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Vision, Mission and Values
● We are guided by the following VISION: We believe in the power of media to inform and inspire society to solve challenges big and small.
● That vision is inspired by this MISSION: We educate and empower communicators to create an informed and inclusive society, advancing understanding and connection among creators, audiences, industry and the academy.
● We seek this FUTURE STATE: The Cronkite School is the global leader in educating and empowering communicators. Our programs are scaled to meet the needs of society and accessible to students and learners of all levels and all backgrounds. We purposefully create experiential and immersive learning, outreach, community engagement and research opportunities to maximize impact in the world. Our students, faculty, staff, alumni and partners form one inclusive and global Cronkite Nation, united by a heartbeat of shared goals and values.
Our Values
As an accredited journalism program, the Cronkite School is committed to classroom learning that achieves the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication’s professional values and competencies.
All graduates of the school should be aware of certain core values and competencies and be able to:
- Understand and apply the principles and laws of freedom of speech and press for the country in which the institution that invites ACEJMC is located, as well as receive instruction in and understand the range of systems of freedom of expression around the world, including the right to dissent, to monitor and criticize power, and to assemble and petition for redress of grievances;
- Demonstrate an understanding of the history and role of professionals and institutions in shaping communications;
- Demonstrate an understanding of gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation and, as appropriate, other forms of diversity in domestic society in relation to mass communications;
- Demonstrate an understanding of the diversity of peoples and cultures and of the significance and impact of mass communications in a global society;
- Understand concepts and apply theories in the use and presentation of images and information;
- Demonstrate an understanding of professional ethical principles and work ethically in pursuit of truth, accuracy, fairness and diversity;
- Think critically, creatively and independently;
- Conduct research and evaluate information by methods appropriate to the communications professions in which they work;
- Write correctly and clearly in forms and styles appropriate for the communications professions, audiences and purposes they serve;
- Critically evaluate their own work and that of others for accuracy and fairness, clarity, appropriate style and grammatical correctness;
- Apply basic numerical and statistical concepts;
- Apply current tools and technologies appropriate for the communications professions in which they work, and to understand the digital world.
Units requesting evaluation of a professional master’s program must also demonstrate how their master’s graduates attain this additional core competency:
- Contribute to knowledge appropriate to the communications professions in which they work.
Our diversity principles
The Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication practices inclusivity in student, staff and faculty populations in order to create an academic environment that embraces diversity of thought and acceptance of all people regardless of race, gender, age, sexual orientation or societal, political, cultural, economic, spiritual or physical differences.
To this end, the school directs efforts to the following four principles:
- Actively seek out and encourage diverse populations to become productive members of the faculty, staff and the student body.
- Create and maintain a work, learning and social environment that is cognizant and supportive of a diversity of human differences and beliefs.
- Incorporate within the formal content of the curriculum and in each course an affirmation of the core journalistic values of accuracy, fairness, ethical behavior and sensitivity when reflecting an increasingly multicultural world.
- Foster and support a climate in which events and activities of the school reflect diversity of awareness, sensitivity to and support for people of different origins, orientations and abilities.