Launching the Knight Center for the Future of News at ASU's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication

Copper State of Mind: public relations, media, and marketing in Arizona

Dean Battinto Batts and Professor Julia Wallace from Arizona State University join us to talk about the recent launch of the Knight Center for the Future of News at ASU's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

The Knight Center for the Future of News focuses on creating sustainable models and innovative practices for the journalism industry through three core initiatives: the Journalism, Community & Democracy Lab; the Sustainability Lab; and the Innovation in Reporting & Storytelling Lab.

Dean Batts and Prof. Wallace emphasize the importance of adapting to the changing dynamics of news consumption and audience engagement, recognizing that while the industry faces significant challenges, there is still a strong demand for credible information.

With the support of a $10.5 million grant from Knight Foundation, The Knight Center for the Future of News will foster innovation, research, and collaboration to ensure a sustainable future for journalism.

The center will function as a dynamic environment akin to a teaching hospital, where real-world applications and student mentorship converge to test new journalism concepts. Students will actively participate in hands-on projects, working with professionals to innovate in journalism.

Batts and Wallace express optimism about the role of education and new initiatives in reshaping the field, urging a shift in mindset to view disruption as an opportunity rather than a setback.

Read the transcript and notes for this episode on our website.

Key Takeaways

• The transformation of journalism education at ASU reflects the evolving state of the industry.
• In the past, news was seen as objective reporting on issues that directly impacted people's lives. Today’s news environment is characterized by outrage, polarization, and a decline in trust.
• Arizona State University's Cronkite School has a longstanding partnership with the Knight Foundation, which supports various initiatives aimed at revolutionizing journalism education and practice.
• Central to the Knight Center's mission is the engagement and understanding of audiences, vital for fostering trust and ensuring the relevance of news media.
• The episode highlights the importance of an entrepreneurial mindset in the journalism industry to drive innovation amid continuous disruption.

About the Guests

Dr. Battinto L. Batts Jr. is Dean and Professor at The Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University. An award-winning journalist and educator with deep experience in philanthropy and nonprofit administration, Dr. Batts previously served as director of journalism strategies for the Scripps Howard Foundation in Cincinnati, Ohio. Batts holds a doctorate in higher education management from Hampton University, a master’s degree in media management from Norfolk State University and a bachelor’s degree in mass communications from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Julia Wallace is a professor of practice and the Frank Russell Chair in the Business of Journalism at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, where she teaches ethics, the business of journalism and gender in the media workplace. She is also the Launch Director for The Knight Center for the Future of News. Prior to joining ASU, Prof. Wallace served in senior editing roles at four newspapers, including the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, where she was the first woman to serve as editor-in-chief. During her tenure there, the paper won two Pulitzer Prizes, and she was named Editor of the Year by Editor & Publisher magazine in 2004. Before joining Atlanta, Wallace was managing editor of the Arizona Republic from 1998-2000. She co-authored a book, There’s No Crying in Newsrooms: What Women Have Learned About What it Takes to Lead, with Cronkite faculty member Kristin Gilger about the challenges women have faced in newsrooms and the female pioneers who've broken barriers in this male-dominated industry over the last four decades.

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Need to hire a PR firm?

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Credits

Copper State of Mind, hosted by Abbie Fink and Dr. Adrian McIntyre, is brought to you by HMA Public Relations, a full-service public relations firm in Phoenix, AZ.

The show is recorded and produced by the team at Speed of Story, a strategic communications consultancy for PR agencies and marketing firms, and distributed by PHX.fm, the leading independent B2B podcast network in Arizona.

If you like this podcast, you might also enjoy PRGN Presents: PR News & Views from the Public Relations Global Network, featuring conversations about strategic communications, marketing, and PR from PRGN, "the world’s local public relations agency.”