Retiring Florida A&M University School of Journalism & Graphic Communication (FAMU SJGC) Professor Jeffrey Wilkinson, Ph.D., has co-authored a new journal article for Electronic News: Broadcast and Mobile Journalism, a publication of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication.
The article, titled “Theoretical and Conceptual Approaches to Journalism Education,” appears in the organization’s 2026 special issue, which highlights emerging trends and teaching techniques in broadcast and mobile journalism.
Wilkinson collaborated with August E. Grant, Ph.D., J. Rion McKissick Professor Emeritus of Journalism at the University of South Carolina, and Nathan Carnes, Distinguished Professor Emeritus in Teacher Education at the University of South Carolina. Together, the authors combine decades of experience in journalism, media research and pedagogy. Wilkinson contributes his extensive background in global media systems and journalism education, shaped by work in China, Hong Kong and the United States.
The article explores insights and recommendations to transform how journalism education is delivered. As the field continues to shift with evolving technology, audience expectations and industry change, the authors outline how educators can build stronger partnerships with local media, collaborate with other academic units, and connect with peer journalism programs to give students a broader, more relevant reporting experience. They also examine how emerging tools and topics can strengthen core curriculum and how experiential learning can be redesigned so students reflect on their work as they produce it. The article emphasizes hands-on collaboration, experimentation and real-world reporting as essential to helping students evaluate the impact, ethical considerations and democratic value of their journalism.
Wilkinson and his co-authors also urge programs to prepare students for a profession that is constantly evolving. They reinforce the need for journalists to engage in lifelong learning, reskill throughout their careers, and work across platforms, communities and real-time environments. These approaches, they argue, help journalism programs develop graduates who are not only skilled creators but thoughtful, ethical and flexible professionals who understand how audiences retain and act on information they receive through the media.
The publication adds to Wilkinson’s long record of contributions to research and insights on journalism education. He previously co-authored “Principles of Convergent Journalism” and “Understanding Media Convergence,” both published by Oxford University Press. During his seven years at FAMU SJGC, Wilkinson taught Media Ethics, Writing and Reporting I, and International Issues and the Media. His research interests include communication technology, international media systems, journalism practices, and media effects.
Read Wilkinson’s latest article here.
