Annual Surveys of Journalism and Mass Communication

The Role of Historically Black Colleges and Universities in Journalism Education

Jeffery Maurice Wilson

Abstract

This paper examines the role and contribution of journalism programs at historically black colleges and universities using data from the Annual Surveys of Journalism and Mass Communication and a few other sources. This study seeks to fill a gap in research in the field of journalism education, where there has been no in-depth exploration of any subsegments of the population as a whole.

Beginning with the racial/ethnic composition of the journalism and mass communication graduates for one particular academic year (1997-98), the study compares journalism and mass communication programs at historically black colleges and universities with those at predominantly white institutions. In addition to documenting the role and contribution of HBCUs to journalism and mass communication education, the findings from the study have important implications for journalism educators and the labour market. It is clear that many of the programs offered by HBCUs have been able to prepare their black graduates for the labour market at the same rate as predominantly white institutions. The research also shows that there is no significant statistical difference in the success rate for black journalism graduates entering the job market. As noted in the paper, this research is vitally important to journalism and mass communication educators and administrators in evaluating the progress and effectiveness of journalism programs, schools, and colleges across the country.

Wilson, J. M. (2000, August). The Role of Historically Black Colleges and Universities in Journalism Education. This paper was presented at the conference of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication in Phoenix, AZ.