Theme of the Institute
Research & Development in Journalism Education and Innovation in Journalism Studies

Missions of the Institute
This institute was established with the aim of investigating ways to bring about reform and innovation in journalism and maintain the independence and freedom of journalism amidst the current radical changes in social conditions and the media environment. It seeks to fulfill these goals through the approach of education. In this context, however, education would not mean the infusion of knowledge from above, but rather the provision of a suitable environment and content to people who want to learn.
The mission of the university in today’s Japan can be summarized as fulfilling the threefold task of educating, conducting research and making a contribution to society. It is from the viewpoint of these three factors that the achievements of each university in Japan are evaluated by an official commission. Given these conditions, we have incorporated the above three factors into the mission of the institute:

1. There is a growing realization, albeit belated, that the university system in Japan should take responsibility for journalism education. As yet no school of journalism exists in Japan in spite of many efforts and trials in the past hundred years. In order to meet the numerous tasks thus presented, we will conduct research and development as well as practice in journalism education in preparation for the next stage.
   
2. Today we face new social conditions and a new media environment caused by globalization and digitalization. Considering this situation, the institute will contribute to the promotion of innovation in journalism studies itself, while at the same time conveying the results of this work to journalism education.
   
3. The institute will make the results of its work in educational development and journalism research available to society and apply these results to practice. Specific programs will be implemented to realize the institute’s social contribution, thus giving it a position in the real society outside the university.

By forming relations of close mutual interdependence between these three elements, the institute will aim to strengthen the link between journalism and democracy.

Activities of the Institute
The Institute will advance the following plans under the name of “j-freedom”.

1. Educational Research and Development
   The Open Education Center at Waseda University introduced in April 2007 a new Theme College System, which provides undergraduate students of all departments the opportunity to study another subject as a minor. The Journalism Course is one of thirteen courses offered under this system. The Institute will assist the Journalism Course, and carry out through teaching practice an improvement of teaching methods, curriculum development, expansion of internships, and the promotion of new technological applications in teaching and learning. Here we will develop an integration model of journalism didactics through team teaching by scholars and journalists.
   
2. Research Surveys and Studies
   The Institute will conduct field research focusing on educational needs and job market structure. In addition, close attention will be paid to the international trend of policy in journalism education, and international exchange with schools of journalism abroad will be deepened. These experiences will be put to practical use for educational development in Japan. We will also take part in the international academic scene of journalism studies. Thereby, we will focus on changing journalism cultures interconnected with the structural change of economy and the rash development of technology.
   
3. Social Contributions
   The Institute will provide a mid-carrier seminar program for younger working journalists, utilizing the university as a public institution. In this way we will aim for a pluralistic approach to journalist training besides conventional in-house training by media companies. We will also set up a journalism forum to provide a platform for timely discussion on current issues. Journalists, scholars, students and citizens are invited to participate in this forum.

More general information about Project Research Institutes at Waseda University can be obtained from the following site:
http://www.waseda.jp/kikou/english/

Staff members

Director:
Tatsuro HANADA, Professor of Journalism and Media Studies, Waseda University

Members:
Mamoru ITO, Professor of Media and Cultural Studies, Waseda University
Koichi IWABUCHI , Professor of Cultural Studies, Waseda University
Koichi KOBAYASHI, Professor of Media Studies, Waseda University
Kenji TANIGAWA, Professor of Media Studies, Waseda University
Tomoki WARAGAI, Professor of Economics, Waseda University
Yasuhiko OISHI, Professor of Media Law, Aoyama Gakuin University
Akihiro NONAKA, Journalist, President of the Asia Press International
Minako BEPPU, Associate Professor of Journalism Studies, Nihon University
Takaaki YORIMITSU, Journalist, Asahi Shimbun

Finance

The financial resources of the Institute are covered by private contributions offered by staff members of the Institute and resources from outside the university.
There are three categories of resources from outside: commissioned research, joint research and designated donations to the Institute.
Designated donations to the Institute refer to a system in which the Institute uses donations offered by corporations, associations and individual persons for research activities. The donations to the Institute by juridical persons are treated as pecuniary loss in terms of corporation tax.
Please contact the Institute for further information regarding commissioned research, joint research and designated donations to the Institute.

Contact Us

Institute for Education in Journalism at Waseda University

E-mail: hanada@waseda.jp

Tel: +81-(0)3-5286-1870

Address:
c/o Professor Hanada at School of Education
Waseda University
1-6-1 Nishi-waseda, Shinjuku-ku
Tokyo 169-8050
JAPAN