<![CDATA[J-School Scandal Is As Inane As J-School Itself - Gawker Comments]]> <![CDATA[J-School Scandal Is As Inane As J-School Itself - Gawker Comments]]> <![CDATA[J-School Scandal Is As Inane As J-School Itself]]> Methinks I hint a whiff of jealousy. Maybe this Gawker reporter never broke a big story. The quintessential feather in every aspiring reporters' green eyeshade.

There's still hope, I guess.

Where would the entire journalism profession be if not for "cockstrong young J-school students?"

Kudos to Mr. Spett for going after a story like this.

I imagine this won't be the last we hear of this "cockstrong young J-school student."

Inane or not, the story forced Mr. Lavine to recant and apologize for his ethical lapse.

That's the definition of good journalism, holding authority accountable.

Another thing, grow up and end this "new media" vs. "dinosaur" debate, it's grown tiresome.

Koko B Ware
Dinosaur Journo
Flyover Country Times



koko-b-ware

]]> <![CDATA[J-School Scandal Is As Inane As J-School Itself]]> yeah, nolan, you're totally right. those goofballs in flyover country whining about made-up quotes in a j-school advertorial are totally diverting our attention and indignation from the sensationalist manner in which the non-gawker media handled heath ledger's death.

altweeklyist

]]> <![CDATA[J-School Scandal Is As Inane As J-School Itself]]> sure, it seems like whining. but i'd agree with the above posters who say gawker misses the point.

with a little more research, you might have found lavine's use of an anonymous quote is reflective of his entire philosophy/aim to revamp the school. he wants to treat journalism like marketing in order to appeal to a publication's readers and attract new ones.

unfortunately, journalists (who admittedly sometimes have a stick up their a**) generally did not go to j school to learn how to pander.

while choosing a story that fits your readership's interest is a no-brainer, there is a line that can be crossed when one molds a story to say what the readers would like to hear. that is the line medill alumni are afraid lavine's philosophy blurs.

so, lavine's use of an anonymous (and, come on, likely false) quote makes his column nothing more than a marketing vehicle -- which is exactly what students and alums are afraid he'll transform medill into as well.

hence, the uproar.

medillgirl

]]> <![CDATA[J-School Scandal Is As Inane As J-School Itself]]> Mr. Nolan, I would like to thank you for injecting some reality into this episode of America: In the Twilight Zone.

We are experiencing the most severe economic challenges in the history of our nation in the coming few years. A declining job market, ballooning government debt, failing currency, housing crunch, and rapid inflation are combining to meet over 60 trillion dollars in unfunded mandates like Medicare and social security.

Whatever we feel about the wars (personally I am against them), we can agree that they have not gone well, have caused enormous harm to our image abroad, and have cost us much at home.

Meanwhile, the best that our media can do is obsess about an off-handed comment in a school journal that is of absolutely no consequence?

As you point out, the real story is that parents are deluded enough to be shelling out hundreds of thousands of depreciating dollars for a dead industry (no offense to aspiring Clark Kent sleuths out there, but you will be lucky to make 50k after years of running interference as pimps for five giant media conglomerates).

It is this sort of fifth grade 'my daddy is bigger than yours' mentality that is allowing out country and world to be Fed Exed straight to oblivion (passive voice, I know). Telling the truth is important, but who the hell keeps track of casual, after class remarks?

My advice to those who think that the dean's alleged manufacture of a harmless selling point is a Very Serious Issue: grow the hell up.

JonMangin

]]> <![CDATA[J-School Scandal Is As Inane As J-School Itself]]> The word is spelled "a**hole."

famousauthor

]]> <![CDATA[J-School Scandal Is As Inane As J-School Itself]]> oh man, so many things wrong with this article. First, who says "j-school" anymore, if anybody ever did? Also, as inane as gawker says this issue is, I guess they weren't above covering it anyway. I propose a comparison: In 10 years, let's see where the gawker writers are and where the Medill class of '08 ends up.

ekroh

]]> <![CDATA[J-School Scandal Is As Inane As J-School Itself]]> Lavine has been pursuing fundamental changes, some smart and warranted and some not, in a manner that has been by turns arrogant, condescending and high-handed. To be fair some of his critics have their heads in the sand. In any case the knives were out for him. Then he forgot two Journ 101 lessons. (1) You don't put a statement in quotes if your recollection is so shaky that you don't remember exactly who said it or in what context; (2) Refusing to admit an error multiplies the damage to your credibility.
Like I said, arrogant. Had he taken a "come hold hands and sing Kumbaya" approach to revamping the school, he would not have had legions of alums waiting, as someone said, to catch him with his pants down.
The whole discussion of anonymity is beside the point, other than to say, why grant anonymity for a feelgood suckup quote? You grant anonymity to someone who would face retaliation for speaking the truth.



