Don't knock the messengers

Prejudice against media degrees could damage the media, argues Ivor Gaber

Knocking media studies is almost as fashionable as knocking Will Carling. Both will eventually bounce back, but collateral damage is undeniably being inflicted in the interim.

Why does media studies excite such hostility within the media? As someone who spent 15 years as a working journalist before entering academe, I am constantly depressed to encounter the ill-informed outpourings of my erstwhile colleagues.

The most widely reported criticisms are that: most of the 30,000 students on media courses do not get jobs in the media on graduation; media studies is a soft option for underperforming students; and that media studies courses do not offer useful media experience.

The government has approved several inquiries into the subject. One investigation is within the Department of Culture, Media and Sport. One would think that it would be logical to invite media academics to participate in such an inquiry but that has not happened.

The British Film Institute is also investigating media studies at the behest of the Cultural Industries Working Party. The BFI's committee does at least include some media academics, as does a Higher Education Funding Council for England working party that is looking into the funding of media courses.

But let us tackle the criticisms. First the no-jobs-for-media-students myth. Not all students taking media degrees actually want to work in the media. Those students who do take media degrees and do want to work in media industries, are far more successful than popular myth would have us believe. Latest figures at Goldsmiths show that after 12 months fewer than 10 per cent of last year's graduates were unemployed, with almost two-thirds of those in work employed in the media.

Second, the myth that media studies is a soft option. My department's basic entry requirement is three Bs at A level. And students from around the world want to study for PhDs in Britain.

Much merriment has also been enjoyed by the press about students studying soap operas. A higher education system that did not commit resources to studying such mass phenomena as the national obsession with soaps would be culpable.

Finally, the myth that media studies courses do not offer useful media experience. It is true that many media degrees have limited practical components; they are academic courses designed to investigate the impact of the media on society. But many attempt to give practical experience as well.

What are journalists are so upset about? Could it be that some are apprehensive about employing graduates who possess such an intimidating range of skills? It would be a pity if the prejudice against media degrees were allowed to continue. For its potential to inflict serious damage is immense - damage to students, academics and the industry. It might also arrest the flow of creative recruits. Students might doubt the wisdom of joining the media when its senior figures present themselves as an outdated group of myopic philistines.

Ivor Gaber is professor of broadcast journalism Goldsmiths College, University of London.