Temper tantrum

Copple has a temper tantrum – almost

By R. Neale Copple
Dean Emeritus

Some might call what I am doing with this column “breaking the silence.’ They would be people who do not know me as well as most of you. You all know that I have not kept quite for more than five minutes for more than 50 years.

However, it is true that for almost five years I have kept my curious nose out of the business of the UNL College of Journalism and mass Communications. And, to a degree, that amazes me. I have also avoided making public statements about the current practices of journalism and the state of journalism education. From perhaps old-fashioned viewpoint, it is impossible to do one without the other, and that may be one reason I have decided to write this.

There are some things that bother a lot of us. There certainly are some that are bothering me. For example, there is a national movement led by some journalism educators urging journalism education to distance itself from the profession.

Think about that for a moment as UNL journalism alums. Imagine your journalism college intentionally operating aloof from the state, regional and national media. Imagine what your journalism college might have been if it had not become a full partner with the state’s media.

There are some who would say with vehemence that it probably would not be free-standing college and would certainly have a different reputation.

Those same people have said for years that one of the major strengths of the UNL program with the journalistic profession.

Have no fear.

After five years, I see evidence that this aspect of your journalism college is stronger and is rowing more so. However, it may just be an appropriate function for retired dean to warn you that your journalism college and my replacement, Dean Will Norton, may have to resist some pressure.
The problem is not that there needs to be greater distance between journalism education and the profession. The problem is that they have not yet been close enough to do the best job they can do for American journalism.

I want to make only one other point.

The truth is that I had planned to set myself up for a wonderful curmudgeon’s temper tantrum.

I was going to scream:

“Look out for all that new technology. All those whistles and bells are going to make you forget that your job is to inform, in print, over the air and advertising.”

Of course, that’s mostly nonsense.

Without all that new technology, how would I have increased my information diet by several thousand percent? Heck, I am retired. You learn to make the new technology behave; just don’t take its advantages away from me.

I was going to scream:

“You better watch out. People say the media are arrogant, flaunt their power and behave irresponsible.”

I am afraid there is some truth to all of that. I also suspect that while our communications have increased geometrically, so have those who do not practice responsible and professional journalism.

It is no excuse that in the newspaper business there always have been those newspapers called “sensational” or, mistakenly, “tabloid.” Tabloid describes the size of a newspaper, not its philosophy. We could not wipe out the sensational press even if we wished to try. However, we must not let them lead us into coverage of their sensational fare.

As for the arrogance, unprofessional behavior and discourtesy, they are all there. They have been there for a long time, my friends, and my generation did not make great strides in their elimination. However, we made some progress at places like your journalism college. You are going to make more progress. And I am confident that the progress has to start in strong, scholarly journalism programs based in professional journalism.

Now, if you don’t mind, you obviously have plenty to do. Get on with it. I need to catch up on my reading, viewing and listening.