AN EXAMINATION OF CURRICULA IN MIDDLE EASTERN JOURNALISM SCHOOLS IN LIGHT OF SUGGESTED MODEL CURRICULA

This study seeks to understand how journalism is taught in the Middle East. A basic questionnaire is developed to solicit information, regarding this issue, by examining the curricula of 95 journalism programs in 13 countries in the Middle East. The study examines these curricula in hopes of developing a better understanding of the needs of journalism educators in one of the fastest growing areas of the world. The data shows that about half of the journalism programs in the Middle East had been established within the last decade. It also finds that most of these programs are theoretically oriented with little attention to practical concepts. Internships are not a top priority at most schools. Admissions criteria are poorly articulated. Most programs do not have much interaction with media organizations or international partners.The data confirms much of what has been found in the literature. Scholars in the region focus more on theory than practice. The results show that there is a big gap between theoretical and practical concepts in the curricula in most of Middle Eastern journalism programs. Most of these programs are theoretical oriented and do not pay much attention to the practical concepts.