Comments on: Advancing The Story: Why Missouri J-School is asking students to have iPhones http://blogs.journalism.co.uk/2009/05/11/advancing-the-story-why-missouri-j-school-is-asking-students-to-have-iphones/ Online journalism news Tue, 24 Jan 2012 19:16:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Kathy Gill http://blogs.journalism.co.uk/2009/05/11/advancing-the-story-why-missouri-j-school-is-asking-students-to-have-iphones/comment-page-1/#comment-12986 Kathy Gill Wed, 13 May 2009 08:01:23 +0000 http://blogs.journalism.co.uk/editors/?p=10147#comment-12986 Thanks for the clarification. I think the bigger story is the arcane and micro-management rules of the U.S. financial aid program. :-/ Thanks for the clarification. I think the bigger story is the arcane and micro-management rules of the U.S. financial aid program. :-/

]]> By: Judith Townend http://blogs.journalism.co.uk/2009/05/11/advancing-the-story-why-missouri-j-school-is-asking-students-to-have-iphones/comment-page-1/#comment-12985 Judith Townend Wed, 13 May 2009 07:46:21 +0000 http://blogs.journalism.co.uk/editors/?p=10147#comment-12985 Just to add that we did include the original Missourian link in our first link to this story on May 8, which gave the what, but not the why: http://blogs.journalism.co.uk/editors/2009/05/08/columbia-missourian-journalism-students-advised-to-buy-ipod-touch-or-iphone/ In that summary, it was clear that it was an iPhone or iPod touch, and also that while the students were advised to purchase one, the requirement wouldn't be enforced. Just to add that we did include the original Missourian link in our first link to this story on May 8, which gave the what, but not the why:

http://blogs.journalism.co.uk/editors/2009/05/08/columbia-missourian-journalism-students-advised-to-buy-ipod-touch-or-iphone/

In that summary, it was clear that it was an iPhone or iPod touch, and also that while the students were advised to purchase one, the requirement wouldn’t be enforced.

]]> By: Laura Oliver http://blogs.journalism.co.uk/2009/05/11/advancing-the-story-why-missouri-j-school-is-asking-students-to-have-iphones/comment-page-1/#comment-12963 Laura Oliver Tue, 12 May 2009 20:45:40 +0000 http://blogs.journalism.co.uk/editors/?p=10147#comment-12963 Thanks for pointing that out Kathy - I had completely missed the link to the Missourian in the original post. I'm including it below as I think there are some more interesting issues raised including that which you mention above and Brooks (the dean of the j-school) who says they're intending to aid students' learning: http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2009/05/07/school-journalism-requires-ipod-touch/ Thanks for pointing that out Kathy – I had completely missed the link to the Missourian in the original post.

I’m including it below as I think there are some more interesting issues raised including that which you mention above and Brooks (the dean of the j-school) who says they’re intending to aid students’ learning:

http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2009/05/07/school-journalism-requires-ipod-touch/

]]> By: Kathy Gill http://blogs.journalism.co.uk/2009/05/11/advancing-the-story-why-missouri-j-school-is-asking-students-to-have-iphones/comment-page-1/#comment-12961 Kathy Gill Tue, 12 May 2009 19:21:12 +0000 http://blogs.journalism.co.uk/editors/?p=10147#comment-12961 Misleading headline -- the "requirement" is for iPodTouch or iPhone. Moreover, the reason is pretty mundane: From the primary source, The Columbia Missourian - linked to in the source you've linked to (above): “The reason we put required on it is to help the students on financial need,” Brooks said. “If it’s required, it can be included in your financial need estimate. If we had not required it, they wouldn’t be able to do that.” It's the same reason that I make some books "required" in my courses. Universities and professors try to work around rules to help students -- of course, it helps to note (somewhere) that the "requirement" is, in reality, optional. The primary source of this story does just that. Misleading headline — the “requirement” is for iPodTouch or iPhone.

Moreover, the reason is pretty mundane:

From the primary source, The Columbia Missourian – linked to in the source you’ve linked to (above):

“The reason we put required on it is to help the students on financial need,” Brooks said. “If it’s required, it can be included in your financial need estimate. If we had not required it, they wouldn’t be able to do that.”

It’s the same reason that I make some books “required” in my courses. Universities and professors try to work around rules to help students — of course, it helps to note (somewhere) that the “requirement” is, in reality, optional. The primary source of this story does just that.

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