Comments on: Journalism students turn to Wikipedia to publish stories http://www.ecampusnews.com/technologies/journalism-students-turn-to-wikipedia-to-publish-stories/ Higher Ed News Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:21:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: DigitalNewsGuy http://www.ecampusnews.com/technologies/journalism-students-turn-to-wikipedia-to-publish-stories/comment-page-1/#comment-69 DigitalNewsGuy Sun, 28 Mar 2010 14:08:36 +0000 http://www.ecampusnews.com/?p=30120#comment-69 Prof. Sultan: I'm curious if your online/broadcast journalism course includes any section on reading comprehension. The article makes clear that this professor is not encouraging students to treat Wikipedia as a reliable source, but rather to use it as an "information portal" -- that is, as a way of finding reliable sources. Demont-Heinrich says, "You can see what information has been sourced and see that they’re reliable sources." In other words, you see that Wikipedia says X is true, then you see the source that it cites, then you go to the source (let's say it's the CDC) and you cite the CDC in your reporting. I'm a full-time journalist at a metro daily, and while I always treat info on Wikipedia with a healthy dose of skepticism, I know that I can always follow the links to the source material to verify an entry's claims. Prof. Sultan:

I’m curious if your online/broadcast journalism course includes any section on reading comprehension.

The article makes clear that this professor is not encouraging students to treat Wikipedia as a reliable source, but rather to use it as an “information portal” — that is, as a way of finding reliable sources.

Demont-Heinrich says, “You can see what information has been sourced and see that they’re reliable sources.”

In other words, you see that Wikipedia says X is true, then you see the source that it cites, then you go to the source (let’s say it’s the CDC) and you cite the CDC in your reporting.

I’m a full-time journalist at a metro daily, and while I always treat info on Wikipedia with a healthy dose of skepticism, I know that I can always follow the links to the source material to verify an entry’s claims.

]]> By: loganbob http://www.ecampusnews.com/technologies/journalism-students-turn-to-wikipedia-to-publish-stories/comment-page-1/#comment-68 loganbob Fri, 26 Mar 2010 19:58:22 +0000 http://www.ecampusnews.com/?p=30120#comment-68 I didn't know that there were still journalists who were concerned with reliable sources. That is refreshing. From what I've seen in mainstream journalism, for the most part, curiosity has left the profession, and the only sources they are interested in getting are sources that further their political and social agendas (on either side of the political spectrum). I didn’t know that there were still journalists who were concerned with reliable sources. That is refreshing. From what I’ve seen in mainstream journalism, for the most part, curiosity has left the profession, and the only sources they are interested in getting are sources that further their political and social agendas (on either side of the political spectrum).

]]> By: thekohser http://www.ecampusnews.com/technologies/journalism-students-turn-to-wikipedia-to-publish-stories/comment-page-1/#comment-63 thekohser Thu, 25 Mar 2010 16:46:24 +0000 http://www.ecampusnews.com/?p=30120#comment-63 Yes, yes, I can see how this will surely rescue the future of the journalism profession. (*FACEPALM*) Yes, yes, I can see how this will surely rescue the future of the journalism profession.

(*FACEPALM*)

]]> By: digitalnewsgirl http://www.ecampusnews.com/technologies/journalism-students-turn-to-wikipedia-to-publish-stories/comment-page-1/#comment-62 digitalnewsgirl Thu, 25 Mar 2010 15:58:55 +0000 http://www.ecampusnews.com/?p=30120#comment-62 This is the most ridiculous thing I ever heard--using a completely unreliable source! Where did you study journalism?? I teach online and broadcast journalism, and cannot begin to list the infinite avenues of destruction along Wikpedia... Signed, Concerned Educator & Journalist Kelley (Daniels) Sultan Univeristy of Missouri-Columbia Bachelor of Journalism MAED, Curriculum & Instruction 15-year Journalism Career 7-year Journalism Teaching Career This is the most ridiculous thing I ever heard–using a completely unreliable source! Where did you study journalism?? I teach online and broadcast journalism, and cannot begin to list the infinite avenues of destruction along Wikpedia…

Signed,
Concerned Educator & Journalist

Kelley (Daniels) Sultan
Univeristy of Missouri-Columbia
Bachelor of Journalism
MAED, Curriculum & Instruction

15-year Journalism Career
7-year Journalism Teaching Career

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