Journalism Student Survey

1. Do you think students should learn web coding skills like HTML and CSS as part of their course?

Response Response
Percent Count

Yes 52.1% 75

No 19.4% 28

Not sure 28.5% 41

Why? 92

answered question 144

skipped question 0

Why?
1 I think they should *be able to* take these classes if they want. May 11, 2009 7:00 AM
2 It's the future. May 11, 2009 7:08 AM
3 not sure if it will make students better journalists May 11, 2009 12:12 PM
4 The ability to write a well designed online portfolio/blog vital to graduating May 11, 2009 12:43 PM
journlalists to help them when looking for jobs. Also the ability to improve
existing web sites for newspapers/magazines could be a valuable skill to
have.
5 These should be offered. Some students should take them, but I'm not sure May 11, 2009 2:18 PM
everyone needs to.
6 Beacause is not part of the course I think should be a combine course for May 11, 2009 2:48 PM
those things so anyone can choose it.
7 that is not why students enter a journalism course the focus should be on May 11, 2009 2:52 PM
writing and creativity.
8 I feel there is already too much emphasis on web-base skills, as you can find May 11, 2009 3:05 PM
good stories without using the web. Having to learn web-coding as part of the
course would, I feel, take away from actually going out and finding stories.
9 It detracts from the journalism, and there are easier ways to create and edit May 11, 2009 3:12 PM
web pages now that html is unnecessary
10 journalists do not make websites that is not their role. They find information May 11, 2009 3:12 PM
and pass it to others.
11 You won't know what to expect from a website if you don't understand the May 11, 2009 3:12 PM
rules.
12 I believe it does have a place in the world of journalism but I also think there May 11, 2009 3:14 PM
are higher priorities.
13 We had one assignment on it and i learned nothing and i do not think that one May 11, 2009 3:17 PM
assignment would contribute to me applying for a job with this skill. There is
Content Management systems in place in a publication so i think it is not
needed
14 I feel that coding is something a journalist should know due to the fact that I May 11, 2009 3:19 PM
feel that journalism is moving in that direction. Journalists need to be diverse
in their skills. They need to know how to write a great article, take a fantastic
photo, edit audio and also have the set skills to put their work on the web.
15 Technology is coming to allow people code without learning code. Same way May 11, 2009 3:20 PM
to Quark overtook the printers apprentice.
16 Because building web apps will be very important in the future. May 11, 2009 3:45 PM