okonomi

]]> <![CDATA[J-School Scandal Is As Inane As J-School Itself]]> @ Baduncle: There is totally an unspoken agenda being pursued by the critics. Well, "unspoken" isn't exactly right. More like "uncared-about." The prevailing opinion among Medill journalists was that "real" journalists ran screaming from the room anytime marketing or business entered into it (despite the fact that one-half of Medill is the integrated marketing communications dept.). But then those same people....spin an event to prove their point?
It's weird.

sweater music

]]> <![CDATA[J-School Scandal Is As Inane As J-School Itself]]> So, a promotional piece is being attacked for the use of anonymous quotes? Is there a sacred trust of marketing that's being violated? Regardless of who issued the piece or what it's promoting, I don't think it merits this much scrutiny.

Unless, of course, there's an unspoken agenda being pursued by the critics. And wouldn't that violate the same sort of rules of transparency they seem to ballyhoo?

BadUncle

]]> <![CDATA[J-School Scandal Is As Inane As J-School Itself]]> crap, that was for gacker, now mystic, this new media is hard!

Otto-Reimer

]]> <![CDATA[J-School Scandal Is As Inane As J-School Itself]]> @mystic920: Wow, this must have gotten really close to your fantasy.

Otto-Reimer

]]> <![CDATA[J-School Scandal Is As Inane As J-School Itself]]> @Medillalum: @MeganCF: If they're angry about his curriculum changes, shouldn't they say that, as opposed to screaming about this non-story?

Hamilton Nolan

]]> <![CDATA[J-School Scandal Is As Inane As J-School Itself]]> Oh and full disclosure: I'm on the staff at the Web site I linked.

MeganCF

]]> <![CDATA[J-School Scandal Is As Inane As J-School Itself]]> I'm in Medill right now, and it's true that to an outsider, it would seem like we're kicking and screaming about not much in particular. I mean, I probably wouldn't have kept my notes from a column I wrote in an alumni magazine a year ago. (This probably makes me a bad journalist, huh?)

The real reason, though, that people are causing such a ruckus is because people don't like what he's doing to the curriculum. Here's a good reflection of the situation: [www.northbynorthwestern.com]

MeganCF

]]> <![CDATA[J-School Scandal Is As Inane As J-School Itself]]> There's a reason we used to call them Medilldos.

Elektra

]]> <![CDATA[J-School Scandal Is As Inane As J-School Itself]]> Why does it matter? One word I-N-T-E-G-R-I-T-Y . Those of us who attended J-School at Medill were taught that it matters. Even more than spelling, though that is frickin' important too .. and grammar ... and well, what the fuck, here's the whole mother lode .. and to be independent, apolitical, caring, passionate, ruthless, disciplined, honest, relentless, open-minded, nonjudgmental, patient, resourceful, skeptical, funny, honest, loyal, intelligent, fair, resourceful (oh, did I say that already?), truthful, sympathetic, proficient, technically skilled, learned, energetic, disciplined, imaginative, well-read, reasonable, flexible, fast, efficient, accurate and timely. We EARNED our BSJs and we've used them for greater good. That's what journalism school taught me and that's why integrity matters. Where else can you go to learn it?

iklotz-bw

birdwatch

]]> <![CDATA[J-School Scandal Is As Inane As J-School Itself]]> Sorry, Gawker, but you've completely missed the point. Lavine was in the middle of completely revamping the school to deemphasize journalism and promote the marketing program he used to head.

This is no food-fight over some arcane custom. It's the poster child for blurring the line between journalism and advertising getting caught with his pants around his bony, unethical ankles.

That may all be ivory tower bullshit to you now, but don't come around bitching in fifteen years when his alums are penning front-page advertorials and taking cash for product placements in The Washington Post.

Medillalum

]]> <![CDATA[J-School Scandal Is As Inane As J-School Itself]]> Funny.
I went to J-School, and I've got a skill set that makes my colleagues who "came up the hard way" quiver. Why? Because the outdated hacks who came up the rank and file using secret handshakes and "merit" know that on-the-job training can't get you out of your paradigm like taking a year (or two off) and shelling out a chunk of cash.

Journalism isn't going to die, Quite yer whining, wannabe new-media chumps. We're transforming into an enterprise, but that doesn't mean we have to compromise on our principles. Hold experts in the industry accountable for their actions. Maybe some of the so-called new media pundits could learn a lesson. Source right and be as transparent as you can.

