ADVANCES IN MILITARY JOURNALISM EDUCATION: A REVIEW OF THE DINFOS STRATEGIC PLAN

Abstract

In the last 20 years the American journalism industry has undergone a series of great structural changes while simultaneously battling for its economic survival. (Pew, 2023)

The techniques and tactics, products and profits, venues and audiences from a generation ago are largely unrecognizable today (Franklin, 2014).

It is this uncertain communications climate today's journalism students, and military journalism students, find themselves heading towards. And it is in this climate that today's journalism schools also find themselves in as they endeavor to teach and train the next generation of journalists. Therefore, the American military’s journalism school, The Defense Information School (DINFOS) will be the focus of this project.

To complete this project, I interviewed DINFOS students, administrators, teachers and military journalists presently working in the field. I also extensively reviewed the schoolhouse’s five-year plan, and closely examined three specific courses to properly gauge whether or not the schoolhouse is preparing their students for this uncertain and unrecognizable communications climate. And lastly, I relied on my own professional perspective as a two-time graduate of the schoolhouse.

As a taxpayer funded entity, the American military has a responsibility to accurately, and in a timely manner, report on its actions to the American public. Their mission embedded in the First Amendment, the DINFOS-educated military journalists working across the globe perform a vital mission in our democracy.

At the conclusion of this project, I can state confidently that DINFOS is properly preparing and educating their students for this uncertain communications climate.