND SYRACUSE. Posted 05/13/2008 1:56 PMReply

Anonymous says,

I've never heard of UF or UT being referred to as top programs. That list should include North Carolina, Syracuse, Northwestern, Missouri, Maryland, and maybe Arizona State. Though I suppose there wouldn't be much regional diversity there.
To the previous anon: Columbia's J-school is a graduate program. It doesn't have an undergrad degree. Posted 05/13/2008 2:03 PMReply

Anonymous says,

Where the hell is MICHIGAN STATE? There are name schools and there are those people know produce quality graduates. Posted 05/13/2008 2:28 PMReply

Anonymous says,

traditionally, northwestern and missouri are considered 1-2 for journalism (NU is stronger in print, missouri in broadcast), but syracuse and UNC-CH are also very well regarded, especially for sports. asu, florida, texas, maryland, and byu are up there in the top 10 somewhere... Posted 05/13/2008 2:45 PMReply

Anonymous says,

USC? Posted 05/13/2008 2:57 PMReply

Anonymous says,

I know Missouri has an NBC affiliate within the school, so maybe that's why they're not taking their program to Columbia. Posted 05/13/2008 3:03 PMReply

Anonymous says,

How could you leave out the Annebgerg School at USC? Posted 05/13/2008 3:30 PMReply

Anonymous says,

VCU? Posted 05/13/2008 4:10 PMReply

Anonymous says,

Columbia. Period. End of discussion. Posted 05/13/2008 5:24 PMReply

Anonymous says,

As said before COLUMBIA IS A GRAD PROGRAM. Columbia's undergrad program consists of Columbia College (Arts & Sciences) and the Fu Foundation (Engineering) Posted 05/13/2008 5:32 PMReply

Anonymous says,

To the other schools, "Can't rest on your laurels".

These are the current TOP 5 J schools. Posted 05/13/2008 5:49 PMReply

Anonymous says,

Maryland trounces UNC almost every year in print and broadcast journalism, so for those leaving UNC in and having Maryland out, is making a mistake. The order is probably:
1) Northwestern
2) Missouri
3) Maryland
4) Syracuse
5) Arizona State Posted 05/13/2008 6:20 PMReply

Anonymous says,

Historically, Missouri and Northwestern have been consider #1 and #2 by journalists (I know - I'm a working journalist). Nothing's wrong with the other schools (although the omission of U of Maryland is curious)... that's just what working editors say. Posted 05/13/2008 7:31 PMReply

Anonymous says,

KENT STATE ANYBODY? Posted 05/13/2008 7:44 PMReply

Anonymous says,

University of Miami is there now, and in 5 years will have the title hands-down Posted 05/13/2008 8:04 PMReply

Anonymous says,

What about Wartburg State University? The author is completely lost if he mist Wartburg State. Posted 05/13/2008 8:50 PMReply

Anonymous says,

MICHIGAN STATE people!!!!! Posted 05/13/2008 9:18 PMReply

Anonymous says,

So, outside this list, can anyone point to any journalism school rankings in the past five years? I didn't think so. I know UF has produced some pretty fantastic broadcast journalists recently (Erin Andrews is just one of many), and has invested millions in making UF's broadcase (and print) journalism programs one of the most technologically advanced in the country. So, stop whining about programs that long ago were deemed great. Rankings mean very little, but to argue that this ranking is wrong simply because of the storied history of a program like Mizzou or NW undermines the importance of factors such as current professor quality, student awards, the quality of the student-run newspaper, etc. The history of a program should have little to no weight in determining current rankings. I wonder how many schools routinely win as many Hearst awards as UF students. I'd bet few. And by the way, UF was in the top 10 the last time I could find J-school rankings (1986) at No. 6. Posted 05/13/2008 9:18 PMReply

Anonymous says,

These are some rankings but none have really been done in the last 12 years or so

http://unspun.amazon.com/Best-Journalism-Schools/list/show/3772

http://www.journalismnext.com/forums/messageview.cfm?catid=10&threadid=163 Posted 05/13/2008 10:23 PMReply

Anonymous says,

in a reply to FACT CHECK -- it's OHIO UNIVERSITY in Athens, Ohio, that makes the noise in broadcasting - not the Buckeyes in Columbus. I agree with the comment that Mizzou's NBC affiliate was probably the reason for not going there.

