By Enock Sithole
The 7th World Journalism Education Congress will now be held in San Francisco, in the United States of America, on 8-10 August 2025.
The congress which was to be held in Perth, Australia has been moved to the US owing to logistical considerations. The congress will be held parallel to and, as far as possible, in conjunction with the annual conference of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC), stated the World Journalism Education Council (WJEC).
The theme for the 7th WJEC is: “Is it time to reboot journalism education?” The congress with be structured under several sessions including “plenaries, paper presentations, panels and syndicates”.
In this regard, the deadline for submitting abstracts has been extended to 31st of December 31st, 2024 at 2 pm, San Francisco time. Click here for more information and to submit an abstract. Please Ignore references to the former venue and time.
Registration to attend the congress will open in mid-April 2025. The early bird registration rate (through July 15, 2025) will be approximately USD 290, and the regular registration rate (after July 16) will be USD 340. The fee covers all congress activities, and entry to the AEJMC conference, “but no coffee breaks and meals. Delegates will be responsible for their own housing and transportation”.
Dr Nico Drok. Image supplied
Meanwhile, former vice-chairman, Dr Nico Drok, has been elected chairman of the WJEC. Based in Belgium, Dr Drok is Professor Emeritus in Media & Civil Society. Read an interview with Dr Drok on globalising journalism education.
He told Ajenda that “As a global organisation, the WJEC is characterised by diversity. By bringing organisations from six continents together, WJEC provides a common space for journalism educators from around the world to focus on issues that are universal in the field, as well as to have an informed conversation about mutual differences and what can be learned from those.”
Dr Drok added that “In an era defined by drastic socio-political changes, all-pervasive new technologies and complex global challenges, the importance of journalism education has never been greater. In the rising sea of unverified information and ungrounded opinions, quality journalism stands as a beacon of reliability to secure an informed public discourse.”
Dr. Drok added that, “Since journalism is of central importance to society, its future cannot simply be left to chance. Therefore journalism educators play a pivotal role in shaping the qualities of the next generations of journalists to enable them to navigate and report on the issues that shape our world.”
The article, WJEC congress moved to San Franciscohttps://ajenafrica.com/wjec-congress-moved-to-san-francisco/, was originally published on December 2, 2024 by Ajen Newsletter.