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 Why?
17 Could help with other careers May 11, 2009 3:45 PM
18 Journalists should at least have some fundamental tools that they can use May 11, 2009 3:59 PM
while working in an online newsroom.
19 They should have a rudimentary knowledge so that they have more control May 11, 2009 5:02 PM
over their content. It's also a way to force journalists (as anyone) to think
alternatively about their field.
20 I don't necessarily think it should be compulsory, but I think it should be an May 11, 2009 5:28 PM
option - not least because it is so hard to find pure journalistic employment
that the wider the range of skills we are equipped with, the better.
21 beacause we are jouranalists and these tools are available for free May 11, 2009 6:03 PM
22 Because it is the easiest way to create a website. May 11, 2009 6:15 PM
23 A small amount of coding as part of an optional module could prove useful to May 11, 2009 6:15 PM
those students who wish to go into online journalism.
24 It's an extra skill, so why not? It's not going to do any harm to learn. May 11, 2009 6:17 PM
25 It's part of the job now May 11, 2009 6:17 PM
26 Most online content management systems don't require HTML or CSS May 11, 2009 6:18 PM
knowledge because editors don't want journalists messing with the look of the
site. So unless you want to go into web development I can't see the
importance of it. But having said that I know a little HTML and it has come in
handy in the past.
27 Sets you apart from those who don't May 11, 2009 6:31 PM
28 Because a good blog and SEO skills are vital. Mine are terrible and it is my May 11, 2009 6:32 PM
biggest gripe with my course that they have not taught me properly.
29 Because its useful May 11, 2009 6:39 PM
30 It is used in most web-publishing. May 11, 2009 6:43 PM
31 More strings to the bow. May 11, 2009 7:44 PM
32 On my course I don't know where they would fit it in as it is so ram packed, but May 11, 2009 8:39 PM
it would definitely be useful, especially if you want to go into the design side of
magazines as they want people who know how to translate the brand across
to the web.
33 I can see why basic html and css might be useful but that would be it - just May 11, 2009 8:53 PM
basic stuff.
34 Web content is going to be more and more important for journalists. Also, for May 11, 2009 8:59 PM
the new generation of qualified reporters, editors are going to look to us to do
these things. It offers us a way in. It hasn't been taught on my course.
35 Because I want to write, not build websites May 11, 2009 9:23 PM
36 That is where the present is and the future will be. Anyone who does not learn May 11, 2009 10:51 PM
this skills will be left behind.
37 If you can create webpages and edit content you will be more employable as May 11, 2009 11:05 PM
anyone can just put things on webpages without having to think about how it
gets there.
38 so necessary May 11, 2009 11:14 PM
39 To prepare them for the industry May 12, 2009 8:16 AM
40 To prepare them for the industry May 12, 2009 8:16 AM
41 I took a module in my first year that covered web coding and i found it very May 12, 2009 8:18 AM
complicated and although i could then produce a fairly good web page, i think
it was just too much to take in. If combined with journalism i believe many
students would struggle.
42 It should be offered only as a choice May 12, 2009 8:19 AM
43 because I don't know how to do it May 12, 2009 8:20 AM
44 Not needed May 12, 2009 8:20 AM
45 There should be a seperate module so students can choose if they want to May 12, 2009 8:21 AM
learn that.
46 at least basics skills so that students are not going into jobs totally clueless. May 12, 2009 9:37 AM

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 Why?
47 Don't know what that is. May 12, 2009 10:52 AM
48 I'm not certain that it is an essential skill to have and if you really want to learn May 12, 2009 10:52 AM
it you should do it yourself.
49 Because it would make it easier to be an all round writer/web designer and May 12, 2009 10:53 AM
sub editor, which are skills that all journalists nowadays need to have.
50 It would give students a better idea of how to design pages, thus allowing May 12, 2009 10:53 AM
them to create thier own pages with better quality
51 Both HTML and CSS can be learned by anyone at any point in time. May 12, 2009 10:58 AM
Expecting students to learn these languages puts too much emphasis on
creating a page for news online, as opposed to writing news for the online
page.
52 Everyone knows how to use word but with journalism moving to online media May 12, 2009 11:24 AM
even more, it would be highly beneficial.
53 maybe not as a major element but skills equal work. May 12, 2009 3:14 PM
54 Maybe not as complicated as html, but a student should really know how to May 12, 2009 4:52 PM
create, edit and add to internet sites
55 It adds another skill so that students can become well rounded journalists May 12, 2009 5:30 PM
which is increasingly what the media requires.
56 It can be useful, but not as useful as actually writing and learning how to May 13, 2009 2:38 PM
design pages. Two things, coincidentally, we've never been taught.
57 Because this is the way the media is. News writing now is just as important as May 13, 2009 4:24 PM
the multi-skilling involving video produnction
58 Otherwise it's like being taught to type using MS Word but not how to change May 13, 2009 11:11 PM
the font settings, or how to print, etc.
59 Useful skill - makes you more employable. May 14, 2009 5:20 PM
60 I think there is a lot that students have to learn already but the opportunity May 14, 2009 5:23 PM
should be offered so that those who wish to may do so.
61 I learned the basics as part of an optional module. Its a great thing to put on May 14, 2009 5:43 PM
your CV, a useful skill for any different jobs.
62 I don't feel it a necessity. It's good to know how to write for web but I don't see May 14, 2009 5:54 PM
why it's important to know html.
63 If you're going to learn to make a website you need to know how to make a May 14, 2009 5:55 PM
good website.
64 It's extremely important if you want a job with any media organisation now, as May 14, 2009 6:03 PM
even most print publications have a complementary website. Some bosses
are thinking of moving whole publications to online, only, so it would be useful
to know HTML in order to get a job, something that sets you apart. However,
HTML is getting old - php with embedded flash is now preferred by a lot of
web designers.
65 If it was fairly easy, then yes, it is often requested on job applications. But May 14, 2009 6:12 PM
we're pretty time-poor as it is, so something complicated added to our plates
would make it more stressful.
66 Not everyone is interested in that kind of stuff May 14, 2009 6:39 PM
67 Media organisations want graduates to be multimedia journalists, slightly May 14, 2009 6:47 PM
trained in as many things as possible
68 Because some people really don't enjoy it. Also because in some companies May 14, 2009 6:53 PM
there will be IT people to do jobs involving websites.
69 It can be useful but not essential. I think it should be there as an option rather May 14, 2009 7:01 PM
than compulsory.
70 It's important in a digital world May 14, 2009 7:08 PM
71 Because it is important to have knowledge of it if you are to understand it May 14, 2009 7:50 PM
better.
72 Is a criteria for a number of positions I have looked at. May 14, 2009 8:09 PM
73 The web is the future of the media and i feel these skills are important. May 14, 2009 8:43 PM

