Dr. Sybril Bennett, executive director of Belmont University’s New Century Journalism program, has a commentary published in the journal Black Issues in Higher Education regarding the Federal Communication Commission’s recent decision to allow for greater consolidation in ownership of media properties. An excerpt:
At the corporate level, partnerships, mergers and/or cross-ownership could mean increased newspaper circulation and revenues. The trend may also boost enrollment at journalism schools. Many are revamping their programs to address the need for students who can successfully perform in converged newsrooms. It all sounds great but a concern should be that the number of Black students choosing to major in journalism has been declining for years. At the same time, many veteran Black journalists are leaving news organizations in quantifiable numbers. In other words, the pipeline is losing water from both ends and the timing couldn
