The Institute on Journalism and Media provides a multinational group of 18 experienced and highly-motivated foreign journalism instructors and other related professionals with a deeper understanding of the roles of journalism and the media in U.S. society. The Institute examines major topics in journalism, including the concept of a “free press,” First Amendment rights, and the media’s relationship to the public interest. The legal and ethical questions posed by journalism are also incorporated into every aspect of the institute. The Institute covers strategies for teaching students of journalism the basics of the tradecraft: researching, reporting, writing, and editing. Technology’s impact on journalism, the influence of the Internet, the globalization of the news media, the growth of satellite television and radio networks, and other advances in media that are transforming the profession are also explored in depth.
The institute is run by the University of Florida College of Journalism through a grant provided by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the U.S. Department of State. ECA’s goal is to foster mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries.