engleski

The Croatian journalism education landscape

This book is the first comprehensive directory of the journalism education and training offered in thirty-three European countries. The volume, organized by country, discusses the history of journalism education and includes an analysis of all the current university programs and training provided by private media and professional organizations in each location. In addition, each section includes a thorough examination of the historical, political, economic and social framework of journalism in each country that looks towards the future of journalism education and media in Europe. European Journalism Education will be an asset to scholars of international communication studies and to media policy makers around the world. Beginnings of journalism education in Croatia are connected with the so called socialist ‘regime schooling’ – the first journalistic school was founded by the socialist Croatian government in the 1950. In 1971 the Study of journalism started at the Faculty of Political Sciences at the University of Zagreb (Fakultet političkih znanosti Sveučilišta u Zagrebu), one of the oldest universities in Europe. It started as a two-year program, but by 1986 it developed into an independent four-year study after which the students were called Bachelors of journalism. In the early nineties, after Croatia became an independent country, a new era in journalism education started. The awareness of the importance of scientific, cultural and technological institutions for high education has grown and since then the attempts began to adjust the Croatian educational system with the systems of other European countries as well as with the contemporary principles of market economy. The changes were not easy to make, since Croatia was at that point in the middle of the Fatherland war, and there was still a lack of democratic experience among the political leadership. Transition brought deregulation and media privatization through the entrance of foreign capital and foreign holders which speeded up the commercialization of media content and the degradation of ethical and professional standards. Media politics was dealing with maintaining the balance between public and commercial media, and the profession was contemplating questions of ethics and self-control. The role and importance of education of journalists became more evident. It has been shown that Croatia lacks relevant scientific research institutions, modern schools for journalism, and also teachers. When other public and private studies and school for journalism, besides Study of Journalism at the Faculty for Political Studies in Zagreb, were established, the biggest problem was insufficient number of scientists specialized in media and journalism. The same problem occurred in the neighboring countries. In other words, competition, labor market and Bologna process increased the need for quality experts and teachers specialized in media and journalism. The first real changes in the sphere of academic education of journalists in Croatia - the system and the methods as they are today - were regulated in the Law on science and high education in 2003. The Law based on the rules of the Bologna process obligated universities to reform high education with the aim of setting up a unique European space for high education until the year of 2010. Contemporary Croatian journalism education is characterized by a variety of educational programs and is developing in three main frames – as a high education scientific and specialist study program at public universities and private schools, as a study program for postsecondary education and in the form of vocational training for both young and professional journalists, organized by their employers or by professional associations. Today, high education in the field of journalism can be acquired in four separate study programs on three Croatian Universities. In the academic year 2007/2008 the first generation of Bachelors of journalism or communication science according to the Bologna process have finished their studies at the Faculty of Political Sciences of the University of Zagreb (Fakultet političkih znanosti Sveučilišta u Zagrebu), Croatian Studies of the University of Zagreb (Hrvatski studiji Sveučilišta u Zagrebu), University of Zadar (Sveučilište u Zadru) as well as the University of Dubrovnik (Sveučilište u Dubrovniku). Two private schools for high education perform specialist jounrnalism studies - High Journalistic School (Visoka novinarska škola) in Zagreb and High Multimedia and Communications Technology School (Visoka škola multimedijskih i komunikacijskih tehnologija), also called TV-Academy in Split. One private institutuion, Studia Intermedia, is currently performing postsecondary study program in journalism. Finishing the program, students get the vocational diploma of ‘assistant journalists’. Professional associations and unions (Croatian journalists' association, International Center for Education of Journalists – ICEJ and Trade Union of Croatian Journalists) are also active in organizing various mid-career as well as beginners’ vocational trainings and educational programs with the aim of promoting journalistic knowledge and skills – as a way of empowering journalists to struggle against various pressures and demands put in front of them. Major publishers and broadcasters also organize in-house vocational trainings. Today, modern trends like media concentration and corporative management impose new, different demands on journalists. Journalism, as a profession, demands new skills and knowledge. It seems that American and French ‘romantic journalism’ is history, corporative systems ask for technologically literate journalists, mobile and independent. The knowledge in media management that understands market laws influencing media industry is important. In such circumstances, there is a need for new educational programs in journalism. Journalism became closer to public relations, marketing, and other occupations, why in practice journalists often violate basic principles of ethics and professionalism which leads to identity crisis as well as crisis in educational system. Pluralism of educational programs in Croatia assures a choice between different schools, but on the other hand fragments and undermines the profession. Education is under the control of media trends, social events, financial situation and political circumstances. The media impose the imperative of speed, which then backfires making the education seem like something quick, easy and simple. Journalism is very popular among young people, but idea of what and how much needs to be learned to become a good journalist is different for everyone. As the studies for journalists are being developed, it would be necessary to develop the system of media education on all levels, from pre-school to students and the public, as recommended by media politics of the European Union, UNESCO and other international groups. If the media literacy and media education were pursued as carefully as educational systems for journalists, studies would enroll students with good precognition on media theory and practice, and people would share the ethical responsibility and contribute to the efforts of the profession to serve the public, social interests and democracy.

socialist ‘regime schooling’ ; transition and deregulation ; high education scientific and specialist study program ; Bologna process ; pluralism of educational programs

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