Finally, I find it ironic that gawker is concerned with the quantity of discussion on something given it's propensity to get prolix on shite a lot of us would consider trivial.

Gimme a break.

As for the industry-is-dying, chicken little crap. We know. We know it's not the most lucrative, but that's beacause we Americans--as a whole--are doing a damn fine job of running towards the promise of illiteracy and apparently everyone's cool with that. Stop blaming the kids who want to make you read. Even if the Medill clan is a little shrill, they made you think. For once. Don't blame them for passion. Blame them for naivete.

We all know sources don't matter in the New Media World where bloggers b.s their way into fame.


gacker

]]> <![CDATA[J-School Scandal Is As Inane As J-School Itself]]> Funny and fair as this post was, I respectfully disagree that this isn't a big deal.

When the dean of a well-known journalism program can't produce proof of a quote - regardless of where it was published - it reflects poorly not only on the institution and its graduates but on the profession as a whole. Whether or not you think j-school is obsolete or not (another debate for another day), the point of this "controversy" is about principle. Think of this way: if the head of a medical school falsifies research, the medical community at large would be similarly concerned -- and with reason.

Granted, journalism has bigger problems to deal with right now, and, sure, there are some internal politics at play in this situation, but saying nothing is not an option.

I also can't help but sense an unfounded rancor from both the original poster and some commentators against Medill that does not lend any credibility to the argument.

mystic920

]]> <![CDATA[J-School Scandal Is As Inane As J-School Itself]]> It KILLS me that these letters all point to this as a sign that Medill is a "school in crisis." I'm sorry, THIS is your crisis? Half the faculty at the school are borderline computer-illiterates, there are approximately .08 IT personnel for every 1 print dinosaur on staff, and grads can't find an entry-level salary that puts them above the poverty line. That's a crisis. Who wants to sign my petition?

On the upside, it gives all those alum working 65 hours a week at their permalance jobs in Wichita a brief moment of feeling like the smartest goddamn people in the world. Congrats! Isn't there a school board meeting you should be at right now?

sweater music

]]> <![CDATA[J-School Scandal Is As Inane As J-School Itself]]> @scribbles: And if this is the only skill set the kids have, where will they go upon graduation? Every year more and more knuckleheads are turned out by this school in the city's market, glutting it with no-talent hacks dreaming of the big gotcha.

The kids are nothing more than political or city desk paparazzis, hoping to get the big money gotcha take down story. And the sad part is, they have no investigative journalism skills even to achieve that small goal.

Otto-Reimer

]]> <![CDATA[J-School Scandal Is As Inane As J-School Itself]]> Harsh but fair.

@scribbles: That isn't the point. The point is, it's already been flogged to death, so stop flogging it. Especially when it's turned into some sort of campus-wide schadenfreude. If their classes had taught them any better, they'd be moving on. The story is kaput. He's not resigning, he's apologized, that's it. Done.

Of course, all of this could have been avoided if the idiot dean had practiced some damage control right away. But he sat on it and pretended like nothing was odd or off, for too long.

Or not, you know, "quoted" the student like he did. I mean, what a BS quote. Nobody talks like that.

Yazz Flute

]]> <![CDATA[J-School Scandal Is As Inane As J-School Itself]]> The reason this causing such an uproar is because most of the faculty and many students didn't want Lavine to get the dean position. They are using this to show they were right about him.
Why be so harsh on these kids? Is it so wrong to want your professors held to the same standards that they hold you to?


scribbles

]]> <![CDATA[J-School Scandal Is As Inane As J-School Itself]]> Breaking: Jack Shafer banging head on desk. Wants sweet release. More info to come...

mitchel_stevens

]]> <![CDATA[J-School Scandal Is As Inane As J-School Itself]]> Without anonymous sources we wouldn't know about premature cougars macking JMac.
Oh, and Nixon wouldn't have gone down.


lefty

]]> <![CDATA[J-School Scandal Is As Inane As J-School Itself]]> The part I like most about this, is that they sent dead tree letters to each other, about an obscure dead tree printed story for a brain dead school over antiquated journalism rules.

Wonder when the "new" media, or modernity, will finally take hold in the Ivory Tower, so maybe the students at the ol' J-School might graduate with an actual employee-able skill set.

And why do you send alumni sound bites about how good the school was that they themselves attended? A wookie does not live on Endor. Stop killing trees for this bullshit.

Otto-Reimer

]]> <![CDATA[J-School Scandal Is As Inane As J-School Itself]]> This is like the time I sent out the clown college newsletter wearing regular-sized shoes.

collegecallgirl

]]>