Random Thoughts from My CNN Experience!

By Dr. Nnamdi T. Ekeanyanwu, PhD

The visit to CNN was one of the major high points of the cultural and media tours for me during this Summer program. Apart from the classy nature of Atlanta Georgia, CNN is truly a bride to behold.

Coming out of that study tour and the interactions that followed; I feel obligated to share these thoughts with you:

1. CNN does not own any Satellite. She rents space on Satellites because it is cheaper to do so! Considering this, she has done well meeting the news need of her numerous audience.
2. At CNN currently, it is no longer about being FIRST but being ACCURATE. I was really impressed about this vital shift in operational focus!
3. The accusation leveled against CNN that it is the mouthpiece of the American Government or that it is sympathetic to the American cause is just perspective. I honestly think it depends on who is analyzing the issues.
4. The coverage of Africa on CNN has improved drastically. There are current high definition programs like Inside Africa, African Voices that specifically focus on other areas of Africa other than news which most of the time may be negative.
5. On a lighter note, no one in CNN knows the number of TV monitors/screens at the Atlanta Head Office! I could not count but from visual impressions, we could start from 10,000! That is an idea about the hugeness and operational size of the Atlanta Head Office.

Again, I sincerely want to thank the State Department in Washington and the Administrators of this year's SUSI Program under the Directorship of Professor Yusuf Kalyango for including such an important place in our media itinerary. I am completely impressed. We visited Community media firms, National Media firms and now CNN, which is a recognized and reputable Global brand. What more can we ask from SUSI? In fact, I am now tempted to regard myself as not just a Professor of International Communication but a Professor of American Media Systems!!!

Thank you SUSI 2011
Dr. Nnamdi Ekeanyanwu
SUSI Scholar for 2011
Representing Covenant University and Nigeria.

Rupert Murdoch

The next few months, Rupert Murdoch's Media Empire will resonate in international communication discussions. A lot have been said about the news gathering methods and most persons who enjoyed the fruits of the outcomes of these are now the same persons shouting crucify him, crucify him! Some of the past outcomes of the Newspaper's investigative journalism saved this world from very embarrassing situations. The Newspaper exposed scandals, corrupt politicians and all manners of evil. For these we were grateful and should remain grateful.

Journalism is not an easy profession. People are interested in bizarre, breaking and scandalous stories but they never ask how the stories come about. Let us be a little fair to these guys. They were just after the real stufffs. Intentions and motives are vital considerations in criminal proceedings. We need to think through this.

YES, I am disappointed that the Newspaper went too far in its pursuit of exclusives, breaks and stories that could sell the paper. Violating peoples privacy cannot be justified, especially in the way the Newspaper did it but calling for a complete shut down of the man's media empire tells me of a sinister agenda. News of the World is not The Sun. Any person(s) criminally implicated should face the music but let the industry survive. Journalism is a public service, we cannot do without it. One of the best Presidents America had once said he will prefer to run a Newspaper organization without a Government than to run a Government without a Newspaper. The man has done the honorable thing. He has closed down a business that gave him money and fame just to tell us he is sorry. While are we asking for more than a pound of flesh? We cannot be the modern Shylock!!

Lets us consider the industry, the already saturated labor market and the families that will surely suffer from lack of a means of livelihood. I don't know what the media industry will look like without the types of Rupert Murdoch. Please, lets leave out the others and face a closure situation for the News of the World.

I am sure we will keep talking about this for a long time. But please, let us not throw away the baby with the bath water!!

Random thoughts from My SUSI Interactive Sessions Tuesday

By Dr. Nnamdi T. Ekeanyanwu

1. Do media set agenda or do they build agenda? In other words, is news a reflection of peoples sense of what has happened around them?
2. The so-called battle between Libertarianism and Social Responsibility is more philosophical than practical. For me, Libertarianism is what it should be and Social Responsibility is what we can have. Any freedom that is exercised outside of any obligation or responsibility to society or to even ones conscience, is not fit for human experience!!. Libertarianism is idealistic while Social Responsibility is pragmatic!!!
3. American freedom is based on the idea of tolerating what one hates!!!
4. The United States Constitution is built on the platform of mistrust! Because, we don't trust ourselves and our Government, let us make this written document to guide our relations!!!
   
5. The CNN Effect is a myth.
6. News is a cultural construct.
7. Objectivity is not practicable in journalism; transparency should replace it as elements of journalism.
8. The basic foundation of American Culture is built on discord and harmony; contradictions and consistencies; conflict and consensus.
9. Criticizing our Government, having a dissenting voice just to enrich the conversation and disagreeing with the system are indicators of patriotism!!!
10. I got all of these from my little jotter in the SUSI Seminar sessions on Ethics of Journalism in the US, the Role of the News Media in a Democracy etc. Such a revealing session for me. This SUSI is turning out to be one of the best things that is happening to me and my career in this century.

Dr. Nnamdi T. Ekeanyanwu
Director, International Office and Linkages
Covenant University, NIGERIA.
SUSI SCHOLAR 2011.

