Mission Statement
(ADOPTED 3/28/03)
School of Journalism & Mass Communication, The University of Iowa
The mission of our School is to educate journalism and mass communication
professionals, scholars, and faculty. Through professional and creative
research activities, they enhance a continually growing and evolving understanding
of the social and cultural roles, responsibilities, and contexts for communicators
in a democratic society, as well as in diverse global contexts.
To accomplish our mission at the undergraduate and master’s
professional levels and to prepare our students for careers
in the journalism and mass communication professions, we seek to help
our students:
- value free speech and First Amendment principles for all individuals
and groups, a diverse global community, creativity and independence,
and truth, accuracy and fairness.
- learn to write correctly, clearly and well, to conduct research and
gather information responsibly, to edit and evaluate with care, to use
media technologies thoughtfully, and to apply statistical and numerical
concepts accurately.
- explore theories and concepts, the history, structure and economy
of media institutions, and the role of media in shaping cultures.
To accomplish our mission at the master’s
thesis and doctoral levels, we seek to help our
students:
- become scholars who will enrich knowledge and enhance understanding
of media and mass communication processes, institutions, and actors.
- develop historical, legal, critical, visual, contemporary, and emerging
theoretical approaches that will offer ways to examine media and mass
communication in terms of their changing role in the maintenance and
reproduction of cultures and societies.
- prepare for careers as educators, researchers and professionals in
a variety of settings, both in the United States and abroad.
To accomplish our mission among our faculty, we seek
to encourage:
- ongoing research into historical, legal, critical, visual, contemporary,
and emerging aspects of journalism, mass communication and media cultures,
and widespread dissemination of that scholarship in academic, as well
as professional venues.
- active application and enhancement of concepts and skills in the professional
aspects of journalism, mass communication and the media.
- regular interaction with the people and organizations who create media
and mass communication content.
- continued growth and development as educators in professional, as well
as scholarly dimensions of journalism and mass communication.