I know there are recent Emmy awards won at WOUB on the Ohio University campus. I'm sure there are a few students on the chosen campuses who are already targeted, but for overall production of Broadcast Journalists, a few schools were missed. Posted 05/13/2008 10:24 PMReply

Anonymous says,

As far as regional balance, none of these schools are from the Midwest, the region of Mizzou and Northwestern. Just lost a little respect for ABC. Posted 05/14/2008 12:17 AMReply

Anonymous says,

Ohio State's not even the best J school in Ohio. That honor belongs to OU.@ Anonymous: Posted 05/14/2008 05:50 AMReply

Anonymous says,

I love how everyone is just throwing out their school and hoping people will agree it is one of the best. VCU, Kent State, Michigan State, Ohio State? Keep dreaming. Posted 05/14/2008 06:28 AMReply

Anonymous says,

Nobody's mentioned the University of Kansas J-School, even though they've dominated the Hearst awards (Pulitzers for college journalism) the past two years. I was surprised to not see MU or NU on there either. Posted 05/14/2008 06:34 AMReply

Anonymous says,

The University of Missouri has a citywide newspaper distributed to almost 100,000 people, a NBC affiliate going totally HD within the year that reaches over 500,000 people, a magazine that is released with the newspaper once a week, and the local NPR radio station all owned by the school.

So for mandatory classwork, students report, anchor, photog, produce, edit, etc... for well viewed and read public outlets before they even graduate!

No other school comes remotely close to this. The Mizzou mafia is huge and ABC definitely is going to get major slack and/or a lack of respect for this gesture throughout the industry Posted 05/14/2008 07:36 AMReply

Anonymous says,

ABC wont come to MIZZOU because MIZZOU's NBC ties have been kicking the crap out of the local ABC station in Columbia for years! Its pathetic when students are beating local ABC news anchors. Mizzou without a doubt is the best broadcasting school in the country. Where else can you go to school and leave with entry level experience from a national news affiliate? NOWHERE- MIZZOU! Posted 05/14/2008 08:06 AMReply

Anonymous says,

Check out the St. Bonaventure alumni roll from 1988-91: New York Post columnist Mike Vacaro, Sporting News editor Jeff Dallesio, Yahoo! columnist Adrian Wojnarowski. Posted 05/14/2008 08:09 AMReply

Anonymous says,

wow, as a working news anchor I know University of Missouri grads are some of the best educated in broadcast journalism out of college and some of the most hard working. The list is lacking two of the finest journalism schools in the nation and two of the most well respected. Northwestern for print and Missouri for broadcast. What a shame. They need to do some clarifying...this "project" seems like a joke. Posted 05/14/2008 08:12 AMReply

Anonymous says,

University of Missouri is the only school in the country who already has a network affiliate. All broadcast students work as reporters, producers, and anchors at the local NBC station. That is probably the sole reason ABC has not teamed up with them. In my opinion, the entire ABC program is in place to try and live up to Missouri's affiliation with NBC. Posted 05/14/2008 08:14 AMReply

Anonymous says,

It is obvious that the University of Missouri was left off ABC's list because of its connection with NBC, but you can't say that the schools in that list are the "top 5" when you leave out Mizzou AND Northwestern. Also, ABC's program is taking students "chosen by their professors" which means those who may not be the best when they come into school won't have a chance to improve. In Mizzou's broadcast program students are REQUIRED to do a dayside or nightside shift at the NBC affiliate every week for an entire semester. You can't get that ANYWHERE else. Posted 05/14/2008 08:32 AMReply

Anonymous says,

Poor Missouri. No respect AGAIN. What a ruff year. How funny would it have been if ABC had chosen Kansas! HA! Posted 05/14/2008 08:32 AMReply

Anonymous says,

The other schools are catching up, but I think Syracuse is still generally regarded as the top Broadcast Journalism school in the country.