Communication Curriculum Updates arising from Walmat

By Dr. Nnamdi Ekeanyanwu

The communication curriculum at the College of Communication, Ohio University, Athens, is very unique and cosmopolitan in many respects. I liked the idea of the specializations and the efforts to give them the required detailed attention through expert training. This is the way I think we should go in the next 20years.

Some scholars have, however, expressed fears that employers now prefer graduates who can cover the event, write the story, edit, take his own pictures, voice and even present the story where applicable. So, to dance to the tune of the so-called market forces, such scholars are advocating for a redesigning of the communication curriculum to train students to become master of all! This may never be the situation.

I do not think the employers can win this one. They will have no choice in the matter. In the face place, I believe a reasonable employer will prefer a graduate with the requisite skills and talent in a particular field of Communication than another graduate with a secondary knowledge of different aspects of the communication arena struggling to be what he is not. This is the major reason I think Mass Communication should be abolished. We dont have "mass" in the sense of the word anymore. The current practice at Ohio should be a model to photocopy across the globe.

Let students make a choice of their area of interest and let the curriculum be available to support that. We can no longer have jack of all trades. Lugging a camera around is not equal to taking an ecstasy shot that tells a story more than words will have. In Nigeria, we have attempted experimenting with students knowing something of every aspects of the discipline. This is good but should not be the practice for a 4year program. The major areas should be emphasized and students made to go into such with a sense of detail. Most respectable disciplines have specialists not generalists. A medical doctor only make sense to me when he is a specialist surgeon, ganeacologist, etc I cannot allow a general practitioner to touch my housemaid not to talk about me!!.

So, lets go ahead and produce Photojournalists with an eye for photographs; a great newscaster with such elegance and elocution in her voice; an eloquent speaker, a visual communication, experts artist, a print writer etc. This is where the industry is headed to. kudos to Ohio for being on the track already. They should not step outside. The others players would soon join. What they want is a commitment that this will work. I know it would work.

Thank you SUSI 2011 for this expose on curriculum issues focusing on the United States and other Universities represented.

Dr. Nnamdi T. Ekeanyanwu
Director, International Office and Linkages
Covenant University.
SUSI SCHOLAR at AEJMC 2011

The American Higher Education System: Questions, Questions and More Questions

By Dr. Nnamdi T. Ekeanyanwu

The American Higher Education system is a paradox of possibilities. It sounds simple but somehow complicated. I just came out of a session with Professor Kalyango discussing research, teaching and services in a typical US higher institution. Some of the issues raised were very revealing and others completely negated my existing knowledge.

For example, the issue of tenureship beats my imagination. Yes, it guarantees the Professor's job but may produce problems the University can no longer handle. I can imagine the situation in my home country of having a ternured Professor one cannot easily sack or sacking may be expensive because of legal issues. This, coming from America, causes me some disturbing headaches. However, I love the reward system! It only pays for productivity but cannot deal with unproductivity. One lazy tenured Professor may never get a pay rise but may also continue to take a salary he can no longer earn. This is shocking coming from my beloved America.

Worse still is the Mugabe/Ghadaffi Syndrome in higher institutions here in America. How can a Dean sit as long as he wishes? How can a Director serve as long as he desires? And in God's own country and the custodian of democratic culture in the free world! Are the Universities not supposed to reflect and mimic the larger society? Are such tendencies not against the greater America project built on democracy? When a child begins to ask so many questions at the same time, then there is a problem. I sure do have a problem with this arrangement.

I may have exaggerated the situation, but one clear factor that have endeared me to America is her democratic values and culture. Finding out today that the Universities are disconnected in such a way, also gives me a serious disconnect with what I think I already know of America.

SUSI 2011, I hope I am not getting further shocks!!!

Dr. Nnamdi T. Ekeanyanwu

Director, International Office and Linkages

Covenant University, Nigeria./
SUSI SCHOLAR 2011

My Views from Marietta, Ohio

By Dr. Nnamdi Ekeanyanwu

Saturday, July 9, 2011 was another memorable day for me in the SUSI 2011 program as we undertook the first in the series of cultural tours that exposes the SUSI Scholars to the rich American history. I was amazed at the efforts made to preserve the history of this great nation from diverse perspectives. The visit to Marietta gives Ohio history meaning, liveness and relevance. I am tempted to belief that part of what makes America great is a connection to her history. Knowing where one is coming from may actually influence where one is going.

The second most intriguing aspect of my trip to Marietta is seeing older persons volunteer to serve their communities in different ways. Coming from a culture where "nothing goes for nothing" I was really impressed how people give back to their communities and happily too.

Then, there is this pride the average American exudes when they talk about America! I wish I can take and share this back home. I think what makes America thick is the Americans!! They so much belief in who they are and what they stand for.

Thank you SUSI for this great experiential learning opportunity.

Dr. Nnamdi T. Ekeanyanwu

Director, International Office and Linkages

Covenant University, Nigeria

SUSI Scholar 2011

Alden Library Ohio

In my entire life spanning over 35 years, I have never been in a such a wonder place called the Alden Library, Ohio before. Very Fascinating and amazing!!!! That place makes me one to start all over again as an undergraduate! Thank you SUSI for this exposure. #scrippsiij