Library Policy Statements

I. PROGRAM INFORMATION

The Department of Journalism, part of the School of Communication, offers the BA degree in journalism with three areas of concentration: print journalism, broadcast journalism, and public relations. Courses offered represent the traditional journalism program with emphasis on news writing, public affairs reporting, editorial writing, publication layout and journalism law and ethics. The public relations concentration includes courses on writing for public relations.

The department is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. It is a leader in its emphasis on ethics and quality writing. More than half of its classes are "writing-intensive, " and most call for more writing than that designation requires.

Faculty interests include ethics in journalism, international news coverage with an emphasis on Asia and the Pacific, global trends on privacy issues in data transmission, and the press and society.

II. COORDINATION OF COLLECTING RESPONSIBILITIES

The department shares with the Communication department materials in general communication, mass media, and international communication. There is some reliance on the Law Library for publications on legal aspects of mass media.

III. GUIDELINES TO MATERIALS COLLECTED OR EXCLUDED

Language:

Mainly English with some vernacular Asian and Pacific languages collected by those area collections.

Chronological:

Primarily current practice and future trends, but with selective interests in the history of journalism, including the history of major newspapers.

Geographic:

Mainly the United States, Asia, and the Pacific. There is limited interest in Europe and other areas of the globe.

Date of Publication:

The emphasis is on current materials; retrospective materials are added only to cover gaps or to support new courses or faculty.

Types/Formats of Material Collected:

Monographs and journals make up the majority of materials collected. Microforms of early newspapers are obtained. Dissertations are purchased at the specific request of faculty. Media are added through the Wong AV Center. Electronic resources may be available in a number of formats, including online, CD-ROM, or other digital storage formats.

Treatment:

Practice and methodology of journalism; textbooks and popular approaches only selectively; history of journalism is widely acquired as are issues of censorship and government regulation of the press. The effects of media technology on news operations, media management, and privacy issues in data transmission are of increasing importance. Materials on general writing techniques and on the unique aspects of journalism writing are collected.

Major Microform Holdings:

The library has retrospective runs of major American newspapers.

Date Compiled: 7/01 Compiler: Vicky Lebbin