Boston University used to be very highly regarded also back when I was in the field >10 years ago, but I haven't heard much about them lately. Posted 05/14/2008 08:46 AMReply

Anonymous says,

Observations from a former ink-stained wretch: 1) Omitting Northwestern and Missouri reflects the article's bias of broadcast over print. 2) The locations selected ensure that the segments that might see the air do not embarass the journalists in bigger cities (If a student at Northwestern, USC, Columbia or NYU got something on the air, the people in ABC's Chicago, Los Angeles or New York bureaus might look stupid). 3) Of the colleges selected, four are warm weather places with a semi-affluent student body and, shall we say, an active social atmosphere, so ABC is putting itself in line for trendy segments on the iPod as a study aid and the wet t-shirt contest's declining popularity on Facebook postings. Posted 05/14/2008 08:52 AMReply

Anonymous says,

Posts: 1914
Joined: Sep 2001
Saturday April 23, 2005 2:58 AM

I found them. The last time journalism grad schools were ranked was in 1996 by U.S. News and World Report.

The top fifteen graduate journalism school programs (some are tied):

1. University of Missouri, Columbia
2. Columbia University
3. Northwestern University, Medil
4. University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
5. University of Indiana, Bloomington
6. University of Florida
7. Ohio University, Scripps
7. University of Wisconsin, Madison
9. University of California, Berkley
9. University of Kansas, White
11. University of Maryland, College Park
11. University of Texas, Austin
13. Syracuse University, Newhouse
14. Arizona State University, Cronkite
15. University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

ON WISCONSIN Posted 05/14/2008 09:45 AMReply

Anonymous says,

yo dowgs? Hows about m.a.t.c.s jskool. Theys got mad puncttiation. Jus reprezenin. Holla Posted 05/14/2008 09:52 AMReply

Anonymous says,

It does not matter how much people discuss which school is the best school in the country. It is hands down the
Missouri School of Journalism, in the University of Missouri-Columbia. PERIOD Posted 05/14/2008 12:47 PMReply

Anonymous says,

It is pretty hard to be able to find a better television-radio program than the University of Missouri who actually works an affiliate tv station and radio station students can work at. Where else can you go to school and write/shoot/edit real stories for viewers that extend beyond a college campus??? And actually anchor a television show or produce one by yourself? That's what I thought... Posted 05/14/2008 1:00 PMReply

Anonymous says,

ya....anyone who lists some schools as better than The Missouri School of Journalism for Broadcast needs some help- Missouri has the best and first J-school in the world. Do all those schools have their own NBC-Affiliate? I didnt think so...sorry ABC- you cant compete with Mizzou's Broadcast journalism program Posted 05/14/2008 6:34 PMReply

Anonymous says,

Does Missouri ever win anything? EVER? Posted 05/15/2008 09:18 AMReply

Anonymous says,

Of course MIZZOU does. Our program stands alone, we don't need to brag our awards (ahem, dozens of Emmy's) to get recognition. Posted 05/15/2008 10:22 AMReply

Anonymous says,

Yea well they obviously wanted good looking girls out of this...That's why they chose Florida, Arizona State and Texas..Nobody wants ugly broadcasters from the Midwest (Mizzou and Ohio State) Posted 05/15/2008 11:07 AMReply

Anonymous says,

Syracuse University has produced many top rated journalists including Ted Koppel. Among the better known actors it has produced is Peter Faulk.
Newhouse School of communication is named after Newhouse networks which is a telecommunication network headquartered in Syracuse.

Syracuse University's Maxwell School of Public Affairs has produced many cabinet level dignatories including Dana Shalala.

Syracuse University is a beautiful campus and a majorly underrated school for what it offers to students.

They also have an excellent School of Engineering and Computer Science. A sister school with SUNY Environmental Sciences and Forestry (ESF) that collaborates with Syracuse University on research and a by-campus Veterans Administration hosptial+university and SUNY Medical School.. all in adjoining campuses makes it a great research-oriented setting.

I only got a certificate in Communication from Newhouse.. I did my MBA from their Management Program and am very proud of the University.

