In an era of "churnalism," reporters still help sustain democracy

With newspapers in trouble, is a degree in journalism any less useful?

University of Kent professor and former Scotsman editor Tim Luckhurst doesn't think so. In an era of "churnalism," he writes for the Independent,

[S]ociety has never had more urgent need of reporters with advanced academic, professional and technical skills. Serious journalism is the lifeblood of democracy. It keeps powerful institutions under pressure to be honest and informs popular choice on crucial issues.

Further,

Good journalism jobs were hard to get long before the industry plunged into crisis. Decline is making the profession still more ruthlessly meritocratic, which is why we are candid about the competition our graduates will face.

And so on.

Also see: Can selling news via the Web save newspapers?
And see: Some thoughts on citizen journalism and Mumbai
And: How to add value to amateur content