COMPLETION REPORT
Re-thinking Journalism Pedagogy in Japan and ASAN in the Digital-Global Age
Ms. Pauline Gidget Resterio Estella(+1)
Doctoral Candidate and Research AssistantInstitute for Media and Communication Science
Technische Universitaet Ilmenau(Germany)
The research project on journalistic competence and journalism education in ASEAN and Japan wascompleted in March this year, largely through the support of the Sumitomo Foundation. The project,
titled “Re-thinking Journalism Pedagogy in Japan and ASEAN in the Digital-Global Age”, relied on
qualitative methods: in-depth interviews with experts worldwide and with selected academicians in
ASEAN and Japan, as well as document analysis (e.g. analysis of curricula)
Based on related literature and experts’ insights, two frameworks were created: 1) a global frameworkof journalistic competence and 2) a framework of journalism education as a system. These twoframeworks were used to study in particular the ASEAN and Japanese notions of journalistic competence
as well as journalism education in these areas. We interviewed selected experts from Japan andrepresentative ASEAN countries (Singapore, Vietnam, and Philippines) and looked into relevant
documents, especially course curricula.
Apart from the main research objectives, another important goal was to establish a research community
in ASEAN and Japan, comprised of scholars who want to collaborate in projects related to journalism
education. The fieldwork in these countries made this networking possible.
Across the four countries, the experts interviewed believe journalists in the Digital-Global Age shouldhave audience-oriented, entrepreneurial, critical-reflexive, and technological-quantitative competencies.
This is on top of the “evergreen” competencies, or the core competencies that are deemed necessary innewswork with or without the technological disruptions (e.g. mastery of professional research techniquesand core attitudes).
The internet coming of age gave rise to more and more sources of information, many of which are freeto access, thus leading to intense market competition and “erosion” of the gate-keeping role of journalism(Drok, 2019). Therefore, as the findings of the study suggest, journalists are now expected to produce
news forms that are more engaging or compelling and to employ more systematic means to know theaudience (hence, “audience-oriented”). This audience-orientedness is also related to entrepreneurial andventure management competencies, which gained currency in the time of shrinking media markets and“de-industrialization” of journalism (Broersma and Peters, 2016). Entrepreneurial journalism,
characterized by innovation and venture creation, makes sense in a time of lay-offs, journalist laborprecarities, and commercial pressures in the industry.
In this disruptive age, journalists in Japan and ASEAN need to be critical-reflexive, according to theinterviewees. This means that to adapt to the changes and serve the societal mission of journalism, ajournalist needs the tools to critically reflect on the environment and the profession. This criticalreflexivity balances the technological-quantitative competencies (e.g. competencies ranging fromworking with social media to data journalism skills) that a journalist in this time is expected to have.
The project also extends to the discussion on how journalistic competencies, journalistic roles, and themedia system influence journalism education. This will be published in several studies scheduled to besubmitted to international journals this year, in addition to the book containing the findings and points
for discussion. A copy of these studies and the book will be sent to selected scholars and practitioners
worldwide.
Broersma, M., & Peters, C. (2016). Rethinking Journalism Again: Societal role and public relevance ina digital age
Taylor and Francis.
Drok, N. (2019). Journalistic Roles, Values and Qualifications in the 21st century: How European
journalism
Educations view the future of a profession in transition. Windesheim, Zwolle: Ipskamp Printing
EnschedePublication of the Results of Research Project:
Verbal Presentation (Date, Venue, Name of Conference, Title of Presentation, Presenter, etc.)

Thesis (Name of Journal and its Date, Title and Author of Thesis, etc.)
Estella P.(2021) A global perspective on journalistic competence in the Digital Age: Toward atransformative framework. Phd Thesis. Technische Universitat Ilmenau.
Estella, P.(2020, in press). The journalism ‘toolbox’ of competencies in the Digital Global Age:
Reflections on the global state of research, Pacific Journalism Review, 26(1)Book (Publisher and Date of the Book, Title and Author of the Book, etc.)‘’Journalism competence and Journalism Education in Japan and ASEAN’’(report on the project that
we intend to publish this year or early 2021
Target Publisher: MJC Printing Services (through funds from Sumitomo Foundation)
Authors: Pauline Gidget Estella and Jonalyn Paz