An excellent focus on college teams, and games and team-spirit...around Orangemen and women.. and a Carrier Dome built into the campus. Posted 05/20/2008 09:46 AMReply

Anonymous says,

West Virginia University top 5 easy Posted 05/21/2008 08:01 AMReply

Anonymous says,

I like turtles. Posted 06/04/2008 7:14 PMReply

Anonymous says,

The University of Southern California - ANNENBERG SCHOOL FOR COMMUNICATION Posted 06/30/2008 11:48 PMReply

Anonymous says,

As a third-year journalism student at the University of Florida, I can vouch for my J-school's academic rigor. Fifty points deducted for a misspelled name is no light offense.

This college makes you work extremely hard for good grades. In my reporting lab, 12 of 18 people are failing. The lab instructor is a former executive editor of the St. Pete Times, and he doesn't take crap off anyone. But he still cares and is passionate about teaching and journalism.

Being a student in my college at UF has made me a better writer and citizen, as corny as that sounds. Each day, the facuty and staff of my J-school dedicate their lives to passing on their passion of words and news to us. I appreciate that.

To rank J-schools is ridiculous, but I am here defending my school. As we all know, no writng exists without bias. As a Gator, I am thus prone to praise my school's journalism program. But if you put bias aside, you will see the facts--which is our life work:

UF is a great school for aspiring journalists. We have produced some of the most successful news writers of all time. Don't believe me? Check my facts.

I could go on, but it's after midnight, and I must get some sleep before waking up to turn in my 6-page story I started at 10 p.m. this evening. It's due at 9 a.m. How's that for a J-school challenge? Posted 07/08/2008 9:17 PMReply

Anonymous says,

screw you all! U of I is the best! Posted 07/15/2008 11:22 AMReply

Anonymous says,

The list is definitely wrong
This is the REAL top 5:
1)Columbia University, Graduate School of Journalism
2)Northwestern Univesity, Medill School of Journalism
3)University of Missouri, Missouri School
4)Syracuse University, Newhouse School
5)University of Maryland, Phillip Merrill College Posted 07/16/2008 1:14 PMReply

Anonymous says,

Wow, I have never read so many ignorant responses to an article that many of you misunderstood and then took too seriously.

The article says these are five of the best broadcast journalism schools in the country. Let's just agree right now (because its true) that Missouri was not selected because of its affiliation with NBC. Missouri is a great school. . .so everyone relax. They win plenty of awards and we all agree the school produces many great journalists. In terms of Northwestern. . .the school is currently re-doing its curriculum. Northwestern must have decided to bow out until it has its program reorganized.

Lastly ladies and gentlemen, it does not make you a great journalism graduate if you went to a "great journalism school." You need to put in the effort, hard work, and really try to learn about a wide range of topics. Humility and respect also go a long way. It doesn't matter if you went to Missouri, Syracuse, Maryland, Northwestern, etc. . . If I meet you and you don't have what it takes, it doesn't matter where you go to school.

This program will probably expand to other schools. I think people should be excited that more students will have an opportunity to develop their journalism skills. Some of you who are ranting and raving about Missouri don't seem to understand that the journalism profession will only thrive in the future if there are many intelligent and educated journalists available. Students at these five institutions are getting the opportunity to develop these skills (very similar to how Missouri students have the NBC affiliate to develop their skills).

Please, lose your pride and be happy that young journalism students are being given the chance of a lifetime. Focus on your own career and skills and work hard enough that you are so damn good at what you do that it makes no difference where you went to college. That's the advice from this media proffesional. Posted 07/21/2008 8:45 PMReply

Anonymous says,

Syracuse's Newhouse school and Northwestern are really the only reputable communication schools. Isn't Missouri a state school? Come on now... who the hell goes to Missouri? Posted 10/26/2008 12:59 AMReply

Anonymous says,

Mizzou@ Anonymous: Who the hell goes to Missouri? Only the best and finest journalists in the country. Never heard of the Mizzou Mafia in mainstream media. You should. Posted 03/01/2009 10:26 AMReply

Anonymous says,

The Ohio State University does not have an accredited Journalism program. (ie accredited by the AEJMC) Posted 04/21/2009 4:19 PMReply