I’m sure you all know someone who wishes things were still like they were in the “good old days.” Especially the good old days of agricultural communications and marketing. I know quite a few of them actually. They’re the ones who keep hoping that people will finally get over this whole “internet thing” for example. You know, the ones who say it’s just a fad and can’t understand why anyone would read blogs or listen to podcasts or subscribe to their markets on their mobile phone.

Well those kind of people are also teaching in our colleges and universities as evidenced by Paul Conley’s latest post on his blog. Paul goes on a speaking tour at the journalism departments and schools around the country and he’s been writing about his latest one. He’s found some very interesting reaction to his speeches which I’m sure promote using those tools we have lumped in the category of new media. For example:

Journalism education has divided into two factions. There are those who see digital media and convergence as positive. And there are those who see recent developments in the press as a catastrophe. The first group wants to use the universities to spread the new forms of storytelling. The second group believes universities are the place to draw the line against change.

The gap between the two is broad and deep. Most upsetting, disagreements between the two sides are uncivil. And since most journalism programs have members of both camps on the faculty, the atmosphere in many schools is toxic

This might explain my experience at Cal-Poly recently. I conducted two sessions, one for students (very well attended and many great thank you letters) and one for faculty (no one showed up) except the enlightened professor who invited me (thank you Scott!). Actually the department head stopped by to say hello early and left. Now I don’t know if they were all just busy that day or what but . . . When you’ve got someone in as a special guest speaker and notices have been printed and posted everywhere inviting you, it would be reasonable to think that someone would show up.

I applaud the professors who are willing to expand their own professional skills and teach them to their students and are open and honest enough to invite in people like Paul Conley who are ahead of the curve. They’re doing their students and school a real favor. They’re preparing them for the real world where multi-media skills using the latest technology is becoming required for employment as the media world changes.