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 Why?
74 I think basic html code is useful to know so you can recognise it if it crops up May 14, 2009 8:59 PM
in your course of work, but knowing web-building skills seems unnecessary.
75 With programs like Dreamweaver HTML is not necessary. May 14, 2009 9:19 PM
76 It is important to understand the basics in order to understand how to write May 14, 2009 10:05 PM
effectively for the web
77 I think HTML/CSS understanding can be important, but it's definitely not for May 14, 2009 11:42 PM
everyone. If you're wishing to pursue a carrier as a columnist, or say in the
feature/magazine, this knowledge would be largely pointless.
HTML/CSS is more likely to discourage people with limited technological
ability/interest.
78 As it allows you to develop skills that you coulod use if you did or din't decide May 15, 2009 9:08 AM
to have a career in journalism when you finish.
79 Web is becoming more and more important in journalism, if you have the skills May 15, 2009 9:46 AM
you're one step ahead.
80 Because it's probably going to come in handy in a convergent climate May 15, 2009 10:09 AM
81 As the future of Journalism is becoming web-based, therefore web skill would May 15, 2009 11:48 AM
be important to learn for the future.
82 I think it is important in an ever-changing climate, in an internet age May 15, 2009 2:29 PM
83 Websites are becoming a crucial aspect as journalism filters to this media, so May 15, 2009 4:43 PM
it is more important than ever to learn this, and I believe it will continue to gain
importance.
84 It is important to have the broadest skill base as possible, to allow them to May 16, 2009 1:20 PM
work independently.
85 because they are skills that will set you apart from the crowd especially if May 16, 2009 3:30 PM
planning on going into web journalism
86 Hard one this. On the one hand, I should know this as I'm doing 'web' May 16, 2009 3:57 PM
journalism, but even so I'm not at all confident with it. Given that most
newsrooms use some sort of CMS, there isn't that much of need for it.
However, a basic knowledge is necessary to be able to fix certain problems
and have an idea of how things work. It's also useful for personal blogs.
87 Recognise HTML but have no idea as to CSS. May 16, 2009 4:34 PM
88 I would probably say yes if I was aware of what web coding skills were. May 17, 2009 5:57 PM
89 Because journalists are going to become more involved in developing and May 18, 2009 10:25 AM
displaying their stories online. Web coding isn't hard to learn anyway.
90 Current web-building software, CMSes and software of the future will eliminate May 19, 2009 12:12 AM
the need to know code.
91 Would broaden variety of skills, but take away from time working on skills May 19, 2009 10:31 AM
especially for print, ie newsgathering or editing.
92 since newspapers are turning digital, journalism students will need to learn the Jun 3, 2009 6:18 PM
basics of web design

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