ABSTRACT
This is the first of three chapters studying the classroom role of the centers. Drawing on the empirical data from 69 in-depth interviews, the chapter examines the attitudes of the center-affiliated students, reporters, and faculty members when it comes to knowledge and teaching. Addressing the classic debates of theory versus practice and innovation versus core values, the common perception among the interviewees is that journalism needs to be learned through experience. Moreover, many think that too much focus on innovation can lead to journalism schools educating data programmers, software operators, and marketing specialists instead of reporters. Not setting innovation or theoretical knowledge first, the centers are out of step with several of the institutions and knowledge actors surrounding them. In a worst-case scenario, their strong practice-oriented knowledge view can lead to a loss of status within more theoretical-oriented environments and/or reduced foundation support. At the same time, being practice-oriented might be the only option when educating reporters.
